Jul – Sep 2015
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MCI (P) 042/02/2015
We continue to discover, encourage and celebrate new entrepreneurship ideas and efforts in different ways, such as via the DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge, the Modern Aging accelerator programme, and showcases and competitions in and out of Singapore, as well as through agreements with increasing numbers of new partners. Come, connect with us and be energised by the perpetual motion and activities of the NUS Enterprise community. It just may lead to your next big deal!
02 Bigger prizes for SVC Asia 2015 04 Five SVC Asia teams win over $200,000 in prize monies 05 Soaking up Entrepreneurial Insights Exciting Visits and Dialogues at NUS Enterprise 06 Modern Aging Singapore Launches Online Curriculum
07 Mainstreaming Entrepreneurship
08 Startup Weekend Asia-America
10 NUS Technologies Win Industry Recognition
13 The India-ItalianIsrael Connection
09 Gaining the Right Perspective
Connecting with Large Local Enterprises
14 Beyond Singapore, A Taste of Berlin
11 Smart Tech “Show and Tell” 12 Partnering One of the World’s Largest Diversified Chemical Companies
15 Flash Forward
16 Useful Tinder
SPARKS interest with the latest in the start-up and entrepreneur scene within our community
Bigger Prizes for SVC Asia 2015 Amplifying Efforts To Do Good
Guest-of-Honour, Mr Teo Ser Luck speaking to a participant and Ms Patsian Low, Head, DBS Foundation about their social ventures.
Winners with Guest-of-Honour, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade & Industry (Standing 7th from right) at Awards Ceremony at NUS Shaw Foundation House on 12 June 2015.
Launched in 2013 in partnership with DBS, the second run of the DBSNUS Social Venture Challenge (SVC) Asia ended on high on 12 June 2015, recognising 3 winners from 683 entries, 12 semi-finalists and 6 finalists. There was participation from 30 countries, an increase of over 60% from the inaugural run. A diverse range of sectors were represented, from education, energy, web/mobile, healthcare to agriculture. SVC Asia 2015 was made more special with DBS Foundation’s generous increase in prize money to a total of $150,000, to commemorate Singapore’s jubilee year. In addition, the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE) awarded special grants to two Singapore-based SVC Asia teams: $50,000 to SDI Academy and $25,000 to Society Staples. All finalists pitched to a 200-strong audience, the latter including the Guest-of-Honour, Mr Teo Ser Luck, Minister of State, Ministry of Trade & Industry. Representatives from the top six teams also took to the stage to answer numerous questions from the audience posted via the Pigeonhole Q&A platform. Learn Education emerged champion, receiving a trophy and $100,000 in seed funding. MicroX Labs and iHealth Express
came in second and third, winning $30,000 and $20,000 respectively. “Everyone deserves the opportunity to have quality education, and this is the belief behind why we started Learn Education. Winning the SVC Asia will help us to accelerate our impact, improve our IT platform and develop more active learning modules. In the next 10 years, we hope to see more than 10,000 teachers confident in using our system, 100,000 less school dropouts and 1 million users in Thailand,” said Tanin Timtong, Founder and Managing Director of Learn Education. “Social entrepreneurs seek to make a difference to the world by incorporating social and/or environmental considerations in their business strategy. At the individual level, social entrepreneurship fulfils the aspirations of individuals who are passionate about doing good. I applaud social entrepreneurs, many of whom are at the event today. It is not easy to run a business, much less a business with a social mission,” said Minister Teo. NUS Enterprise will continue to work with the SVC Asia participants to provide post-competition support. This includes incubation, mentorship, assistance in fundraising and access to resource networks. Find out more at: http://socialventurechallenge.asia/ 02
Questions for our finalists came in fast and furious at the Q&A segment.
Prof Wong Poh Kam, Director, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre, mentoring participants in a workshop session.
Participants engaged in team activities and explored ideas at one of several workshops.
SPARKS interest with the latest in the start-up and entrepreneur scene within our community
Five SVC Asia teams win over $200,000 in prize monies The top three SVC Asia teams received seed funding from DBS Foundation while an additional two Singapore-based teams received special grants from the Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise (raiSE).
The top three winners of the SVC Asia 2015 are: First position: Learn Education (Thailand) This social enterprise aims to improve the quality of education within Thailand, in particular for Maths and Science, through their blended-learning technology tools. These include learning modules, which follow the Thai curriculum, to develop critical thinking skills amongst students; one-on-one learning software with tests and analytics; and implementation processes to connect the software with “human-ware”. Learn Education has rolled out its tools in 30 schools across Thailand. One of their pilot schools saw a 31% improvement in test scores after three years. Change-makers use technology to offer quality science and maths education in Thailand.
Second position: MicroX Labs (India) India currently lacks timely, accurate and affordable diagnostics, so patients often wait 1-2 days before receiving blood test results. MicroX Labs addresses this problem by creating a technological platform for effective point-of-care diagnostics, starting with a Complete Blood Count test. This consists of disposable cartridges and a portable reader. MicroX Labs hopes to roll out this lab-on-chip technology to diagnostic and collection centres in low-income states by the end of 2015.
The team aims to offer affordable diagnostic technology for blood tests in India.
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SPARKS interest with the latest in the start-up and entrepreneur scene within our community
Third position: iHealth Express (Taiwan) Although there are 25 medical centres across Taiwan, 80% of them are within its three big cities. This makes it difficult for people, in particular the chronically-ill, the elderly or disabled, who live in more remote areas to receive care. iHealth Express offers a mobile medical system that aims to eliminate inequality in healthcare delivery across Taiwan. Patients send their prescription to a central location via phone, fax, email, mobile apps or the internet. After checking and dispensing the medication, professional pharmacists deliver the medicine to the designated location. In addition, these pharmacists are equipped to handle face-to-face counselling, medication reminders and health education.
A mobile medical system provider that aims to eliminate inequality in healthcare delivery in Taiwan.
The two Singapore-based SVC Asia 2015 teams who won the raiSE grants are: Social Development Initiative (SDI) Academy
Winning Singapore teams Society Staples and Social Development Initiative Academy with (Extreme Right) Ms Chloe Huang, Head (Social Finance and Strategy & Research), Singapore Centre for Social Enterprise.
SDI Academy champions the welfare of migrant workers in Singapore, as well as creates a more inclusive society here, by empowering migrant workers with improved communication skills. SDI Academy is currently targeting workers from the construction, shipping and manufacturing industries. These individuals attend 16 weeks of English proficiency courses created and conducted by SDI Academy. These include lectures, group discussions and a befriender’s session. Various social outreach programmes are also organised to promote inclusiveness within the Singapore community.
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Society Staples This social enterprise is developing a platform to connect people with disabilities (PWDs) and the rest of society through fitness programmes, in particular strength training sessions and unusual sports such as parkour and cheerleading. Society Staples trainers include those with disabilities themselves, creating a shift in mindsets for participants and empowering and inspiring other PWDs on what is possible. Society Staples also offers corporate team building programmes, conducted by PWD facilitators, to bust myths and misconceptions about PWDs and encourage interaction and opportunities to learn from each other. The next challenge for Society Staples is to set up Singapore’s first inclusive gymnasium.
SPARKS interest with the latest in the start-up and entrepreneur scene within our community
Soaking Up Local Entrepreneurial Insights Summer Programme 2015 Serves Up Singaporean Delights “Before this summer programme, I never intended to be an entrepreneur, but now I’m inspired to start my own business.” Aditi Mishra Delhi University India
Summer Programme 2015 participants at Pere Ocean on 9 July 2015.
The annual NUS Summer Programme on Economic and Enterprise Development in Singapore took place from 5-18 July 2015. Now into its 10th run, more than 40 students from 8 countries gathered to learn about Singapore’s economy, politics and culture through lectures, dialogues and workshops. Other highlights included visits to Singapore companies such as Pere Ocean, a manufacturer of bottled mineral water dispensers; Dignity Kitchen, Singapore’s first hawker training school for the disabled and disadvantaged; and conversing with entrepreneurs at
Plug-In@Blk 71 and JFDI.Asia. The programme culminated with student teams getting a taste of being in the entrepreneurial hotseat, through rapidfire pitching of their innovative business ideas to a panel of judges. “What I loved most was having the freedom to develop my business ideas. I also loved the cultural diversity of the participants, and also the lasting friendships that we’ve built!” Liu Yuchen University of Sydney Australia
“Over the past 2 weeks, I have enjoyed interacting with people from all over the world and working with them in teams to come up with a final pitch. It has been tremendously rewarding and I would recommend it to all students interested in business and entrepreneurship!” Kevin Ding Yuchuan University of British Columbia Canada “As a medical student, this programme has been my first exposure to the business field. I have gained business competencies, and it has opened my eyes to the opportunities and possibilities in various fields outside my own.” Muhammad Maaz Khalid Zuberi The Aga Khan University, Karachi Pakistan
Exciting Visits and Dialogues at NUS Enterprise Sharing Insights into a Thriving Entrepreneurial Community NUS Enterprise has been hosting a number of foreign visitors, showcasing the entrepreneurial growth and development at NUS as well as the role that we have been playing as an aggregator to create a vibrant entrepreneurial community. On 5 August 2015, we were honoured to host a roundtable discussion with former US Ambassador David Thorne and select startups, venture capitalists and investors. He was keen to understand the innovation and entrepreneurial landscape in Singapore. A group of tech entrepreneurs huddled and discussed the opportunities, challenges and the prospects of plugging Singapore and American start-ups to further spur on the aspirations of entrepreneurs from both countries.
Another visit was made by the ChungHua Institute for Economic Research (CIER), a non-profit economic think tank from Taiwan, on 26 August 2015. Prof Wong Poh Kam, Director, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre, hosted a threemember delegation commissioned by the Department of Industry Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan to conduct research on promoting entrepreneurship. Exchanges also focused on Singapore’s entrepreneurial strategies and potential areas where Taiwan can tap into for industrial growth with Singapore. Both groups of foreign delegates were impressed by the establishment of the ecosystem to nurture talents, promote innovation and fuel the entrepreneurial spirit amongst our student and academic community.
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Former US Ambassador David Thorne (2nd from right) engaging local entreprenurs at Plug-In@Blk71.
Delegation from the Department of Industry Technology, Ministry of Economic Affairs in Taiwan with (2nd from left) Prof Wong Poh Kam, Director, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre.
SPARKS interest with the latest in the start-up and entrepreneur scene within our community
Modern Aging Singapore Launches Online Curriculum Increasing Awareness and Understanding of Ageing Issues
More than 300 participants attended the launch of Modern Aging’s online curriculum at NUS on 15 August 2015.
Modern Aging Singapore launched its online curriculum before a packed NUS auditorium on 15 August 2015. Participants to the programme are now able to conveniently access a slew of online lectures by experts on ageing issues as well as be connected to an online community within this area of interest. The launch event featured insightful talks around ageing issues, presented by eminent speakers, and stories of happy and active ageing from senior role models. It was well attended by over 300 participants comprising students, entrepreneurs, practitioners, researchers, and the general public. The four topics presented were ‘Overview of Aging’ by Prof. Angelique Chan of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School; ‘Healthcare and Business’ by Dr. Jeremy Lim of Oliver Wyman; ‘Home and Center Based Care’ by Dr. Ng Wai Chong of Tsao Foundation; and ‘Product Design for Seniors’ by Mr. Hunn Wai of Lanzavecchia + Wai.
The event was also an excellent networking platform for participants of the programme to connect with likeminded counterparts and engage experts via ice-breaker and team formation games. Many were excited about the potential to provide solutions for the silver industry. Participants of Modern Aging Singapore submitted their business ideas and plans. Shortlisted teams will participate in a final pitching event on 4 December 2015. Winners will receive seed funding of up to $50,000 and in kind support and mentorship.
Spontaneous discussions at the networking sessions on the challenges and opportunities in the silver industry.
The first of its kind in Singapore, Modern Aging Singapore is an accelerator programme designed to help create new businesses that meets the needs of an ageing population. Find out more at www.modernaging.org/singapore. One of the speakers shared his views on healthcare and business.
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SPARKS ideas with different thoughts and perspectives
Mainstreaming Social Entrepreneurship Improving the Ecosystem and Disrupting Corporations organic growth of social enterprises but also breakthrough solutions that will allow social enterprises to be a source of disruptive innovation for larger corporations. This will further help to mainstream social entrepreneurship and maximise impact,” explained Valeria.
various social enterprises who were able to supply high volumes of milk more cost effectively than Danone’s original supplier. Not only did this result in better profits, it also helped to mitigate supply chain risks for Danone.
She described three examples of where this is happening:
Valeria Budinich, Social Entrepreneur and Founder, Full Economic Citizenship Initiative, Ashoka at DBSNUS Social Venture Challenge Awards Ceremony on 12 June 2015.
“Mainstreaming social entrepreneurship requires us to rethink our roles and try to develop hybrid tools that allow both the rigour of business and the values for making social impact,” said Valeria Budinich, social entrepreneur and founder of the Full Economic Citizenship Initiative at Ashoka. Ms Budinich was speaking at the DBSNUS Social Venture Challenge Asia Awards Ceremony on 12 June 2015. She noted that many social enterprises are limited by their surrounding ecosystem. The good news is that just as there are social entrepreneurs focusing on boosting the accessibility of products/services to solve a social problem, there is another category of social entrepreneurs focused on improving the ecosystem to allow new businesses to flourish. A good example of this is the creation of the micro-financing industry, which started some 30 years ago led by Muhammad Yunus. He not only set up Grameen Bank as a microfinance organisation in India, but also started a global movement to encourage microfinancing on a global scale. “Another type of social entrepreneur is the one that aims to create a movement, to help people see opportunities in a new way and create a new mindset. We need to think not only of the
Powering West Africa – Some 10 million families require electricity in West Africa. Although social enterprises have good solutions, they are hampered by the lack of infrastructure. A group of five citizen sector organisations approached energy giant TOTAL to see if the company would allow solar lamps to be sold at their gas stations around West Africa. TOTAL agreed to this and also offered a guarantee that all families would have access to replacements should the purchased lamps not work. A year later, over a million families now have access to electricity and the movement continues to grow.
Supporting smaller dairy suppliers - French yoghurt company Danone authorised the investment of 1% of their annual profits (€110 million) into a social venture fund aimed at transforming the value chain of the company. One project involved sourcing milk from small dairy producers. Danone collaborated with 07
Affordable housing in India – India has the tremendous challenge of building 24 million new homes, which also translates into a tremendous new market opportunity. Ashoka has acted as a system integrator, connecting multiple players within the industry – some existing and others new. It has initiated projects in several Indian cities. They initially invested US$3 million to create enabling conditions within these cities, which later resulted in more than US$150 million of private capital invested, as solutions were successfully demonstrated. “The challenge ahead is to innovate – for the entrepreneurs themselves, the philanthropists, the impact investors, governments and universities. We are part of a new generation and I invite everyone to think ahead of what we must do today to build a future where each one of us is contributing to reinvent the world,” concluded Ms Budinich.
SPARKS action with fireside chats and tips from experienced entrepreneurs
Startup Weekend Asia-America Bridging Asian & US Tech Professionals
Chris Chang, regional manager of UP Global, kickstarting Startup Weekend Asia-America at Block71 San Francisco.
Over the weekend of 17-19 July 2015, more than 50 participants slogged for 54 hours for their shot at winning Startup Weekend Asia-America, held at Block71 San Francisco. Food2Fame, founded by Sylvia Look from the NUS Overseas Colleges programme in Silicon Valley, beat 10 other teams to secure first prize. Startup Weekend Asia-America was organised by Lý Vũ Thịnh and Jerry Tan Si Kai, who like Sylvia, are also from the NUS Overseas College programme in Silicon Valley. Both hoped to build synergy between Asian and US tech professionals through the event, which attracted a wide array of participants, ranging from tech professionals working at Google and NASA, to college students from Singapore, Hong Kong, Georgia (US), and Florida (US). Startup Weekends, a series initiated by UP Global and supported by Google for Entrepreneurs, are weekend-long, hands-on hackathons where aspiring entrepreneurs can find out if start-up ideas are viable.
Food2Fame, clinched the top prize of a Startup Exhibition Alley booth at TechCrunch Disrupt SF 2015 worth US$1,995, among other prizes worth a total of US$6,000. Food2Fame functions as an Instagram marketing platform for food brands, and helps influencers monetise their Instagram followers at the same time. Puneet Gupta, venture partner at Fenox Venture Capital, who was on the panel of judges, commented that Food2Fame is “a brilliant solution that addresses a need”. OFF/Packers, a travel platform that promises to connect local guides with travelers, won the crowd favorite award. Seeker, a recruitment analytics platform built on top of LinkedIn, took home the second prize, while Givfolio, a reporting app for donation programmes, came in third. Jeff Karras, managing director of Singtel Innov8, and Jerrod Engelberg, Venture Team Lead at FundersClub, were also judges at the hackathon
(From left) Sylvia Look, founder of Food2Fame; Puneet Gupta, venture partner at Fenox Venture Capital; Jeff Karras, managing director at Singtel Innov8; Jerrod Engelberg, venture team lead at FundersClub; Jerry Tan, organiser; and facilitator of event.
Winning teams, Food2Fame, Seeker, and Givfolio, with the judges and event organisers
Startup Weekend Asia-America 2015 is sponsored by TechCrunch, Singtel Innov8 and NUS Enterprise. Block 71 San Francisco managed, by NUS Enterprise, is set up in partnership with Singtel Innov8 and Infocomm Investments Pte Ltd (IIPL). 08
SPARKS action with fireside chats and tips from experienced entrepreneurs
Gaining the Right Perspective A Confluence of Entrepreneurial Ideas Q: Entrepreneurs are expected to demonstrate tenacity for their idea and a certain level of perseverance to push things through. On the flipside, they also need to be able to pivot. How can they do both?
The panelists filmed at NUS University Hall.
From September to October 2015, NUS has partnered with MediaCorp for a six-part series on Channel NewsAsia called Perspectives. The show covers a range of current events where panellists provide in-depth analysis and engage the views of the audience. The third episode focused on entrepreneurship, with a panel of speakers that consisted of Prof Wong Poh Kam, Director, NUS Entrepreneurship Centre; Mr Roger Egan, Co-founder and CEO, Redmart; Ms Shirley Wong, Chairman, Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation; and Ms Durreen Shahnaz, Founder and Chairwoman, Asia Impact Investment Exchange. Here are some of the insightful comments: Q: What defines an entrepreneur? Wong Poh Kam (WPK): Entrepreneurship is about the ability to mobilise other resources and exploit the opportunities. It may not necessarily involve starting a company – for example, intrapreneurs start new projects/innovations within a company. It may also not involve making money - for example social entrepreneurs aim to make impact. A good entrepreneur has the ability to sell a vision and convince others to join them in this common goal. Roger Egan (RE): Entrepreneurs need to learn many things – some while at school and others on the job. I have met many entrepreneurs and generally, they have the common trait of being able to think differently, being thick-skinned, demonstrating perseverance and being a little crazy. Durreen Shahnaz (DS): An entrepreneur has to be crazy! You need to solve a problem, so you need to have the confidence and even arrogance that you have the right answer. Entrepreneurs also need a huge appetite for risk, as well as the ability to execute.
Q: What should be the driving force behind an entrepreneur? Can it be money? DS: If the sole focus of the entrepreneur is on making money, he or she will lose focus on the business. Instead, it is better to focus on making value. The money will come later. RE: Entrepreneurship is not the best way to go about making money. History has revealed that nine out of ten start-ups will fail. Shirley Wong (SW): An entrepreneur must be able to understand the market need for the solution. There must be a certain fire in the belly, and willingness to stand out. Most entrepreneurs I know have high energy levels that allow them to accomplish what is needed. Q: Are entrepreneurs born or made? Can the government help? WPK: Academic research shows that genetic components do account for some entrepreneurs. But the larger contribution is due to the environment. Factors such as family history of entrepreneurship, societal attitudes, and education all play a role. At NUS, we believe in experiential learning and the NUS Overseas Colleges programme is one such example of this. DS: I believe that entrepreneurs are born, in that if someone is truly meant to be an entrepreneur, he or she will eventually always venture out. Having said that, I also believe that entrepreneurs can be “un-made”. And parental influence can play a key role in the ecosystem. For example, in Bangladesh there are so few opportunities for female entrepreneurs. 09
SW: It is always tough to kill your startup idea. However, entrepreneurs should be able to identify when they are going the wrong way. Fortunately, you are not alone in this journey. There is a team behind you and you can receive inputs from customers, investors and other partners or friends. RE: Almost every start-up must pivot somewhat and make adjustments. Failure is often due to the inability to adapt fast enough. WPK: It is a bit of a paradox. An entrepreneur must be tenacious, but also open to change. Those that are more open, who listen to the market and know their limitations tend to do better. Q: How does a young entrepreneur find their mentor? DS: For me personally, I looked to my former bosses. Not only did they help to shape my ideas, but they also provided me with investments for the company. RE: Look for people that you admire. If you’re lucky like Durreen to get them to invest in you, that’s even better! WPK: Like I said at the start, an entrepreneur needs to be able to mobilise the right resources. A mentor is a valuable resource, and you need to convince them of your idea and passion so they will agree to mentor you. The mentor must be able to see the value he or she will receive from mentoring you. SW: Go out and work – either for another start-up company or for a large organisation. This will allow you to build up your network and find the right people that you must impress. These are your potential mentors.
SPARKS partnerships with industry and market leaders
NUS Technologies Win Industry Recognition Revisiting TechConnect 2015 in Washington DC The three technologies were: Real Time Monitoring System for trace analytes e.g. Phosphate in Water; Solid state fermentation for production of succinic acid; and Kaolinite-Based Porous Ceramic Supports With High Permeability And Mechanical Strength, from the NUS Environmental Research Institute and the Faculty of Engineering’s Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering.
Three NUS technologies received Innovation Awards at TechConnect 2015 in Washington DC, USA.
The NUS Industry Liaison Office (ILO) participated in the TechConnect World Innovation Conference and Expo 2015, held from 15–17 June in Washington, DC, showcasing fifteen NUS technologies. Three of the showcased technologies secured presentation slots at the
conference and were conferred the TechConnect Innovation Award for their top 20% placement amongst all technologies submitted to the conference organisers. The award was conferred by a committee of representatives from established multinational companies and investment firms.
The conference was an excellent platform for showcasing and exhibiting NUS technologies. It drew tech scouts and high level executives to the NUS Booth for technical and business discussions. It is likely that there will be a larger presence from Singapore Institutes of Higher Learning at the conference next year. TechConnect World is an international conference bringing together inventors, technology developers, funders and curated innovations to a marketplace for commercialisation of technologies by corporate and investment partners. The conference focus sectors are Nanotech, Microtech, Biotech and Cleantech.
Connecting with Large Local Enterprises Providing Insights into NUS Technologies & Research Capabilities
On 28 July 2015, Chief Technology Officers and high level representatives of large Singapore companies had the opportunity to see NUS technologies and key research capabilities at the “R&D Showcase to Large Local Enterprises (LLEs)”, organised by the National Research Foundation. NUS represented through the NUS Industry Liaison Office (ILO), was one of the five Institutes of Higher Learning which shared main research areas and collaboration opportunities. ILO highlighted how companies can leverage NUS technologies and research to further innovation aspirations and increase business efficiency.
Dr Ting Dor Ngi, Associate Director, NUS Industry Liaison Office shared opportunities to collaborate with NUS with an attendee at the Local Large Enterprise R&D showcase on 28 July 2015.
The technologies showcased were in the areas of Infocomm technologies and digital media, water, environment and energy technology solutions for a sustainable future. Discussions also focused on business opportunities
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NUS technology posters showcased at the event.
in green technologies. Company representatives who attended the event found it beneficial and gained a better understanding of available NUS technologies and potential research areas for collaboration.
SPARKS partnerships with industry and market leaders
SMART Tech “Show and Tell” Showcasing implementable NUS technologies NUS Industry Liaison Office (ILO) participated in the 18th Infocomm Commerce Conference organised by the Singapore Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 19-20 August 2015. SMART Tech “Show & Tell” was one of the many events in the conference that ILO participated in. It showcased the latest and newest technologies for business productivity. These technologies were quick-to-implement, easy-to-use and customisable enterprise solutions developed by leading local institutes. NUS presented five technologies that garnered much attention from the conference delegates. These were; Looking Glass (augmented reality for better customer interaction), Genie & Lamp (to predict consumer spending patterns), Web Communication (an online video chat solution to connect to customers), GeoVid (to tag videos
Meng Xiangyun, Research Assistant, NUS Integrated Digital Media Institute demonstrated an augmented reality technology that will enable better customer interaction at the SMART Tech “Show and Tell” on 20 August 2015.
with location and viewing direction) and Language Learner (to learn a new language and speak it correctly).
CALL FOR LLP@SG 5th RUN - TEAM APPLICATION LLP@SG is a 10-week entrepreneurial learning programme which helps researchers move their technological inventions from their labs to the commercial marketplace. Adapted from the US NSF’s I-Corps programme, LLP@SG focuses on the search and customer discovery process and the principles of agile engineering. Teams spend about 80% of their course time out of the lab interviewing potential users, customers, partners, regulators and other stakeholders, understanding the landscape and challenges of the market space they want to get in. Using the Business Model Canvas as the analytical tool, they test and validate their hypotheses iteratively. Teams will be under the mentorship of LLP faculty and mentors throughout their discovery journey.
Next Run : Jan to Mar 2016 Weekly sessions & plenary : 6pm – 9pm (Wed) Apply Now!
Application closes : 30th November 2015
For more information contact: Ms Arevil Chen, Assistant Manager, NUS Enterprise LLPSG@nus.edu.sg
Who may apply? • Professors/Inventors, Post-docs and PhD students keen to commercialise their technologies. • Graduates, MBA students and working professionals with entrepreneurial experience and business training
+65 6601 1654
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SPARKS partnerships with industry and market leaders
Partnering One of the World’s Largest Diversified Chemical Companies A Special SABIC Collaboration
At the signing ceremony, (from left to right) Sean Patrick Flanigan, Director, Industry Liaison Office, NUS Enterprise; Professor Barry Halliwell, Senior Advisor to NUS President and Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor of Biochemistry; Janardhanan Ramanujalu, Vice President, SABIC, South Asia & ANZ; Dr. Atieh Abu-Raqabah, General Manager, Corporate Sustainability, SABIC
On 7 July 2015, NUS and SABIC signed a Master Research Agreement to enhance research and collaboration in the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering and materials science, and facilitate technical exchange between one of the world’s largest diversified chemical companies and one of Asia’s top universities. The collaboration allows SABIC’s scientists to leverage NUS’ technical expertise and multidisciplinary capabilities as a leading research-intensive university in Asia. SABIC’s global presence, operational excellence, technological innovation and understanding of global markets know-how will enable NUS to strengthen its research efforts to address global challenges, such as global population growth, and the resulting growing
demand on energy, water, food and infrastructure. The signing ceremony was presided over by Janardhanan Ramanujalu, Vice President, SABIC, South Asia & ANZ and Professor Barry Halliwell, Senior Advisor to NUS President and Tan Chin Tuan Centennial Professor of Biochemistry, who was also Deputy President for Research and Technology prior to his current role. Professor Barry Halliwell said, “We are very pleased to be partnering with SABIC, a company that has a strong commitment to sustainability and innovation, to bring together the best of both our organisations in the fields of chemistry, chemical engineering and material
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science. Collaborations like this with industry-leading companies facilitate the sharing and transferring of customer and industry insights, practical skills and field expertise, all of which are critical to ensuring commercial viability of our research programmes. We are delighted at the prospect of this partnership and look forward to generating some robust results.”
SPARKS passion with exciting entrepreneurial internships
The Indian-Italian-Israeli Connection Pramod Ghadge On Board with A Winning Idea I had an amazing experience during my 6-month NOC Israel programme, where I had the opportunity to work in 3D printing start-up Nano Dimension, the world’s first 3D printer to print a multilayer Printed Circuit Board. My desire to go on the NOC Israel programme stemmed from my interest in 3D printing. I already had some work experience, but wanted to hone my skills further and experience Israeli start-up culture. I worked on product design & business development areas at Nano Dimension. I not only enjoyed the stint, but also came to appreciate the Israeli culture and hospitality. Being an Indian, it was a pleasant experience meeting Israelis; they were really fascinated by India. Everywhere I went, Israelis would go crazy (in a good way) meeting an Indian guy. It may sound funny, but they literally sang Bollywood songs and spoke Hindi when meeting me. A Winning Idea with An International Team During my stint in Israel, I was fortunate to have participated in an international ideas competition – Ideas for Boarding hosted by Aéroports de Paris. We had to think of innovative solutions that could completely improve ground transportation within large airports by 2025-2030. The aim was to facilitate mobility between the major areas of the airport (terminals, business areas, shopping centres, car parks). I found this opportunity very exciting. I scouted for team members to augment my skills and knowledge. Fortunately, my Italian friend Giuseppe agreed to work with me, and we found Amir, an Israeli with an architectural background, as our third team member. We were set for the challenge, and named ourselves ÉcoMobis! Each of us took charge of different aspects of the challenge; engineering was handled by myself, business by Giuseppe and design by Amir. Our team pitched the concept of a two-seat module that travels on a magnetically suspended rail inspired by magnetic levitation technology. ÉcoMobis should be able to turn queues into a bad memory. The module, which is connected and ecological, is designed to form trains of passengers travelling in a straight line. Fitted with an automatic stopping system, it would let its passengers go
EcoMobis team-(Second left to right) Giuseppe Ragosta, Bocconi University, Pramod Ghadge, Masters in Industrial and Systems Engineering from National University of Singapore, Amir Livneh, Tel Aviv University.
through security checks, stop at shops or collect baggage without getting out of their seats, thanks to an articulated arm. By giving importance to sustainability, comfort and safety, we devised a solution harnessing solar energy using less energy requirements and emitting fewer emissions than conventional means of transport. We beat 180 teams from 27 countries to win the competition and our prize was an around the world trip to six destinations of our choice. This victory was wellcovered by the French media, and on social media such as Twitter, Facebook and more. What’s Next? I will work in areas of wearable technology and Internet of Things, along with 3D printing. I plan to work with a team in Singapore which is building a wearable tech product for the sport of cricket, which I follow like many other Indians. I am also in discussion with potential start-up ideas with my ÉcoMobis team mates and App-related ideas with my Indian friends. 13
The winning idea - ÉcoMobis module.
About the Challenge “Ideas for Boarding Challenge” is organised by Studyka and hosted by Aéroports de Paris. The competition is aimed at looking for ideas to revolutionise part of the passenger’s journey in major airports, by coming up with new airport mobility ideas for the future.
SPARKS passion with exciting entrepreneurial internships
Beyond Singapore, A Taste Of Berlin Kwan Jin Yao shares Insights into the German Entrepreneurial Space Fresh from the conclusion of our i LEAD programme, a six-month internship working alongside Singaporebased entrepreneurs, our batch of 15 students were excited with the prospect of spending ten days in Berlin, Germany. Though better known for its manufacturing and engineering prowess and multi-national corporations, it is increasingly known for its unique tech and start-up ecosystems. We began with a visit to the German Tech Entrepreneurship Centre (GTEC) – Germany’s first open campus bridging technology entrepreneurship organisations, resources, and expertise. Co-founder Benjamin Rohé described the landscape in Berlin as “one hundred per cent organic and home-grown, and ever-growing without massive funds from the government”, ranking it with London and Stockholm as three of the top European cities. While the availability of capital is a challenge, it is offset by the diverse talents available in the city, due to internationalisation and the lower costs of living. These perspectives from GTEC were echoed during our visits to seven companies. In particular, Axel Heinz – CEO and founder of online craft school Makerist – recounted how he had to pitch more than 50 times in open sessions, conferences, and even through personal connections because of the slow growth of venture capital in Germany. With government regulations limiting asset allocations and the ability of private investors, Rohé of GTEC noted that German start-ups often reach American investors for larger rounds of funding. The German start-ups seemed to share common strengths. They had an international team mix: period-tracking app Clue had employees who were American, Australian, and Malaysian; of the 10 employees at sales assistant app Inbot, only one was a German; and at door-opening access network KIWI.KI, employees came from seven different countries. From boxes as chairs to makeshift huts to penthouses with city views to accelerator spaces in the city centre, another characteristic they shared was the well-designed work environments.
The writer, Kwan Jin Yao, and the rest of the i Lead team at Houzz in Berlin, Germany.
Besides spending time visiting companies, we also toured the city on our few rest days, and enjoyed pork knuckles and beer in a biergarten (beer garden) in the borough of Spandau.
purposes. The trip provided exposure and inspiration, and we return much grateful for the generosity and openness of the entrepreneurs and their start-ups, and – above all – the meaningful friendships forged.
Another highlight of our trip was participating in Tech Open Air (TOA) Berlin, an “unconference” which builds bridges between the worlds of tech, music, art, and science. The main event – keynote addresses, panel discussions, exhibitions, as well as art and music features – lasted two days, and there was an additional day dedicated to “satellite” events across the city. I took a special interest in TOA Berlin, as my internship company e27 is a community partner for the event, and there were plenty of interaction opportunities with stakeholders from across the world. While the spontaneous TOA Berlin was more multidisciplinary, with a more casual vibe, tech and start-up conferences in Asia seem to be more functional, focused on networking or fundraising
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Room in a Box, at the German Tech Entrepreneurship Centre.
SPARKS interest in upcoming events and activities
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SPARKS food-for-thought
As part of the DBS-NUS Social Venture Challenge Asia 2015, DBS Foundation organised “Idea to Enterprise,” a seminar aimed at helping aspiring and existing social entrepreneurs in various aspects of setting up and growing their businesses. During the first session, four panellists – Jayesh Parekh, Managing Partner, Jungle Ventures; En Lee, Head (Asia Pacific), LGT Venture Philanthropy; Mayukh Choudary, Co-founder, Milaap; and Lena Kang, Institutional Banking, DBS Bank - discussed what type of money is good for a social enterprise. The session was moderated by Patsian Low, Head, DBS Foundation. Here are some of the questions they answered: What is the difference between impact investing and venture philanthropy? What other types of funding are available for social enterprises? Venture philanthropy uses tools of venture capital funding to help young social enterprises; however it also includes grants, in addition to debt and equity financing. And while impact investment also looks for ventures that generate social/environmental impact, there is the added goal of financial returns for the investor. Two other forms of investment available to social enterprises include business loans from a bank and crowdfunding platforms to raise funds from a large number of people via the internet.
Which type of money should I choose? Generally, venture philanthropy is ideal for early-stage ventures to test the waters and develop the business model. Once the venture has shown it has the right balance of ‘doing good’ as well as ‘doing well’, it can try to attract impact investors. The best time to seek business loans from a bank is when the social enterprise is scaling up and has a robust business model. Crowdfunding is a good option if the social enterprise needs to raise funds but cannot attract commercial funding, due to lack of data, proof-ofconcept or history.
ENTERPRISE SPARKS Editorial Team
NUS Enterprise 21 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, Level 5 Singapore 119613 enterprise@nus.edu.sg www.enterprise.nus.edu.sg Company Registration No: 200604346E
Contributors: Jasmine Ho Kwan Jin Yao Pramod Ghadge
What do investors look for when supporting a social venture? Venture philanthropy typically supports young social enterprises that have the potential for rapid growth. Be prepared for 6-8 months of intensive due diligence, where you must provide as much information as possible. For impact investors, the social goal is as important as the financial goal. You need to demonstrate the ability to execute the idea, that the team has the necessary operational skills and the scalability of the business. When applying for a business loan, bankers look for stable or positive net worth. You should also be able to demonstrate independence from funding such as donations or grants. And lastly for crowdfunding, people give money to people, with the cause/project/ product taking a secondary position. So the social entrepreneur needs to be at the forefront, demonstrating credibility, passion and likeability.