Contests

DBS HotSpot Announces 11 Finalists for Pre-Accelerator Program

DBS HotSpot Pre-Accelerator officially launched on September 7 at BASH, in Singapore. 11 teams have been handpicked to join the three-month program, which aims to support entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship in Singapore through experimentation, mentorship and funding.

The 11 selected startups will be given S$25,000 in seed capital, working space at Block 79, as well as receive mentorship from startup veterans, DBS corporate executives and accelerators. Following the three-month intensive program, they will pitch their products to investors and accelerators.

Commenting on the DBS HotSpot Pre-accelerator program, Neal Cross, chief innovation officer of DBS said:

“There is two issues that we are trying to solve: one, we want to evolve the culture of DBS to be a more innovative culture; secondly, we felt that a lot of startups in Singapore […] need some help to a point of being ready for acceleration, and hence we came up with a pre-accelerator.”

The startups that have been selected are:

Travez

Travez is a startup that provides with a chat interface that allows users to get real time answers to their travel queries. Travez seeks to disrupt the online travel service space by revolutionizing the way travelers plan and book their holidays.

BambooBike

BambooBike is a social enterprise founded by former DBS banker Kevin Kwa and co-founder Claudia Cheng.

BambooBike retails enthically-sourced bamboo bicycles and assessories in support of employment opportunities in rural Vietnam.

Invoice Interchange

Invoice Interchange provides a P2P invoice trading marketplace that helps businesses resolve cash flow challenges.

The startup provides businesses with a better, cheaper and flexible way to raise working capital and financing.

Inderr

Inderr is a matchmaking app for angel investors and startup founders. It allows both parties to connect within seconds by swiping left or right to match and meet up conveniently.

Crux

Crux is a digital news media application that focuses on Asian affairs for the global readership that analyzes how readers around the world engage with news. Crux aims at providing data to publishers and thought leaders.

VICA

VICA is a household service marketplace that takes a Uber-like approach.

The Fruitful Crew

The Fruitful Crew is a social startup that seeks to reduce food waste.

sumi

sumi analyzes personality traits for marketing purposes.

AccordingToMe

AccordingToMe provides tools that make banking and finance management as effortless as possible.

Nickel

Nickel is a blockchain-powered mobile remittance app to enable migrants workers send money home.

BeMex

BeMex is an online exchange platform.