Singapore Deep-Tech Alliance announces XNode-powered venture builder

• Sustainability-focused deep-tech venture builder to harness Singapore’s top talent
• Nine-month programme to begin with 3-day hackathon, select technology of choice

THE SINGAPORE Deep-Tech Alliance (SDTA) has announced the launch of its venture builder, SDTA22. The venture builder is powered by XNode, which is notably Enterprise Singapore’s Global Innovation Alliance (GIA) partner in Shanghai and Shenzhen.

According to a statement by SDTA, XNode has its roots in the advanced manufacturing ecosystem in China and works with startup founders to scale and with large corporations to innovate.

Besides establishing the China-Singapore Innovation Launchpad as a GIA partner, the accelerator has partnered with the Australian, Japanese, Korean and Italian governments to form landing pads for international startups to gain access to China.

“Powered by XNode, this proprietary venture building programme is born out of a profound understanding of the advanced manufacturing environment which has been tested and proven by numerous successful startups from all over the world, in the process raising over US$150 million (SG$200 million) in funding for these startups,” shared Wei Zhou, founder and CEO of XNode.

The SDTA22 programme is billed as a sustainability-focused deep-tech venture builder, launched in partnership with its alliance partners, A*StartCentral, an open innovation platform by Singapore's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR); and the National Health Innovation Centre Singapore (NHIC).

The 9-month SDTA22 programme aims to harness Singapore's top talent with government and corporate support, in building deep-tech ventures that drive environmental sustainability through advanced manufacturing, and most importantly, contribute to Singapore's Industry 4.0 transformation.

Prior to the start of the programme, SDTA22 will organise a 3-day hackathon for participants to engage themselves in team-building activities, select their technology sector of choice and form their respective teams.

The actual programme will then kick off in July 2021 with the programme split into 3 phases over a period of 9 months. Each phase is structured with deliverables based on technology application research, product development, market research, team development and partnership acquisition, with the final demo day being the closing ceremony.

SDTA22 allows participating team to access SDTA’s newly patented technologies in the following verticals: Semiconductor, Energy, Automotive, MedTech and Hardware.

This includes the Ion-Selective Sensor, with potential applications in Environmental Monitoring, Aquaculture and Agriculture from A*StartCentral.

XNode's wide industry network — up to 400 global advisors, industry leaders, experts, research institutions and corporate partners in China — means that SDTA22 participants will be given the valuable opportunity to tap into their expertise and lay the groundwork for expansion into China.

More information on the venture builder can be obtained here.