e27 partners with Hello Tomorrow Singapore Regional Summit 2018 to accelerate the growth of Southeast Asia’s deep tech ecosystem
Deeptech innovations are founded upon complex science and engineering, often characterised by long gestation periods and elaborate integration processes
The emergence of deeptech has given rise to a new wave of entrepreneurship and innovation in Southeast Asia, led by the Singapore government’s slew of new initiatives announced a year ago, with investors and other various active stakeholders following suit.
Unlike other tech-enabled startups and businesses, deeptech innovations are founded upon complex science and engineering, often characterised by long gestation periods and elaborate integration processes. Commercialising these exponential technologies requires a well-aligned ecosystem comprising thoughtful efforts of a committed group of diverse players.
According to Ernest Xue, Head of Hello Tomorrow Singapore, Southeast Asia’s fledgling deeptech ecosystem sees a whole range of needs and challenges, which can be broadly categorised into the following areas:
Lack of understanding from local and regional large corporates and SMEs on the potential transformational impact that deep-tech adoption can bring to their value chains.
Disconnect between the research community and industry/ real-world needs and applications. Research outcomes need to be able to better translate into solving real-world problems.
Scientist-Entrepreneurs struggle to find relevant adopters or and investors for the tech they are developing.
Lack of regional investor appetite for deep-tech innovations as they might consider these to be overly risky.
In that light, Hello Tomorrow will be organising its inaugural Singapore Regional Summit on the 28th of November, as a compelling solution and regional platform that focuses specifically on connecting scientist-entrepreneurs with the stakeholders that matter, featuring dialogues around and core technological trends propelling advancements in Future Cities, Healthcare, Industry 4.0, and Food, Agriculture & Environment.
Ernest shared:
We have been hard at work bringing together the best and brightest deep-tech startups and researchers from the region to help them find relevant commercial and investment partners to ensure that their innovations can make a meaningful impact in the real world. The audience comprises of individuals whom we know are both empowered and excited to come together to work towards solutions that have the potential for world-changing impact.
We will also be flying in some of the best-in-class innovators from our extensive global network to share about their journeys of discovery and going to market to inspire the regional community. We believe the Summit will act as a springboard for greater, more impactful collaborations to come.
Also read: Meet the e27 Academy trainers who will power up your financial and go-to-market strategies
At e27, we continue to support and participate in ecosystem building initiatives that help us stay true and relevant to our mission- to empower entrepreneurs with tools to build & grow their businesses. The partnership with Hello Tomorrow Singapore allows us to continue accelerating the growth of Southeast Asia’s deep tech ecosystem by propagating key themes and messages to engage the key stakeholders and relevant communities involved for meaningful participation and synergistic opportunities.
Ernest echoes, “e27 is THE crier of the community. Hello Tomorrow might have the expertise required to help drive collaborations within the deep-tech sphere, but will also require aid in outreach. e27 acts as a strong lever for our message and work, to reach more members of the community.”
Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge
The Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge is the world’s leading deep-tech competition for startups, started by science-entrepreneurs specifically for science-entrepreneurs. Currently in its 5th edition, the Hello Tomorrow Global Challenge received over 4,500 applications from 119 countries this year, featuring deep-tech innovations from as early as experimental prototypes up to those that have raised Series A funding.
10 startups will be presenting at the Hello Tomorrow SEA x HK Finals (HTSEAxHK), coinciding with the Singapore Regional Summit. Of the 10 startups, 6 are from Singapore, with 2 from Hong Kong, 1 from Indonesia, and 1 from Cambodia. Additionally, another 16 startups will take centre stage at the Innovation Stage during the Summit. The HTSEAxHK Finals will award S$45,000 in cash and prizes, and flights for the top 3 to participate in the Global Challenge in Paris, France.
Exclusive for the #e27community, get 20% off tickets by using the promocode 3MEDIAE27 at https://www.hello-tomorrow.sg/invitations-tickets.
About Hello Tomorrow Singapore
Hello Tomorrow Singapore is the regional (Southeast Asia and Hong Kong) chapter of Hello Tomorrow launched in February 2018, a global non-profit on a mission to unlock the potential of deep technologies to solve the world’s toughest challenges, by highlighting, empowering and connecting the most promising deep-tech entrepreneurs globally with the right enablers.
The organisation was started in 2011 by PhD students who were struggling to find support as they sought to adapt their research toward real-world commercial uses and has since grown tremendously, with over 20,000 active participants and 11 local hubs across the globe.
We bring together the world’s largest network of deep-tech actors and sources thousands of deep-tech startups globally every year through our Global Challenge, the world’s largest deep-tech competition.
—-
The post e27 partners with Hello Tomorrow Singapore Regional Summit 2018 to accelerate the growth of Southeast Asia’s deep tech ecosystem appeared first on e27.
