Sustainability
Combo of smarter existing cities & new, high-tech cities will make Thailand a desirable destination for global investment, says Dr. Non Arkaraprasertkul
In the interview, Dr. Arkaraprasertkul also shared his views on smart cities startup ecosystem in APAC and how depa help drive the smart cities ecosystem in Thailand and also his suggestions to encourage startups to come up with smart city solutions.
Singapore new material technology startup Alterpacks raises $1M in Pre-Seed funding
Singapore-based new material technology startup Alterpacks has closed its first round of $1 million Pre-Seed funding led by Plug and Play APAC, SEEDS Capital to further its commercialization drive. The round also saw participation from Earth Venture Capital and angel investor Alice Foo.
Singapore’s BillionBricks secures $2.45M led by Thakral Corporation
BillionBricks, a Singapore-based climate-tech venture that combines clean energy and large-scale affordable housing, announced Friday it has closed a $2.45 million seed funding round which was led by investment from Thakral Corporation Ltd.
Australia’s Avarni raises $3M led by Main Sequence to speed up decarbonization efforts
Australian carbon management startup Avarni has raised $3 million to streamline the future of carbon management. The round is the second fundraising since founding and was led by deep tech venture firm Main Sequence, along with existing investors Vulpes Ventures and Common Sense Ventures.
The Supply chain paradox: Sustainability vs. profitability
Adopting the right mindset and attitude towards sustainability – viewing it as an opportunity for growth instead of an obligation – is key. To build a successful and resilient business, leaders must realize that sustainability goes beyond decarbonization, it also includes a commitment to stakeholders of the value chain on social responsibility.
Solar AI Technologies’ Bolong Chew on improving access to renewable tech [ORIGIN Innovation Awards Q&A]
When it comes to sustainable innovation, the first key challenge is the lack of trust and awareness in the technology available in the market. In the context of solar, cost savings of solar can take a few years to actualize, leaving few homeowners willing to invest in a system that they also knew little about in terms of maintenance requirements.
Indonesia’s Fairatmos raises $4.5M seed round led by Go-Ventures and Kreasi Terbarukan TBS
Fairatmos, an Indonesia-based carbon technology platform, has raised $4.5 million in its seed round, led by Go-Ventures and Kreasi Terbarukan TBS, the investment arm of one of Indonesia’s leading integrated energy companies, Toba Bara Sejahtera. The round also saw participation from Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia and India and prominent angel investors.
SK D&D seals deal with Glennmont to invest in solar PV projects in South Korea
South Korea-based renewable energy SK D&D has signed shareholders agreement with Glennmont Partners from Nuveen (Glennmont), one of the world’s largest fund managers investing in clean energy based in the United Kingdom, to establish a joint venture company for the co-investment of solar photovoltaics (PV) projects in South Korea.
Plant-based leather startup PEEL Lab aims to replace 1% of existing leather market by 2030, says Co-Founder [ORIGIN Innovation Awards Q&A]
A winner of the ORIGIN Innovation Awards 2022: Startup Leader of the Year — Startup Trailblazers award, PEEL Lab Co-Founder Jim Huang noted that millennials and GEN-Z are looking for eco-friendly products and brands. The startup hopes to make its leather affordable and accessible to everyone.
ESG brings color back into the business model, says VinFast Director of ESG Dr. Morgan Carroll [ORIGIN Innovation Awards Q&A]
At VinFast we envisage an ecosystem unit that is neutral in nature and compliments stakeholder environmental sentiments.
