EduSpaze, Singapore’s leading edtech accelerator, has on Tuesday welcomed six early-stage startups across the region into its well-established three-month accelerator program.
The latest batch of edtech startups aligns with the accelerator’s program goal of supporting the development of innovative solutions that can improve the education landscape in Singapore and its region, EduSpaze said in a statement.
The six startups, including YAHO Lab, Edvance, Quippy, School on Cloud, Safe Space, and Salatech, were selected due to their high market potential and scalability, strong founding team, and clear value proposition while displaying great potential.
As part of the renowned three-month EduSpaze accelerator program, the startups would receive seed funding and mentorship from industry experts, access to a network of investors, and opportunities to expand their businesses in the region.
“The Southeast Asia (SEA) region is known for its unique challenges and opportunities, making it a dynamic area for professional endeavors,
“This region comprises diverse countries, each with its own distinct characteristics and obstacles despite their geographical proximity,” said Alex Ng, Managing Director of EduSpaze.
“We observe varying levels of readiness for digital transformation among countries in Southeast Asia. For example, with a 98 percent internet penetration rate1 among students in Singapore, the Edtech Masterplan 2030 is focused on creating a seamless and enhanced learning environment for students,
“However, in countries with low internet penetration rates countries like Cambodia, their edtech policy is instead prioritizing expanding access to quality education for marginalized communities,” he said
As such, he said the firm is committed to bolstering the growth of the eighth cohort, to foster innovation and address the diverse educational needs and capacities within the SEA region.
EduSpaze, operates under the umbrella of Spaze Ventures, is a prominent seed capital firm and startup incubator, and is supported by Enterprise Singapore.
The accelerator program, now in its eighth iteration, strives to empower and uplift edtech startups within the region.
Past participants of this initiative including Flying Cape, ClassPoint, and myFirst.
According to the statement, Singapore has emerged as a vibrant hub for technology startups, particularly in the education technology (edtech) sector.
The city-state’s conducive environment for innovation, robust infrastructure, and strong government support has fueled the growth of numerous edtech startups, propelling them from local success to global impact.
Notably, from the eighth cohort, School on Cloud has developed innovative solutions that gamify learning for children to address the evolving needs of the education sector, leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics to enhance learning experiences.
“At School on Cloud, we are dedicated to revolutionizing the education system and providing quality education for all children, regardless of their backgrounds,
“Through innovative technology and inclusive teaching methods, we are determined to create a love for learning and break down barriers to education,” said Mint Lim, Co-founder of School on Cloud.
“Having been founded in 2021 in Singapore, we have since expanded our target market to include Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia,
“We are excited to be part of EduSpaze’s eighth cohort, especially with their team of educators-in-residence (EIR) to help provide an educator’s perspective, School on Cloud is definitely on the right path in improving and bringing our innovative technology to a greater audience globally,” said Lim.
According to the statement, in addition to enriching educational opportunities, there is a growing demand for increased support in addressing students’ and adults’ mental health concerns.
In Southeast Asia, approximately one in seven individuals grapple with mental health issues, underscoring the necessity for the development of a more robust mental health care infrastructure in a region where such conditions are often stigmatized.
Notably, in Singapore, data from the National Population Health Survey revealed a rise in mental health challenges from 13.4 percent in 2020 to 17 percent in 2022, with a concerning 25.3 percent of young adults experiencing mental health issues.
This highlights the escalating need for mental health care startups, like Safe Space, to prioritize creating solutions tailored to young adults within the higher education sector.
“Safe Space has seen success in the corporate setting where we witness 93.7 percent of our users agreeing that our platform left a positive impact on their mental health,
“Our online service for counselling makes seeking mental health treatments more convenient and accessible, especially in SEA where mental health is stigmatized and not as well-established,” said Antoinette Patterson, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Safe Space.
“In the corporate field, we have helped over 100 international clients from Asia Pacific (APAC), Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) and Australia and New Zealand (ANZ) and we’re excited to translate our successes into the educational field, where we are witnessing a growing demand for our unique solutions,
“Now that we are part of the prestigious EduSpaze accelerator program, we are excited to combine our knowledge and experience in the mental health field with Eduspaze’s experience in the education scene, to continue our expansion globally,” he added.
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