Singtel Innov8 announces second installment of its Innov8 Connect

• Platform to help startups develop viable business solutions
• 14 new business challenges have been identified by Singtel and Optus

SINGTEL Innov8 announced the second installment of its Innov8 Connect programme that brings startups and Singtel Group members together to create innovative solutions for real world business challenges.

According to Singtel group chief technology officer Tay Soo Meng, Innov8 Connect started as a platform to help startups develop viable business solutions while allowing the Singtel Group to stay at the cutting-edge of innovation through continuous experimentation. Singtel Group hopes to uncover more innovative answers for real emerging business challenges with startups in this latest installment of the programme.

The second installment rides on the success and momentum of the initial Innov8 Connect programme launched in January 2016, which attracted over 120 submissions from start- ups across 22 countries.

Singtel shortlisted 14 start-ups for detailed discussions for potential proof-of-concepts (POCs) - some of which include: Xjera Labs for a smart and safe city and Moogsoft, Opmantek and Zinier for enterprise operations.

Singtel Innov8 CEO Edgar Hardless (pic, right) said, “We have been very encouraged with the results of the first installment of Innov8 Connect, which has clearly demonstrated the value that startups can bring to Singtel. We hope to repeat the success again in this second installment.”

In this new round of Innov8 Connect, 14 new business challenges have been identified by Singtel and its Australian arm, Optus, in areas such as the Internet of Things (IoT), augmented reality solutions and artificial intelligence.

Selected start-ups will be provided with up to S$75,000 (RM2.27 million) to test and validate the solutions with Singtel and Optus as proof-of-concepts.

Successful solutions from promising startups may lead to further commercialisation with the Singtel Group, as they will gain access to an extensive customer base that includes both enterprises and over 600 million mobile subscribers across Asia, Australia and Africa.

These startups will also have the opportunity to seek funding from Singtel Innov8 and tap on its network of co-investors and partners across the globe.

Interested start-ups can submit their proposals to Innov8 Connect from today onwards. The closing date for submission of proposals is Oct 31, 2016.

For more information on Innov8 Connect, visit the www.innov8connect.com Innov8 Connect portal where briefs detailing the 14 new business challenges will be published. Startups with relevant solutions are invited to submit their applications through the portal from today.

Selected start-ups will then be invited to pitch to a panel of management representatives from the Singtel Group.
 
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