Fengru L.

A few months ago, I shared that VentureBlick became a programme partner of the Startup SG Accelerator. Today, we’re inviting promising Singapore startups to join our next round of our Super Incubator programme! 🇸🇬   Our purpose here is to enable healthcare entrepreneurs to not just dream big but also turn those dreams into impactful realities.   𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐥𝐲? 📍Startups in medtech or healthtech based in Singapore 📍Ideas or technologies that solve real problems, create new opportunities, or shake up the market 📍Teams that have completed a proof-of-concept or early feasibility work 📍Singapore-registered startups with at least 30% equity owned by Singaporeans or PRs   If this sounds like your startup, we’d love to hear from you! Joining this programme means working with a network of global experts and gaining the support to take your innovation to the next level.   Details here: https://lnkd.in/gmcDnD6e   Startup SG is an initiative of Enterprise Singapore, and we’re proud to be part of this ecosystem driving innovation and entrepreneurship in this red dot.   #SuperIncubator #Healthcare #Innovation

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What is the true value that cultivated food startups are delivering? The spate of mergers, consolidations or straight up failures isn't due to technology immaturity, nor is the lack of funding a primary reason. The fundamental challenge is to the consumer, there is no differentiation between cultivated food and traditionally grown ones. Consumers won't pay a single cent more for something they don't see the need for. 30%-40% of food is wasted between farm to table. About 15% to 20% of greenhouse gases are from the meat industry. But tell the consumer their cultivated beef is a dollar more, they won't hesitate to stick with the traditionally grown one. A large amount of marketing , education and government intervention is required to push the adoption of cultivated food. Bear in mind that as the industry innovates, the traditional competitors are also innovating, making this a game of catch up. I want to stress the point of government intervention. Food security is a national concern. With more than 90% of food imported to Singapore, the government needs to do more than just give out grants and funds to initiate or develop the technology. They are the best conduit to reach out to the masses but that part is sorely lacking. #innovation #startups #agritech #valuedelivery

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Just attended the Agri-Food Tech Expo Asia in Singapore today, and I’m truly wowed by the diversity of innovation on display. From cutting-edge vertical farming systems to AI solutions improving food supply chains to photosynthesis enhancers to protein alternative foods, it’s clear that technology is transforming agriculture. These companies are not just boosting food security, they’re reshaping our future. The passion and creativity behind these innovations are a testament to what’s possible when we combine technology with a mission to solve global food challenges. As a shareholder of communications consultancy, Milk & Honey PR | Certified B Corp, I'm always keen to see companies that are purpose and impact-led... so I'm super excited to see some of these concepts grow into real scalable solutions for a more sustainable world! If you were there too, what stood out to you? Let’s connect and share insights. #agriculture #FoodSecurity #FoodTech #AgriTech #Singapore #SustainableFoodSources

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My recent post on Southeast Asia’s funding scene saw very polar views. Some agreed on numbers, while others felt more active risk-taking was needed to progress. To add more flavour to it, let’s ponder the question: Will SEA produce the next ### unicorns? I’d say eventually with time, sure. The region has great growth, a tech-savvy young population and more FDI flowing into it.  Plenty of tailwinds for success. It boils down to the right timing and approach. (That aside, I believe measuring ecosystem health purely with “# of unicorns” is an incomplete yardstick.) Southeast Asia’s current market dynamics and current maturity of the region simply imply that it’ll be a long shot in the short term. 1/ SEA is a fragmented market with no regional exchange 2/ Investors need repeatable exits to return a gain for their LPs 3/ LPs need to see DPI to justify reinvesting more capital Doubling down on funds hunting for elusive unicorns 🦄 … In the short-term it looks rosy. Many funding rounds will be done with huge buzz generated. But this is not without consequence. What most miss are incentive structures that force careless allocation. To allocate quickly, VCs will investing in many startups, hoping 1-2 winners will carry the portfolio. This has been proven to work in markets like the USA. But we haven’t seen irrefutable evidence it does as well here for majority of funds. 🔺The hit rate for unicorns is low. 🔺Our current exit environment doesn’t support mega exits. The numbers simply won’t make sense, for now at least. Instead, the result is a lot of failure and weak DPIs. Layoffs ensue, markets crash and LPs pull out never to return. --- What you can find are Zebras 🦓 Sustainable businesses generating good cash flow & predictable rev. Eventually, they get to a steady state of profitable metrics without heavy reliance on capital to still deliver a good return. That’s what we look for at Tin Men Capital. My point is - I may come across as pessimistic.  But on the contrary, I'm positive that our region will grow with patience and the right strategy. We have to accept capital cannot solve all problems to ensure growth happens immediately. Our region is unique. So we’d do well to avoid an approach built for another. When the region’s success is proven, it’ll attract deeper, more patient, sophisticated capital We can build upon that and build the next game-changing tech companies. What do you think?

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"Don’t be reactive." These wise words from Tanwa Arpornthip still resonate with me. I had the opportunity to attend the ASEAN GENAI Road Show Report by GenAI Fund at the AWS office in Bangkok this Wednesday. After navigating two security checkpoints, just like an airport, I found myself in a room filled with energy and enthusiasm that reminded me of the Bay Area. Tanwa's advice, "Don't be reactive," is relevant not only in business but in many aspects of life. Here’s how this principle applies: 1️⃣ Startups: Securing your first investment is exciting, but alignment between founders and investors on vision and operational methods is crucial. Reacting solely to the influx of funds can harm the startup’s culture and lead to conflicts. 2️⃣ Conflict Resolution: In moments of tension, it’s important to avoid knee-jerk reactions. Taking a step back to consider various perspectives helps in navigating conflicts more effectively. 3️⃣ Problem Solving: There’s rarely a one-size-fits-all solution. By not reacting impulsively, we can explore multiple options and choose the most effective solution. (Though it’s worth noting, sometimes the best solution is the one implemented swiftly.) Thank you, Laura Nguyen and Denning Tan from GenAI Fund, for organizing such an inspiring event. For AI startups with a Thai national as the majority shareholder, there’s an opportunity to receive funding from the Innovation ONE Fund in Thailand. Take advantage of it!

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Hundred Grains (百米香) is a new Chinese fast food concept in FNB that has a great (instant) product market fit judging from the long ques daily. 1. it's a new concept not seen in Singapore (that i know off): Hundred Grains is a casual Chinese fast food restaurant that charges by weight, no matter what sort of food you order, fish, meat, vegetables are all exactly the same price. (Around $3.30 for 100 grams and minimum 200 grams). I've seen this concept in America (whole foods and delis in manhattan) and also in China. 2. It processes customers fast: While charging by weight (what if someone orders only the most expensive item?) might seem counterintuitive with regards to pricing it has an added advantage of being extremely fast to process, everyone just walks to the counter with a box and pays in seconds. 3. the food is nice and unique: Hundred Grains serves mainly Mainland Chinese style food (such as tomatoes with eggs and Hunan pork..) which has a big potential market (TAM) as not many eateries in the CBD serve this style of food. 4: It's not cheap, i've noticed the average spend is at least $10-$12 per person but yet ques are long. people are ok to pay for (1-3). 1-4 is opposite to what the popular Singapore style "cai fan" (economy rice). because every item is priced differently and you have to tell the server what you want, it can easily take 10-15 minutes during a busy lunch hour to get your food. above all, there is also variation, I've always wondered how come the person before me got more portions or I wish I could try abit of everything. Ultimately, F&B is a very fickle and tough market to operate in, especially the working CBD market where new stores mushroom up always. New concepts is always good and it's good to be a consumer! In the meantime you know where to find me at lunch (and some dinners!) #food #fnb #productmarketfit https://lnkd.in/g3Q_WdVc

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Tough business ..Indoor Vertical Farm here. Need to address the issues affecting this business if food security is important to Singapore. Mega indoor veggie farm I.F.F.I shuts down in latest blow to local food production https://lnkd.in/gSxxGBiM

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Singapore's local vegetable scene is oversaturated and unstaintable. In the last few years, Singapore has experienced a surge of local farms (e.g. Green Harvest, Meod, Yili Vegetables, SG Veggies, etc.) and an influx of their produce. As of 2023, there are 115 vegetable farms, up from 111 in 2022. However, most of these farms are financially unsustainable and are mainly relying on grants in the short term to help sustain their business. Compared to similar vegetables imported from Malaysia, local produce has a disadvantage in terms of price (i.e. usually 1.5x to 2x more). In terms of volume, according to SFA, local vegetable production accounted for only 3.2% of total food consumption in Singapore. In addition, most of these farms produce similar types of vegetables (e.g. Xiao Bai Cai, Cai Xin, Red Spinach, Round/Sharp Spinach). With the low consumption volumes and the lack of variety in local produce, there is only so much of the pie to be shared amongst these farms. The initiative to sell these products at a lower price might be helpful in the short run to attract customers. However, unlike in wet markets where stall owners can educate consumers regarding the type, country of origin, and the preparation and cooking methods of the vegetables, it is common for consumers to revert to their usual purchasing patterns - leaning towards the cheaper options. Eventually, the demand for our local produce will fall, and we will see the consolidation of these financially unsustainable farms, which will inevitably increase prices to sustain their businesses.

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Thailand's Board of Investment (BOI) is driving innovation in sustainable agriculture and green energy with new incentives to attract investments in eco-friendly industries. Focused on AgTech, clean energy, and green manufacturing, these initiatives align with Thailand's Bio-Circular-Green (BCG) economic model. Key strategies include tax breaks, grants, and other incentives to help companies advance sustainable practices. The BOI's push for green investment reflects Thailand's commitment to a climate-resilient economy and strengthens its appeal as a hub for future-forward AgTech and sustainability-focused ventures. #AgTechThailand #VentureCapital #SustainableInvesting #GreenEnergy #ThailandEconomy #BCGModel #InnovationInAgriculture

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🌍 Why I Started WWWASTE Pte Ltd and the Journey to Developing wwwaste.io 🌍 As the founder and software director of WWWASTE Pte Ltd, I share the story behind launching this company and the vision propelling us forward. Witnessing the challenges in waste management, particularly in emerging markets, led to the creation of wwwaste.io. Our SaaS platform aims to revolutionize waste management by offering scalable, tech-driven solutions for industries and regions worldwide. The goal is clear - streamline waste collection, track waste from source to disposal or recycling, and minimize environmental impact. Through wwwaste.io, we strive to empower businesses, governments, and communities to manage waste sustainably, promoting transparency and accountability. Technology plays a pivotal role in reshaping waste management practices towards a cleaner, greener future. How do you view the impact of technology on waste management? Can tech innovations drive the necessary change to tackle global waste challenges? Your insights are valuable and I look forward to hearing them! Exciting times lie ahead as we forge ahead to enhance waste management practices, making them smarter and more sustainable. #SaaS #WasteManagement #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #TechForGood #WasteToWealth #wwwaste

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Insightful pointers about Southeast Asia. It is easy to make generalizing conclusions about this geography as a single entity but understanding the underlying and subtle nuances is critical to win in this market.

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Thailand's new Prime Minister, Srettha Thavisin, is prioritizing policy reforms to address economic challenges, focusing on stimulating growth and improving livelihoods. Key initiatives include restructuring public debt, supporting small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and increasing foreign investment. Thai Government is also committed to enhancing social welfare programs to help reduce economic inequality across the country. These moves are intended to create a more robust and inclusive economy in Thailand. #EconomicGrowth #ThailandEconomy #PolicyReform #Investment #SMEs #SretthaThavisin

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"30 by 30 needs to be part of a larger whole-of-system strategy that takes into account other ways to assure food resilience". Transformation is not only breakthrough technologies like cell cultured meat etc... Innovating food manufacturing and food value chains and developing strategic partnerships with our agri-food exporting neighbours is transformative too. All go hand in hand

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🇸🇬Chilli crab, Gender Diversity, and ClimateTech - just an (extra)ordinary dinner in Singapore: “Do you think Singapore has a DEI problem?” asked one of our dinner guests as he sat up in his chair, eagerly looking around the table of 10, to see who’d be keen to share a point of view. Comments followed, with insights from the UK, Finland, Philippines…India. Definitions of “working women” debated, and comparisons of paternity leave across geographies exchanged. “How can we ensure that women coming back from maternity leave can have the same opportunities - roles and compensation - and are not disadvantaged by their decision to have children?” asked someone from the other side of the table. It was a humid Tuesday evening at Long Beach, with a group of colleagues coming together to talk #sustainability, #biodiversity, #naturecapital, the roles of investment and corporate sectors in driving change, most interesting areas to invest across decarbonization and #adaptation…And of course - #gender. After all, gender and climate are intrinsically linked and this group of highly-engaged and driven individuals coming from banking, legal, family office, startup, corporate and other sectors - were not afraid to dive in deep and bring up controversial topics. While some knew each other from other circles and reconnected (some even went to high school together) — others met for the first time and (hopefully) made new friends and climate allies. With mango dessert as a finishing course, we hugged an evening goodbye. “We need clear and consistent messaging for private sector to invest in more climate innovation and technological solutions” pointed out a representative of a family office. And she is not wrong. 🙏 An enormous thank you to Ann-Marie Wun and Christine Amour-Levar for bringing together some of the most incredible people of Singapore for dinner with The Radical Fund Here is to many more radical encounters. #climateresilience #investorsforclimate #climategender

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Singapore's Green Plan isn't just ambitious—it's a blueprint for harmonizing economic growth with environmental stewardship. At its core? The voluntary carbon market. This powerful tool enables companies to offset emissions proactively, positioning Singapore as a pivotal carbon trading hub. The question is: How will this reshape our approach to sustainable business practices? #CarbonMarket #SustainableBusiness #ClimateAction #GreenEconomy #SingaporeInnovation What role do you see your organization playing in this evolving landscape?

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"Market selection is crucial. When I was in America, expanding from Boston to New York or DC was challenging due to factors like demographics, economy, and housing structure, but it wasn’t a different language or culture. For many founders in Singapore, the approach has to be even more strategic. Instead of expanding to 'Indonesia,' they’re actually expanding to Jakarta, the capital, where GDP per capita is vastly higher than in other parts of Indonesia. This level of thoughtfulness is essential when deciding how to enter new geographic markets. It may look straightforward on a PowerPoint slide, but executing it in practice is far more complex." - Jeremy Au 区汉辉, Host of BRAVE Southeast Asia Tech Podcast Watch, listen or read the full insight at https://lnkd.in/gEVxmGb9 Nonton, dengar atau baca wawasan lengkapnya di https://lnkd.in/gPE-JUUW 观看、收听或阅读全文，请访问 https://lnkd.in/gVCRzTC5 Xem, nghe hoặc đọc toàn bộ thông tin chi tiết tại https://lnkd.in/gZFEdFmB #MarketSelection #GlobalExpansion #BusinessStrategy #CulturalAwareness #Jakarta #GrowthMindset #EconomicFactors #Entrepreneurship #ExpansionStrategy #SingaporeanFounders #BRAVEpodcast

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We spoke to Arnaud Bonzom, founder of Black Mangroves and seasoned angel investor. We dive deep into the entrepreneurial and venture capital landscape in Southeast Asia for 2024 based on the recent Lightspeed Ventures' "Resetting Expectations - Southeast Asia" report. 🚀 Arnaud shares valuable insights on the evolution of late-stage funding and why the region’s VCs are now resetting expectations. He also offers actionable advice for founders on navigating the current fundraising climate and what success could look like for the region in the years to come. Whether you're a founder, investor, or just interested in the Southeast Asia startup scene, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. 🎧 "So if you have 1 billion to invest, we're not expecting you the same. return that if you invest 10 million. So, then at that time, when all this money flew to Southeast Asia, people think in Southeast Asia, Oh, we made it. Now all the world looks at us. We're finally a good ecosystem. Everyone will invest in us, but that is just the tide right? When the tide withdraws, the first place they're going to go out will be Southeast Asia because it's not the one offering the best outcome for them. So that is going out, and I don't think so it's coming back at any time. So people shouldn't expect to get those people to be as aggressive as they have been there. Lastly, I mean, two things. One, a great company will always raise capital. The top one will always find their way. So there's no issue for those. The thing is for the one just below them. So that will be very difficult for those people. And then you have, you may have different paths. Some will have to be way more capital-efficient for sure." - Arnaud Bonzom Full YouTube Video: https://lnkd.in/dqf7c8vc #SoutheastAsia #VentureCapital #Startups #AnalyseAsia #Funding

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Very pleased to share that VentureBlick has been chosen as the market entry agency for the 2024 Seoul Bio Hub Global Expansion Growth Acceleration Program!   This means we’ll be working closely with three amazing digital health startups from Seoul to help them expand into new markets. Here’s a quick look at what they’re working on:   💻 AITRICS AI-driven medical software designed to predict and prevent life-threatening acute illnesses. By enabling timely interventions, it reduces patient mortality, minimises false alarms, and optimises hospital resources. From ICUs to general wards, AITRICS is streamlining healthcare operations like never before. ❤️‍🩹 Medical AI, Inc. Revolutionising cardiac care with AI-ECG software capable of detecting heart failure and myocardial infarction. Trusted by 50+ hospitals and serving 100,000 patients monthly, it’s expanding globally across the US, India, and Europe to redefine how we approach heart health. 📲  Monit (www.monitcorp.com) Transforming caregiving for seniors with AIoT solutions. From smart monitoring systems to excretion care robots and innovative diaper-sensing technology, Monit is reducing caregiver workload and enhancing quality of life. This work is part of the 2024 Seoul Bio Hub Global Growth Acceleration Program.   Learn more about the accelerator programs we run for the healthcare innovation ecosystem: https://lnkd.in/gNHq5Yk3   Stay tuned as we share more about these startups and their incredible work in healthcare.   #SeoulBioHub #DigitalHealth #Innovation #VentureBlick

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