​

AppWorks, Taiwan-based startup community that claims to be the region’s longest-running accelerator, announces 18 startups joining its 19th Demo Day. With a focus on AI and blockchain, the 18 founders that will pitch in the Demo Day today demonstrated experiments in the AI, IoT, and Blockchain frontiers.

The Ai-powered industries include real estate, finance, and medical science, with a total of 14 AI, IoT startups and four blockchain startups. Six of the founders featured are from Taiwan, and the other 12 come from around the world and Greater Southeast Asia (GSEA), with half of the founders are serial entrepreneurs, bringing backgrounds in tech companies like Google, Qualcomm, Samsung, MediaTek, Agoda, IBM Watson, Initium Media, and PepsiCo.

After spending four months development in Taiwan, the pitching by founders only will happen in front of the investors and potential corporate partners from Taiwan and Southeast Asia, including investment professionals and executives from Fubon Financial Holdings, Taiwan Mobile, Cathay Life Insurance, Wistron Corporation, Hungtai Group, UDN, FarEasTone, as well as Taiwan’s National Development Council, and more, seeking an opportunity for investment and business collaboration for these founders.

Also Read: E-scooter-sharing platform Telepod raises funding led by SMRT’s corporate VC and incubator

With Taiwan as a launchpad, the products from these 18 startups are ready to be pushed into new markets for potential accelerated growth throughout the region.

  • Telepod, an EV smart mobility startup based in Singapore with a mission to bring transport efficiency and climate harm reduction to cities in developing Southeast Asia markets. The startup was founded by Jin-Ni Gan, who claimed that it has shipped her EV smart mobility devices and battery kiosks to seven markets.
  • Matters, a Hong Kong blockchain startup that enables content providers to be paid for their content, rather than to have their content and revenue opportunities that are often dependant on advertising algorithms and walled social media. The startup was founded by Annie Zhang that claimed to have scaled to over 20,000 customers during the accelerator session.
  • Beseye, a startup that provides wifi-managed AI cameras allows the scanning of the movement of people near railway tracks to prevent accidents. The startup was founded by Shaq Tu, claimed to have already booked giant Tokyo Railways as a client.
  • SELF TOKEN, Taiwan-based blockchain digital assets through Ethereum Smart Contracts that’s committed to creating an ecosystem of immersive entertainment experiences. Founder Jack Hsu also directed “The Last Thieves”, the world’s first film based on Blockchain.
  • WeavAir, sensors and analytics company started by Singularity University graduate Dr. Natalia Mykhalova. The company uses AI and IoT sensors to build a recurring revenue business model that helps developers and landlords pinpoint trouble spots in their building control systems.
  • Arical, a startup that’s co-founded by San Wong and Clement Tien from Hong Kong, is a platform that plans to “unlock the potential of property development.” Their 3-D AI envisioning tool enables clients like Henderson Land to spend only a few hours to map out hundreds of possibilities for designing buildings, as they have done recently in a project in Manila, the Philippines.
  • Fourcons, Indonesia-based construction equipment platform started by founder Felix Hartantio. Fourcons provides an AI-driven platform for finding, verifying, and managing construction equipment.
  • Blyng, an AI virtual assistant in real estate created by co-founder Julien Priour. It helps agencies cut down on missed opportunities in qualifying inbound leads.
  • OnMyGrad, a career development, and workforce transition co-founded by Clement Tien and Anthony So, from Hong Kong. It works with recruiters to help students prepare for roles in several industries.
  • KaChick, a platform for sourcing authentic photography from over 1,500 amateur and professional photographers, and have taken steps to pair those media assets with brands in the hospitality and entertainment space to drive more engaging marketing and branding campaigns at lower margin cost. The startup’s co-founders Peggy Cheung and Larry Lam.
  • Dent & Co, a medical services AI chatbot created by dentist Steve Chu.
  • Fluv, a pet care platform for local pet parents and sitters, is being demonstrated by former PepsiCo marketing staffer Candace Chen.
  • Mellow, an app to help young people and families manage finances created by first-time founders Chester Szeen and Teresa Chan from Hong Kong. It enables children to use their “first money” through debit card usage and parent-regulated accounting.
  • Dapp Pocket, a crypto wallet app created by Anderson Chen that’s in the vertical of payments.
  • Portto, a blockchain startup created by three former members of the crypto company Cobinhood promises to make the KYC and onboarding process for using Blockchain simpler.
  • Whoopee Robot, an AI/IoT startup created by founder Morris Lu, is now operating in five local shops and has served over 10,000 cups of robotically-delivered espresso beverages.
  • SparkAmplify, an AI-powered PR service founded by Chien Lee that delivers an automated public relations system for clients.
  • Gigvvy Science, a platform for speeding up the sluggish vetting and reviewing of critical science research co-founded by New Zealand-based co-founders Lisa Hsu and Mark Mai.

AppWorks Chairman and Partner Jamie Lin said at the opening of the event:
“Of the 31 teams that were admitted to the AW#19 program, 19 are working with AI/IoT, 10 with Blockchain/Crypto, and 2 are incorporating both technologies. What’s more, 23 per cent of founders from this batch are female, which marks one of our highest percentages in recent years. With the addition of the graduates from AW#19, there are now a total of 376 active startups and 1,113 founders in the AppWorks Ecosystem.”

Also Read: Our TOP100 Taiwan champion says let’s bring chatbots to real estate!

Founded in 2009, AppWorks is a startup community built by founders, for founders. With its commitment to mentorship, investment, and talent, AppWorks said it has established a one-stop-shop for founders willing to drive a change they see in the world through its three primary lines of service: Accelerator, Funds, and School.
–

The post Taiwan-based startup incubator AppWorks reveals 18 selected startups from 19th Demo Day, showcasing Southeast Asia’s AI, blockchain capabilities appeared first on e27.