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You awake to commotion – your mother’s woken up in the middle of the night and is having trouble breathing. She struggles to sit up, holding her hand to her chest. You rush her to the hospital. As you hold her hand, you can feel her pulse racing – all symptoms of an incredibly quick heartbeat. When you both get there, she feels fine. She can walk around and speak to you. Every reading turns up normal. This is the third time this has happened this month.

You’re ready to go home and dread it at the same time – you know this is going to happen again.

This time’s different, though. A doctor hands you a triangular device with little sticky cups on the back. If this happens again, he says, come back, but stick this under her collarbone before you get here.

Two weeks later, you and Mom are on another run to the hospital. This time, when you get there, the doctor’s ready with a printout. “I know what to do,” he says.

This is how medical hardware startup Ten3T was able to help a patient in Delhi, India, recently.

Once stuck on the body, Ten3T’s wearable monitoring device, Cicer, can measure ECG (electrocardiogram, or your heart rhythm), heart rate, blood oxygen, and temperature. It’ll analyze those in real time and have a report ready in 30 seconds. Physicians can then know what’s happening, even if they’re not with the patient at the time.

Clinical beginnings

Ten3T’s co-founders. Photo credit: Ten3T.

A heart beats an average 103,000 times per year, hence the name Ten3T (10-3-thousand), an indication about how serious the startup is about marrying medicine to tech. After getting his medical degree, Dr. Sudhir Borgonha, co-founder of the Bangalore-based startup, went to MIT to study management. He has worked at hospitals in the US and served in executive and clinical research roles in India, the UK, and the US. Over time, he realized there was a huge space in medical tech that startups could fill.

Tech in the average clinic today would be great for the 1970s – but it’s pitiful today.

“Tech and medicine have to interface a lot more,” he tells Tech in Asia. Tech in the average clinic today would be great for the 1970s – but it’s pitiful today. People in the community assume it’s only Johnson & Johnson or Philips who get to build medical gizmos.

Sudhir experienced regulatory problems with his last company, and then started Ten3T with his newfound knowledge. With Rahul Shingrani and Prasad Bhat, he began developing Cicer two years ago with the aim of creating a medical-grade device that could be used to help patients. Cardiac health, especially in the heart disease capital of the world, was an obvious place to start.

Self-funded for two years, the startup raised seed funding in December from Pi Ventures and angel investors. Pi Ventures focuses on companies implementing machine learning, AI, and Internet of Things (IoT) in their ideas.

Still, the team’s keeping things real. They’re looking for a new office at the moment, Sudhir tells me. They’re working out of a friend’s house in Bangalore in the meantime.

Critical care

Cicer. Photo credit: Ten3T.

70 to 80 percent of patients don’t need to be in the intensive care unit, or ICU, he explains. Patients in the unit are supposed to be there because they have serious medical conditions that require close monitoring. Since the ICU is often the place in the hospital with the best monitoring equipment – or any monitoring equipment at all (India’s in the middle of a hospital and doctor shortage – patients there can take time and attention away from more critical cases). Cicer’s ability to continuously monitor and report on a patient’s conditions can free up physicians’ time and attention.

Meanwhile, in places that can’t afford to have medical facilities at all, like nursing homes, Cicer can monitor heartbeats and breathing, two conditions where a few minutes’ more knowledge can make the difference between life and death.

The company is still working on a pricing model, leaning toward a pay-per-use system. Sudhir points out one place where the device could save a lot of money: while a US$40 machine called a Holter monitor can continuously record a patient’s ECG over 24 hours, Cicer can do the same for much less. “Our cost is just the sticker on the back – 100 rupees [US$1.50],” the doctor says.

70 to 80 percent of patients don’t need to be in the intensive care unit.

Cicer is predominantly being used and tested in Bangalore, with some testing happening in cities like Delhi and Hyderabad. The point, Sudhir says, is not to be another vitals medical monitoring device company like Stasis Labs, Uber Diagnostics, or Tricog. Cicer ultimately will implement artificial intelligence (AI) to better analyze the data on the spot, further giving doctors a hand. It will also add additional sensors to the wearable.

While that’s in development, usage remains small – fewer than 20 Cicers exist in the world, and the startup won’t produce more than 100 this year as they’re tested by cardiologists in a variety of situations, including jogging, biking, and showering. The device is waterproof.

Because Cicer’s aim is to be up to medical standards, its use for now remains in hospitals or under the eyes of physicians.

Converted from Indian rupees. US$1 = INR 67.38

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Jules’ computational thinking curriculum for preschool children. Photo credit: Jules.

As more people agree on the importance of digital literacy and learning to code, another consensus seems to be emerging: better to start ‘em young.

Singapore-based Jules is one company that’s taking this to heart. It’s developed School of Fish, a curriculum that’s aimed to promote and teach computational thinking to preschool children.

Computational thinking is a way to approach problem solving in a way that also helps human-machine interactions. It involves breaking down problems into smaller parts, recognizing patterns, and developing step-by-step solutions. It promotes a structured, analytical way of thinking that’s essential in approaching coding, while still encouraging creative thinking.

Preschoolers can learn and improve their digital literacy, even at a young age.

While there are several websites that provide tools for parents to get their kids familiar with coding, Jules has created a structured approach that preschools can integrate into their teaching programs.

The firm is working with a number of preschools in Singapore to integrate School of Fish into their curriculum, like Carpe Diem, Sherwood Childcare, and most recently with Cherie Hearts – a subsidiary of educational childcare company G8 Education.

The lessons, delivered to preschoolers via tablets, feature interactive teacher characters (or “learning buddies”), games, activities, and videos. There is also a dashboard for parents to keep track of their child’s progress and performance.

“Through School of Fish, we believe more preschoolers can learn and improve their digital literacy, even at a young age. The learning process must be fun and interactive for children,” says Jules founder Jonathan Chan.

Concerns as to whether children in that age range are too young to get started on digital literacy could be quelled by just watching your average four-year-old use an iPad these days. However, preschools do take care to limit the time their pupils spend on the curriculum.

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There are few things worse than being involved in a collision. Not only does it carry the serious risk of bodily harm, the distress we feel when our cars are mutilated is a feeling hard to overcome.

The added hassles of paperwork, insurance, and repair workshops are other pestering headaches we’d much rather avoid.

This problem might be mitigated to a large degree with the inevitable autonomous car revolution, but that’s a fair distance away. In the meantime, your phone can help you drive safely.

Nexar is a dashcam app that uses your phone’s accelerometer and camera to track traffic conditions as you drive. It’ll send you warnings and emergency signals in case of any impending danger – such as sudden braking or a crash on the road ahead. No matter how old your car is, this app can turn it into a much smarter beast.

The Israel-headquartered startup, founded by Eran Shir and Bruno Ruiz, raised a total of US$14.5 million in funding so far, including a sizeable US$10.5 million series A round in June.

The app is free to download and doesn’t rely solely on expensive hardware to function properly, explains Aviv Cohen, VP of marketing. It’s capable of automatically detecting and recording events like a hard brake or collisions. Once the video is saved, it’ll be automatically uploaded to the cloud.

In November, Nexar launched its vehicle-to-vehicle network so that users would now be part of a real-time, global sensor network. In a blog post, Eran outlined a major goal of the company – to create a “new normal” in three years wherein “collisions are not an act of God, but rather, a handled problem”.

Monetizing data

Of course, as this app is downloaded by drivers around the world, they’ll be relaying back an incredible amount of data to Nexar’s servers. The team admits that’s how they’ll eventually make money.

“The data products and services derived are on the market for vested parties,” says Aviv. “Fleets and insurance companies have an interest in keeping drivers safe and in the case of insurance companies, building a better model for their premiums.”

“Cities will be interested in using our data for urban planning, monitoring road conditions, and the like, in order to maintain infrastructure and regulate traffic flows. Automakers and developers of autonomous vehicles need access to the exact type of data and vehicle-to-vehicle network that Nexar has in order to make a competitive, safe product, so our services are proving to be invaluable to them,” he adds.

Effectively the app leverages a model that’s very similar to Waze – which monitored estimated driving times and was acquired by Google for US$1 billion.

Aviv says the team’s working on adding further products to the existing suite. Next up is an app built specifically for logistics and fleet managers. He doesn’t give away many details about what features it might have, just saying it’ll “offer transparency and data analysis.”

But the overall focus is very much on being part of the self-driving future.

“Our end-game is to be the agent of change in the transition from human-driven vehicles to one of connected autonomous driving,” exclaims Avi. “The best way to not get left behind is to stay ahead of the competition.”

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The digital media-focussed incubator Mediapreneur has already run two batches of startups

Mediapreneur, the incubator arm of Singapore’s largest media company Mediacorp, has announced it has raised over S$2 million (US$1.42 million) in seed funding over two years.

In an official press release, Mediapreneur also announced the launch of phase three of its programme. Startups are invited to apply from now till 11.59pm on 5 March 2017.

Launched in 2013, Mediapreneur provides seed funding, mentoring, working space, intellectual property and networking opportunities for startups. Through Mediapreneur, its startups can also tap into Mediacorp’s vast media resources including TV, radio, print and online platforms to broaden its reach.

Also Read: MediaCorp exec comes out of retirement to launch e-commerce startup

Late last year, Mediapreneur entered into a partnership with equity-based and lending crowdfunding platform FundedHere, allowing its portfolio startups to raise seed funding through crowdfunding. One of its media startups, advertising solutions company Spotted!, has already raised S$375,000 (US$262,000) through FundedHere.

VR/360 startup Vostok VR was able to grow by over 600 per cent over the course of six months as a result of Mediapreneur’s help.

“As a startup, what we need is a wide network of business contacts and qualified
mentoring to scale our products globally. That’s why we find the Mediapreneur
programme so attractive. Currently, we are producing virtual reality (VR) content and
have completed four videos for Channel NewsAsia, with four more videos in the
pipeline,” said Vitaliy Nechaev, CEO of Vostok VR, in an official press release.

“We are happy to see good progress and successes from the first two batches of startups who have gone on to launch their products in the market. Mediapreneur turns start-up companies with innovative ideas into successful technology businesses and profitable ones. We aim to be the nurturing conduit to grow this healthy ecosystem of entrepreneurial space,” said Guillaume Sachet, Mediacorp’s Head of Strategic Planning.

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Image Credit: Mediacorp

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The Projector has partnered with Clockwork to roll out a “back to basics co-working environment”

For many film aficionados based in Singapore, The Projector–located at the Golden Mile Tower–is one of the few places where they can fraternize with like-minded individuals and enjoy an eclectic collection of movies ranging from classic Hollywood pictures to esoteric independent films.

The premises houses two refurbished cinema halls, two bars stocked with the essential liquors, and all covered in decor befitting of an arthouse cinema.

And now, to amp up its indie vibe, The Projector has added a new feature – a co-working space. Launched in partnership with “back to basics co-working movement” Clockwork Singapore, film buffs – who are either budding entrepreneurs or screenwriters – can now not only sip latte with their fellow armchair critics, but also work alongside them.

The co-working space occupies only the waiting/hang-out area of the cinema, so it’s not incredibly spacious (compared to other co-working spaces), and is fairly barebones. But while it loses out in size and features, it makes up in simplicity and affordability.

Also Read: Startup that provides co-working spaces to Amazon and Yahoo raises pre-Series A

Most co-working spaces usually offer different tiers of membership. For example, Impact Hub Singapore‘s price plans for its Prinsep premise begins at S$345 (US$244) per month. This gives the user 80 hours of workspace as well as a whole slew of add-ons including global community events, business perks, and other bells and whistles.

In contrast, Clockwork Singapore has adopted a minimalist approach.

“It is all about going back to the basics of working – just getting stuff done. From the facilities, vibes, to post-working perks, everything is pretty much geared towards encouraging productivity and efficiency for the small-pocketed. It’s also about using space more efficiently in dense urban cities like Singapore,” said Blaise Trigg-Smith, co-founder of Clockwork Singapore, in an email to e27.

Trigg-Smith, who holds a MSc in City Design & Social Science from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), worked in the investment banking sector for about 10 years, before leaving to launch her own company, Pocket Projects, in 2013.

Pocket Projects is a creative development consultancy and management company. Essentially, it is in the business of transforming and refurbishing heritage developments to suit the modern era.

The Projector was one of its projects, and now, through Clockwork Singapore, Trigg-Smith is adding another dimension to the already spruced-up space.

Also Read: In Photos: Take a peek inside Vietnam’s Toong, where every co-working space has a unique soul

For S$200 (US$142) per month, members can use the co-working space as much as they wish, as long as it is within 9 am to 5 pm from Mondays to Fridays. Essentials such as Wifi, coffee, printer and power are provided.

So what exactly makes The Projector a conducive workplace? Well, for one, screenings usually happen only after 5 pm on weekdays, so there are no distractions. According to the Clockwork FAQ, it also has “lots of natural light, good vibes and other hard working peeps spreading their productive energy. No tantruming toddlers, no chest-beating wantrepreneurs.”

The Projector’s proximity to hawker centres and an MRT station also makes it ideal for entrepreneurs on a tight budget. And for the young and hip crowd, what better way to kick back after a long day of work by simply walking a few steps to grab a beer or catch a film?

The only caveat is that sometimes companies book The Projector for private events: then members will not be able to use the space. If that happens, Clockwork Singapore will inform members beforehand.

Clockwork Singapore said it is not looking to compete with other co-working spaces.

“We don’t seek to even be competitive. We simply exist to provide those with a limited budget, a conducive and no-frills space to get their things together, set their goals, and have a fruitful time working towards them. We’d like to think people get that – no gimmicks – just work. We’re not intimidating that way,” said Trigg-Smith.

Members are allowed to bring a friend free-of-charge for a maximum period of one hour. Beyond that, they are required to purchase a day pass like everyone else, which costs S$30 (US$21).

Clockwork Singapore plans to launch co-working spaces in at least four other locations in Singapore. But for now, entrepreneurs looking to cut back and move away from the hustle and bustle of the city environment, The Projector’s co-working space may be an ideal fit.

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Image Credit: Clockwork Singapore

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The decision comes after Taiwan parliament passed a law that could fine Uber drivers up to US$780,000

A few months after Taiwanese regulators moved to give Uber the boot, the US-based ride-hailing giant has shut down its service in the country effective February 10.

In a blog post calling the move a “pause”, Uber accused the Taiwanese government of moving “further and further away from embracing innovation and setting the stage for a 21st century transportation policy”.

We at e27 have reached out to Taiwan’s Ministry of Transportation and Communications and will update with their statement.

Uber and the Taiwanese government have had a confrontational relationship for at least half a year, but disagreements peaked in December when parliament voted to raise fines against unlicensed services.

A driver that is punished could face a maximum fine of US$790,000, making it the world’s steepest fine. Uber pays for its driver’s fines and according to The Straits Times has racked up TWD1.1 billion (US$35.4 million) in the month-plus since the legislation went into effect.

Also Read: Taiwan moves to boot out Uber and UberEATS

In the blog post, the company hinted that the decision to press pause could be a negotiation tactic:

“In the face of this impasse, we must create a new path forward. Today, we are announcing our intention to pause our Taiwan service starting Friday 10th February. We hope that pressing pause will reset the conversation and inspire President Tsai to take action.”

Uber is fairly popular in Taiwan, and it will be worth watching how the public responds when the service is officially pulled.

There is one model for how a city that integrated — and then pulled — Uber from society adapts. In Austin, Texas, the ride-hailing service went ‘underground’, with organic Facebook groups replacing the service. Other companies, more willing to adapt to local regulations, also jumped-in to fill the void.

Also Read: [Updated]It gets worse: Taiwan is latest country to try and give Uber the boot

Uber operates in four cities across Taiwan and claims to have completed over 15 million rides in the country.

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Getting the right people onboard and in the right roles can be a big startup challenge in itself

Ask most startups what their biggest challenge is, and they’re quick to say ‘talent’. In other words, ‘manpower’.

– Hardik Harsora, Co-Founder of Effex Business Solution

To a large extent, they are right. Finding the skill sets, cultural fit, and startup mentality in a single package is a daunting task. Add to that the affordability when it comes to hiring, and this truly becomes one of startups’ biggest challenges. When funds are tight and founders don’t want to barter with equity, it’s a mammoth task to find high potential at low cost. However, hiring the right people is also the most essential element for a startup to sustain.

But merely hiring isn’t enough. A startup doesn’t just need to hire someone who’s brilliant. It has to hire people who are brilliant for a specific position. As bestselling author Jim Collins wrote in Good to Great, “Get the right people on the bus, and then ensure that they are in the right seats.”

Get the right people onboard, and in the right seats. But don’t dust your hands just yet hands. Most startups falter here because they think their job is done. But it’s not. It just got tougher.

Also Read: Productivity is passé, predictivity is what matters now

If you’ve hired a remarkable employee, keeping her engaged is crucial. Competition is always looking to poach high quality talent. And losing a good employee is a body blow to any startup. To insulate itself against this, a startup should engage with its employees.

Engagement here doesn’t mean merely clicking photos of office fun and posting them on Instagram. Such activities are fun in the beginning. But once the novelty wears off, employees crave for more. They crave for growth and autonomy, for a platform to discover their innate abilities, and something meaningful.

That is true engagement: It is meaningful, and it has many benefits

Autonomy is an essential element of meaningful engagement. It stokes the entrepreneurial spirit of employees within a startup: intrapreneurship. In turn, this reduces attrition. Studies prove that startups with tenured employees who have enjoyed autonomy sail through initial challenges faster.

Here are three ways in which startups can meaningfully engage with employees and, in the process, grow their own business:

1. Cross-pollinate

Startup recruits are rarely comfortable with the status quo. Their appetite for risk, excitement, and diversity, is high. Keeping them in the same field for extended periods proves counterproductive, almost always.

Introduction to different departments is an effective method to keep them engaged. Startups can create an in-house forum where employees from all departments share their victories and challenges. It will help people interested in a specific department know it better. For instance, a back-office employee who might be interested in business development gets to know more about it from the business development team itself.

This is also is an effective platform to bounce ideas off each other. People can get fresh perspectives and ideas. It also makes your employees versatile and work cooperatively instead of silos.

Also Read: Hiring your first employees? 5 things to keep in mind

2. Acknowledge and remunerate employee passions

Acknowledging team members’ hobbies and passions, verbally and monetarily, is another potent way to engage meaningfully.

For instance, your graphics designer could be part of a music band. Instead of hiring a band to perform at your informal gatherings, commission his band to perform for a fee.

This increases employee loyalty towards the company. Those earning money through these alternate avenues become motivated. But so do other employees, who feel secure that their alternate talents will be rewarded.

3. Align with their goals

According to strategy gurus, a good strategy aligns employee goals with organisational goals. What if startups reverse the order?

Here is an example. The founder CEO of a startup we were consulting had a challenge: He could not get people to rally around large goal. So we conducted an exercise.

We asked the founder CEO to meet each employee and know their long term goals. Someone wanted to earn money for higher education. Yet another wanted to buy a house. A third wanted a stable income to get married. And so on.

The CEO combined the financial value of these goals and came up with a sum. Then, he called everyone together into his cabin and showed them the final figure. “If we earn this revenue each year,” he said, “all of you can achieve your long term goals in a few years.” The team was pumped and started working enthusiastically towards achieving the target. It’s been two years and they are still going strong. And all of them are much closer to their end goals than they had imagined they would be.

Also Read: 9 ideas to foster health and productivity in the workplace

There is no return on investment as high as meaningfully engaging with employees in unconventional ways. Most brilliant minds will forego ‘salary’ for purpose. If you want brilliant people onboard, give them what they need.

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The views expressed here are of the author’s, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asia’s tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your post here.

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Sports will be a big beneficiary of immersive user experiences

In a world where the number of active internet users is scaling new heights, viewer experiences are also evolving persistently, with digital revolutions leading toward a more immersive world. Digital media is a major catalyst for this growth. This ecosystem is setting new benchmarks for the industry.

Incidentally, contemporary audiences are also seeking augmented physical environments that transform live event experiences. They are opting for live streams of their favourite shows and events. The industry of sports is one of the leading beneficiaries of this technological innovation.

The true impact of technology

Over the years, technological breakthroughs in sports broadcast largely changed the perceptions of ardent fans. With the rise of digital media, people are spending more time on the internet, and their digital consumption increased tremendously. In a recent Ofcom report, the nature of digital content accessed through mobile devices was found to be exceedingly diversified.

Also Read: Cricket in India: The next battleground for tech and media giants?

The enhanced tech capabilities of mobile devices enable the users to access video content, distribute audio content and take many other anticipated digital actions. This means the lines are blurred, augmenting the viewing experiences through a live streaming app.

Trends of the future

The sports arenas are gearing up to welcome a big change in broadcasting of mega sporting events like the Olympics. The trend of watching events on live streams kickstarted from the Rio Olympics in 2016 and is expected to go far ahead. Sports mobile apps are downloaded in huge numbers whenever an event of this magnitude takes place. Presently, many innovations are disrupting this space, offering more autonomy to viewers.

Some of these trends are discussed below:

Live-streaming of sports videos

This space is witnessing unprecedented growth with major alliances taking place and companies rallying hard to grab live streaming rights for mega events. Sports mobile applications are gaining momentum due to their interactive interface. These provide real-time highlights of the game and redefine game day experiences in unique ways. You can anticipate greater transformations in this arena.

Visualised game statistics

Viewers and sports aficionados prefer a better understanding of vital sports data. Hence, data visualisation boards became an integral part of stadiums. Analysis and brilliant presentation of game day data enhance engagement among viewers and fans. This data also helps teams in taking key decisions, which can turn the tables even during the last minutes of a game. Moreover, it fosters more awareness about a particular event with clear statistics being displayed across screens. This feature of data visualisation is expected to evolve in the near future.

Virtual reality

The digital content consumption of sporting fans will largely rely on this factor in the coming few years, as well. Virtual Reality or VR will offer immersive viewing experiences for fans. Athletes can improve their skills using this platform, too. Meanwhile, 360-degree video technology will transform the way we watch sports. Currently, these technologies work on recorded videos, but it will surely become feasible on a real-time basis in the future. Without leaving your home, you will enjoy your favourite game from the best seat in the arena. The prime seats will become easily available in this virtual space and they will enhance the revenues for organisers as well.

Also Read: China’s virtual reality investment is moving from hardware to content

In-stadium experiences

With connected stadiums being the reality, you can expect elevated in-stadium experiences. In this regard, wireless transmitters like iBeacons are leading the bandwagon. They allow users to access data within their immediate surroundings. Real-time information is available to spectators visiting the stadiums. Smart mobile apps are maximising user experiences by providing vital information like weather updates, game trivia, promotional offers, and so forth. These mobile apps can also be used for checking the availability of parking lots, seat upgrades, and exit points.

Conclusion

The technology used for mobile app development can create ripple effects in this industry. Its results will be witnessed over the next few years. Though, its drastic impact will be fuelled by advanced innovations. Even prior to the Tokyo Olympics, the stage has been set for mobile technology taking the lead. Hopefully, there will be augmented stadium experiences enthralling audiences even in a virtual environment, letting fans experience the vibrant atmosphere even without having to trek to the stadium. In a nutshell, sports watching will never be the same again.

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The views expressed here are of the author’s, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asia’s tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your post here.

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The Paktor team cited cultural reasons for the revamp

Singaporean dating platform Paktor announced today it has relaunched in South Korea under a new name, ‘Swipe’.

In an official press release, Co-founder and CTO of Paktor, Jing Shen Ng, said that there was a need to tweak the app’s appearances and features in order to fit the South Korean market. In other words, it needed to localise.

To that end, it set up a new office in Seoul and established a local team in order to better understand and capture local dating and market sentiments. Ng and the South Korean team conducted over 20 meet-ups with Koreans at cafes and attended several startup events to gain user insights.

Through these activities, they discovered that the brand name ‘Paktor’ bore no cultural relevance to Koreans. And since Koreans tend to associate themselves with a brand name, the team rebranded the app’s name to ‘Swipe’ – the action of liking or disliking a potential match.

The team also introduced several new additions to the app, built specifically for the Korean palate. These includes Photo Pick, where users can rate each other’s profile photos and get 10 Paktor points in return.

The new app also allows users to display other critical information such as education, job and Facebook interest groups. Besides these new features, the user interface also went through a revamp.

Also Read: Paktor bags US$10M to disrupt online dating in Japan and Korea

“It was a challenge to give the app a graphical uplift but I am really satisfied with how it turned out. The light coloured scheme actually made the app look entirely different,” said Paktor’s Head of Design, Lay Hiang Low, in an official press release.

Swipe will retain other Paktor app features including Paktor Rewards, Paktor Guess and One-Touch Gifts.

With the relaunch, Paktor now has an official presence in seven countries – Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and Vietnam. In the past months, it made two acquisitions: 17 media, a Taiwanese live-streaming app and American hook-up app, Down.

To date, Paktor has raised a total of US$57.5 million and has acquired over 20 million users globally.

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Image Credit: Paktor

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The master plan includes the setting up of an R&D centre, a social impact investment fund, and a deeper dig into financial inclusion

Southeast Asian ride-hailing company Grab today revealed its master plan for the Indonesian market in the next four years, in a media briefing event in Central Jakarta.

Endorsed by the country’s Investment Coordination Board (BKPM), Grab is set to invest US$700 million into a master plan that consists of:

1. Opening a new R&D centre in Jakarta with the target of hiring 150 young local and international engineers over the next two years. The centre will be working on Indonesia-focussed solutions such as algorithms to address new road regulations in Jakarta and Grab’s bike-pooling service GrabHitch. The R&D centre will also provide training opportunities at Grab’s R&D centres in Singapore, Beijing, and Seattle.

2. Launching the Grab 4 Indonesia social impact investment fund, focussing on companies working on increasing financial inclusion in Indonesia. Grab will invest US$100 million and also provide technical assistance to selected startups.

3. Expanding existing mobile payments service (GrabPay) and financing opportunities for driver-partners.

Also Read: From unknown to unicorn: 8 tips in running a successful startup from Grab’s pioneering employees

Grab Indonesia Managing Director Ridzki Kramadibrata also stated that the company has experienced 600 per cent growth since its launch in the country in 2012.

Minister of Communications and Informatics Rudiantara, who was present at the programme’s launch event, welcomed the new programme and expects that the setting up of an R&D centre in Indonesia “will become a new trend.”

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