Ideas hold so much potential. The discovery of Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks, for example, shows just how far back the idea for helicopters, submarines, and even contact lenses had begun — begun but not developed until centuries later, presumably due to the lack of various kinds of resources at the time.
We still see this in modern times. In research institutes, universities, and even private laboratories, the seeds of science and technology that could potentially change the world are born. But it would take a lot of time, effort, and resources for these ideas to sprout and grow into practical applications.
As such, many of today’s innovations and discoveries are relegated to the back seat. Instead of maximising their potential and being able to materially impact lives today, great ideas either take forever to be realised or simply fizzle out.
This is the challenge that TECH PLANTER was built for.
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TECH PLANTER is a platform by Leave a Nest specifically designed to discover and nurture deep tech ideas by giving innovators access to resources that could help turn them into businesses.
It was launched in 2014 in Singapore and, by the end of 2018, covers six countries in Southeast Asia, supporting 948 teams 358 startups across the region by 2021.
Initially a seed acceleration program, TECH PLANTER has evolved to become a platform that tackles deep issues in the region, working with a series of partners to help develop and support startups working on deep tech.
Providing the unique support that deep tech requires
While interest in deep tech startups is increasing, resources and support are still a challenge, especially in the early stages. For starters, deep tech generally takes longer to productise, needs substantially more resources, and often requires talent with specialised skill sets. Because of this, startups in this space have difficulty finding partners and investors who are willing to play the long game.
Leave a Nest understands these challenges which is why they came up with TECH PLANTER to bridge gaps in the deep tech space.
TECH PLANTER is a long-term programme and does not have a set timeframe, unlike usual accelerator programmes. The Leave a Nest team discusses with the participating startups the specific needs they have so that the support they get is tailor-fitted to ensure that each startup gets the resources they need to move on to the next stage of their development.
Apart from mentorship and coaching from experts to help startups brush up on their ideas and figure out the initial details on how to productise them, the strength of TECH PLANTER is that it’s not simply a programme but an ecosystem. From idea development to prototyping, and even funding, TECH PLANTER has built an ecosystem of communities they could work with to create the right mix of resources that would support deep tech startups.
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It brings together different communities like governments, universities, IP strategists, manufacturers and factories, and even VCs to achieve this. The collaboration between startups and these networks of stakeholders determines the right mix of resources needed to help deep tech startups take the step to being able to implement their solutions.
Such was the case of iVET, a Thailand-based startup that aims to improve the lives of handicapped pets. Through TECH PLANTER, they are able to meet and collaborate with a local manufacturer in Ota City in Tokyo to create prototypes for their pet wheelchairs.
Another innovator benefitting from Tech Planer is CRUST Group, a Singapore-based foodtech company that aims to address food waste by upcycling surplus ingredients. The company received funding from investors that include Leave a Nest Singapore, Glocalink Singapore, Ales Global, and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital (MSIVC). This support helps CRUST Groupo develop new products upcycled from food waste, as they expand to and create more partnerships in Japan.
Helping support long-term partnerships to solve deep issues
TECH PLANTER also works with corporate partners, the majority of which are in Japan, who have technologies and infrastructure available that they can use to collaborate with startups to achieve mutual goals.
An example would be the partnership between Singapore-based Crown Digital and JR East, formerly the national railway company that is now working on developing the areas around train stations. TECH PLANTER was able to support the collaboration between the two companies and help Crown Digital to expand and bring their robo-barista in various places in Japan.
What TECH PLANTER has in common with other accelerator programmes is that it features a demo day. However, the purpose of TECH PLANTER’s demo day is not just to showcase a prototype or a finished product, but rather for the startups to meet and find the right partner that would help them move on to the next stage, at whichever stage in the development process they may be currently in.
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By joining TECH PLANTER, deep tech startups will have access not only to training and mentoring support based on their specific needs, but access to Leave a Nest’s network of communities that could help them either through collaborations with local and/or Japanese corporations, prototyping support, expansion opportunities, and even potential investments.
Leave a Nest Singapore is currently looking for deep tech teams to join TECH PLANTER 2022. Early-stage startups, pre-startup teams, or individuals working on deep tech solutions are invited to join. Mature startups and SMEs seeking collaborations are also encouraged to join.
If you have solutions in deep tech with potential applications in manufacturing, robotics, IoT, AI, agritech, biotech, healthcare, medtech, foodtech, marine-tech, ecotech, and more, you can click here to learn more and join.
You can also view the TECH PLANTER online info session here.
TECH PLANTER in the Philippines
Application Deadline: 3/18 Closed
Demo Day: 5/14
TECH PLANTER in Indonesia
Application Deadline: 3/25 Closed
Demo Day:5/21
TECH PLANTER in Singapore
Application Deadline: 4/1
Demo Day:5/28
TECH PLANTER in Vietnam
Application Deadline: 5/13
Demo Day: 7/9
TECH PLANTER in Malaysia
Application Deadline: 5/20
Demo Day:7/16
TECH PLANTER in Thailand
Application Deadline: 5/27
Demo Day:7/23
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This article is produced by the e27 team, sponsored by Leave a Nest
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