SWITCH Singapore
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CEO of Nido Robotics
Roy Petter Dyrdahl Torgersen studied maritime navigation at Austevoll Fagskule School and later nautical sciences at the University of Stord/Haugesund in Norway. With 12 years of experience in the petro-maritime, scientific research and underwater mining prospection sectors, Torgersen also holds a Class 1 navigation license and has been a captain in the Merchant Navy in Singapore. Inspired by the potential of small submarine robots borne from his professional experience and passion for diving, Torgersen established Nido Robotics, where he is currently chairman and CEO.
Roy Petter Dyrdahl Torgersen studied maritime navigation at Austevoll Fagskule School and later nautical sciences at the University of Stord/Haugesund in Norway. With 12 years of experience in the petro-maritime, scientific research and underwater mining prospection sectors, Torgersen also holds a Class 1 navigation license and has been a captain in the Merchant Navy in Singapore. Inspired by the potential of small submarine robots borne from his professional experience and passion for diving, Torgersen established Nido Robotics, where he is currently chairman and CEO.
COO and co-founder of Xendit
Tessa Wijaya joined Indonesian fintech Xendit as co-founder and COO in 2016, a year after the payment gateway startup graduated from the Y Combinator program and launched its platform in Indonesia.Wijaya obtained a master’s in philosophy from the University of Sydney in 2006 after graduating from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2003. She returned to Indonesia and worked as a corporate development officer for over three years. In 2010, she became an analyst at Principia Management Group and Fairways Investment Group, both being Southeast Asia-focused investment firms. In 2013, Wijaya went on to work as an associate at Singapore-based investment firm Mizuho Asia Partners for over three years before joining Xendit back in Jakarta.
Tessa Wijaya joined Indonesian fintech Xendit as co-founder and COO in 2016, a year after the payment gateway startup graduated from the Y Combinator program and launched its platform in Indonesia.Wijaya obtained a master’s in philosophy from the University of Sydney in 2006 after graduating from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs in 2003. She returned to Indonesia and worked as a corporate development officer for over three years. In 2010, she became an analyst at Principia Management Group and Fairways Investment Group, both being Southeast Asia-focused investment firms. In 2013, Wijaya went on to work as an associate at Singapore-based investment firm Mizuho Asia Partners for over three years before joining Xendit back in Jakarta.
London-based financial services company Octopus Investments was founded in 2000. Since then, the firm has grown to a 500-strong company that manages £6 billion on behalf of more than 50,000 investors. It is part of Octopus Group. The VC firm has offices in New York, Singapore and Shanghai, besides London and has invested in 200 companies to date, almost half of them as the lead investor. It has seen 27 exits among its portfolio companies, including acquisitions by Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, with notable divested companies including Graze, Adbrain, SwiftKey and Zoopla.
London-based financial services company Octopus Investments was founded in 2000. Since then, the firm has grown to a 500-strong company that manages £6 billion on behalf of more than 50,000 investors. It is part of Octopus Group. The VC firm has offices in New York, Singapore and Shanghai, besides London and has invested in 200 companies to date, almost half of them as the lead investor. It has seen 27 exits among its portfolio companies, including acquisitions by Microsoft, Amazon, and Google, with notable divested companies including Graze, Adbrain, SwiftKey and Zoopla.
Roshni Mahtani graduated from the University of Upper Iowa, USA, with a bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Marketing in 2004. In 2009, Roshni founded a digital media company Tickled Media that manages the popular parenting portal TheAsianparent. She was also the executive producer of Untouchable: Children of God, a film that explores the stories of the most vulnerable people in Nepal and India. In 2014, she also co-founded a nonprofit organization Female Network to accelerate the ecosystem for female founders in Singapore to increase the percentage of female founded startups from 5% to 20% by 2020.
Roshni Mahtani graduated from the University of Upper Iowa, USA, with a bachelor’s in Mass Communication and Marketing in 2004. In 2009, Roshni founded a digital media company Tickled Media that manages the popular parenting portal TheAsianparent. She was also the executive producer of Untouchable: Children of God, a film that explores the stories of the most vulnerable people in Nepal and India. In 2014, she also co-founded a nonprofit organization Female Network to accelerate the ecosystem for female founders in Singapore to increase the percentage of female founded startups from 5% to 20% by 2020.
Arrive is the venture capital arm of Roc Nation, the full-service entertainment management company established by US musician Jay-Z. Aside from managing musicians and producing music under their label, Roc Nation also manages equity distribution for musicians, as well as talents in the sports industry. Arrive has made a number of investments in the Southeast Asia region, including in Singapore-based scooter rental startup Beam and fashion e-commerce Zilingo. In Indonesia, it has invested in Kopi Kenangan, a chain of grab-and-go coffee outlets. It has also invested in Super, a Y Combinator graduate startup enabling social commerce through group-buying.
Arrive is the venture capital arm of Roc Nation, the full-service entertainment management company established by US musician Jay-Z. Aside from managing musicians and producing music under their label, Roc Nation also manages equity distribution for musicians, as well as talents in the sports industry. Arrive has made a number of investments in the Southeast Asia region, including in Singapore-based scooter rental startup Beam and fashion e-commerce Zilingo. In Indonesia, it has invested in Kopi Kenangan, a chain of grab-and-go coffee outlets. It has also invested in Super, a Y Combinator graduate startup enabling social commerce through group-buying.
Accelerating Asia focuses on Asian startups for its three-month intensive acceleration program. The Singapore-based investor was founded in 2018 and focuses on diversity investments, with 40% of its portfolio companies being led by women.The firm invests up to S$200,000 in participating pre-Series A startups. All of the program’s startups receive S$50,000–75,000 with an additional investment of up to S$150,000 for top performing companies.To date, the early-stage VC has invested in 25 startups. Recent investments in 2020 include stakes in Bangladeshi mobility platform Shuttle and Indonesian startups KaryaKarsa and MyBrand.
Accelerating Asia focuses on Asian startups for its three-month intensive acceleration program. The Singapore-based investor was founded in 2018 and focuses on diversity investments, with 40% of its portfolio companies being led by women.The firm invests up to S$200,000 in participating pre-Series A startups. All of the program’s startups receive S$50,000–75,000 with an additional investment of up to S$150,000 for top performing companies.To date, the early-stage VC has invested in 25 startups. Recent investments in 2020 include stakes in Bangladeshi mobility platform Shuttle and Indonesian startups KaryaKarsa and MyBrand.
Founded in 2013 and based in Silicon Valley, AgFunder invests in agrifood tech startups globally with the mission of “investing in technologies to rapidly transform our food and agriculture system.” The VC firm has already built a global ecosystem of 85,000+ members and subscribers, which helps grow and scale its portfolio companies. It recently established the New Carnivore fund to invest in startups working to create animal-free protein alternatives including plant-based meat and cultured meat. In 2019, AgFunder and the Australian agrifood accelerator Rocket Seeder co-launched GROW Impact Accelerator in Singapore to accelerate seed and Series A agritech startups from Southeast Asia.
Founded in 2013 and based in Silicon Valley, AgFunder invests in agrifood tech startups globally with the mission of “investing in technologies to rapidly transform our food and agriculture system.” The VC firm has already built a global ecosystem of 85,000+ members and subscribers, which helps grow and scale its portfolio companies. It recently established the New Carnivore fund to invest in startups working to create animal-free protein alternatives including plant-based meat and cultured meat. In 2019, AgFunder and the Australian agrifood accelerator Rocket Seeder co-launched GROW Impact Accelerator in Singapore to accelerate seed and Series A agritech startups from Southeast Asia.
Danish asset management company Maj Invest was established in 2005. Based in Copenhagen, it is owned by the management, employees and Danish institutional investors, PKA, Realdania and PBU. Its main businesses are in asset management and private equity. It recently ventured into the financial services sector with Maj Bank.In 2009, Maj Invest launched into international private equity activities, with offices in Singapore, Indonesia’s Jakarta,Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Lima in Peru. Its Maj Invest Equity Southeast Asia II K/S, worth US$90 million, is still looking for new investment opportunities in the region.
Danish asset management company Maj Invest was established in 2005. Based in Copenhagen, it is owned by the management, employees and Danish institutional investors, PKA, Realdania and PBU. Its main businesses are in asset management and private equity. It recently ventured into the financial services sector with Maj Bank.In 2009, Maj Invest launched into international private equity activities, with offices in Singapore, Indonesia’s Jakarta,Vietnam’s Ho Chi Minh City and Lima in Peru. Its Maj Invest Equity Southeast Asia II K/S, worth US$90 million, is still looking for new investment opportunities in the region.
DX Ventures is the Berlin-based investment vehicle of on-demand app unicorn Delivery Hero. The VC currently has 12 startups in its portfolio including EU rival Glovo. It also invests in social commerce and on-demand delivery startups in Latin America like Facily and Rappi.Investments in September 2021 include participation in the $43m Series B round of British food-sharing app OLIO and $5m Series A funding round for Toku, a Singapore-based startup and Asia Pacific’s dedicated cloud communications provider. It also invested in Leipzig-based sustainable foodtech, the nu company, that produces vegan chocolates and organic proteins.
DX Ventures is the Berlin-based investment vehicle of on-demand app unicorn Delivery Hero. The VC currently has 12 startups in its portfolio including EU rival Glovo. It also invests in social commerce and on-demand delivery startups in Latin America like Facily and Rappi.Investments in September 2021 include participation in the $43m Series B round of British food-sharing app OLIO and $5m Series A funding round for Toku, a Singapore-based startup and Asia Pacific’s dedicated cloud communications provider. It also invested in Leipzig-based sustainable foodtech, the nu company, that produces vegan chocolates and organic proteins.
CEO of Krakakoa
Sabrina Mustopo is the founder and CEO of Krakakoa Chocolate, a "farmer-to-bar" social enterprise that works directly with smallholder cocoa farmers to produce chocolate. She is also an independent consultant with experience in strategy, project management, agriculture and sustainable development. Mustopo previously worked in Singapore as an associate and research analyst for international consultancy McKinsey & Co., where she focused on climate change and agricultural topics and served public sector clients in the Asia-Pacific region and East Africa. She graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Agriculture and Rural Development.
Sabrina Mustopo is the founder and CEO of Krakakoa Chocolate, a "farmer-to-bar" social enterprise that works directly with smallholder cocoa farmers to produce chocolate. She is also an independent consultant with experience in strategy, project management, agriculture and sustainable development. Mustopo previously worked in Singapore as an associate and research analyst for international consultancy McKinsey & Co., where she focused on climate change and agricultural topics and served public sector clients in the Asia-Pacific region and East Africa. She graduated magna cum laude from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Agriculture and Rural Development.
Co-founder, CEO of SwissDeCode
Brij Sahi is CEO and co-founder at Swiss biotech SwissDeCode, which applies DNA testing to food traceability, He has worked there full-time since April 2016. Since 2011, Sahi has also been an adjunct professor at Webster University in Geneva, teaching Business Policy, Strategic Management and Leadership. He is also a Swiss-based private investor in unnamed companies.From 2000–2008, Sahi worked at airline IT and telecommunications company SITA in both Singapore and Switzerland, where he reached the role of VP working in sales and marketing. He previously worked for two-and-a-half years in the area of sales and marketing at GAMECO, an aircraft maintenance and services company in China. Sahi started his corporate career at British Airways, where he spent over 11 years in marketing and business development. Sahi holds an MBA from Cass Business School in London and a first degree in air transport engineering from City University, London.
Brij Sahi is CEO and co-founder at Swiss biotech SwissDeCode, which applies DNA testing to food traceability, He has worked there full-time since April 2016. Since 2011, Sahi has also been an adjunct professor at Webster University in Geneva, teaching Business Policy, Strategic Management and Leadership. He is also a Swiss-based private investor in unnamed companies.From 2000–2008, Sahi worked at airline IT and telecommunications company SITA in both Singapore and Switzerland, where he reached the role of VP working in sales and marketing. He previously worked for two-and-a-half years in the area of sales and marketing at GAMECO, an aircraft maintenance and services company in China. Sahi started his corporate career at British Airways, where he spent over 11 years in marketing and business development. Sahi holds an MBA from Cass Business School in London and a first degree in air transport engineering from City University, London.
ACA Investments is the Singapore-based affiliate of Asia Capital Alliance, a Japanese investment firm group. The group’s investment focus is on Japan and Southeast Asia, done by combining Japanese intellectual property and Southeast Asia’s growing markets and startup ecosystems. Its investments range from secondhand bookstore Book-Off, F&B brand owner HotLand Corporation (which operates Tsujiki Gindako), and Southeast Asian price comparison site iPrice.ACA Investments is also an affiliate of Japanese investment bank Daiwa Securities Group, which is Japan’s second-largest securities brokerage. In 2018, ACA Group announced that Daiwa Securities Group acquired a 34% stake in ACA Investments as part of a wider strategic alliance between ACA and Daiwa.
ACA Investments is the Singapore-based affiliate of Asia Capital Alliance, a Japanese investment firm group. The group’s investment focus is on Japan and Southeast Asia, done by combining Japanese intellectual property and Southeast Asia’s growing markets and startup ecosystems. Its investments range from secondhand bookstore Book-Off, F&B brand owner HotLand Corporation (which operates Tsujiki Gindako), and Southeast Asian price comparison site iPrice.ACA Investments is also an affiliate of Japanese investment bank Daiwa Securities Group, which is Japan’s second-largest securities brokerage. In 2018, ACA Group announced that Daiwa Securities Group acquired a 34% stake in ACA Investments as part of a wider strategic alliance between ACA and Daiwa.
Singapore's government-owned investor has a net portfolio value of just over S$300bn, with assets mainly in Asia and Singapore. In recent years it has begun investing in internet and tech companies in emerging markets, including in neighboring Indonesia and other Asian countries.As a state investor, Temasek aligns its investment portfolio and goals with areas that are relevant to Singapore’s national agenda. For example, to mitigate and reduce the effects of climate change, Temasek has set a commitment to reduce the carbon emissions of its portfolio companies, and invest in companies providing decarbonization solutions. It is also investing in biotechnology, medical technology, agritech and foodtech companies, which are some new focus areas in Singapore’s industrial development.
Singapore's government-owned investor has a net portfolio value of just over S$300bn, with assets mainly in Asia and Singapore. In recent years it has begun investing in internet and tech companies in emerging markets, including in neighboring Indonesia and other Asian countries.As a state investor, Temasek aligns its investment portfolio and goals with areas that are relevant to Singapore’s national agenda. For example, to mitigate and reduce the effects of climate change, Temasek has set a commitment to reduce the carbon emissions of its portfolio companies, and invest in companies providing decarbonization solutions. It is also investing in biotechnology, medical technology, agritech and foodtech companies, which are some new focus areas in Singapore’s industrial development.
CEO and co-founder of Singrow
With a PhD in molecular biology from NUS, Bao Shengjie, CEO and co-founder of Singrow, is a plant physiology expert who has been focusing his research for more than six years on expediting growth and improving yields. He grew up in Ningbo, a coastal city of China’s eastern Zhejiang Province. In 2011, he graduated from esteemed Zhejiang University with a bachelor's degree. He also studied bioinformatics at North Carolina State University, followed by studies at NUS. Since 2017, he has been an NUS research fellow. Strawberry has his favourite fruit since childhood. After moving to Singapore, he found that strawberries from the local supermarket were nothing close to those he had been eating for years. That sparked his study into the problem of Singapore’s local strawberry market, which in turn caused him to explore the urban farming industry with his plant physiology and molecular biology knowledge. Besides founding Singrow, he is the breeder of the company’s signature White Crystal Strawberry and invented the Fast Cultivation Method.
With a PhD in molecular biology from NUS, Bao Shengjie, CEO and co-founder of Singrow, is a plant physiology expert who has been focusing his research for more than six years on expediting growth and improving yields. He grew up in Ningbo, a coastal city of China’s eastern Zhejiang Province. In 2011, he graduated from esteemed Zhejiang University with a bachelor's degree. He also studied bioinformatics at North Carolina State University, followed by studies at NUS. Since 2017, he has been an NUS research fellow. Strawberry has his favourite fruit since childhood. After moving to Singapore, he found that strawberries from the local supermarket were nothing close to those he had been eating for years. That sparked his study into the problem of Singapore’s local strawberry market, which in turn caused him to explore the urban farming industry with his plant physiology and molecular biology knowledge. Besides founding Singrow, he is the breeder of the company’s signature White Crystal Strawberry and invented the Fast Cultivation Method.
Established in 1958, VERSO Capital is a boutique merchant banking and financial services firm based in Luxembourg. It also has offices in Geneva, Fribourg, Vaduz, Dubai, Singapore and BVI. VERSO specializes in sectors like education, food and renewables. Since 2011, the firm has invested over $700bn in venture capital in the global startup ecosystem. Funds worth over $245m were pumped into climatech, foodtech and biotech sectors since 2017. In February 2021, it merged with Swiss alternative asset manager ALDINI Capital that was also founded in 1958 and based in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. VERSO will leverage the expertise of ALDINI in hedge funds, private equity and real estate.
Established in 1958, VERSO Capital is a boutique merchant banking and financial services firm based in Luxembourg. It also has offices in Geneva, Fribourg, Vaduz, Dubai, Singapore and BVI. VERSO specializes in sectors like education, food and renewables. Since 2011, the firm has invested over $700bn in venture capital in the global startup ecosystem. Funds worth over $245m were pumped into climatech, foodtech and biotech sectors since 2017. In February 2021, it merged with Swiss alternative asset manager ALDINI Capital that was also founded in 1958 and based in Switzerland and Liechtenstein. VERSO will leverage the expertise of ALDINI in hedge funds, private equity and real estate.
SWITCH Singapore: Sustainability startups see growing demand from corporates
Sophie’s BioNutrients, Ubiik and Intello Labs also note new trends in technology and supply chain arising from the Covid-19 pandemic, across the food, manufacturing and e-commerce sectors
SWITCH Singapore: Alternative protein sure to take off in Asia, with Singapore as innovation hotbed
In an in-depth discussion, food industry experts say products made with alternative protein in hybrid forms could offer the fastest route to commercialization
Switch Automation: On-demand, data-driven building management
The Denver-based company kicked off operations in Singapore last year, intends to use the city-state as a spring board to expand in the Asia Pacific
SWITCH Singapore: Investors highlight Vietnam startup ecosystem's potential and resilience
The quality of Vietnam’s local talent remains one of its biggest strengths, but foreign investors also need to be patient and be familiar with the local regulatory landscape
SWITCH Singapore: VCs urge startups to think beyond Covid-19
VCs also discuss prospects of a current tech bubble, and whether new working and hiring practices sparked by the pandemic could end Silicon Valley dominance
SWITCH Singapore: Embracing a circular economy, the whys and the hows
Its benefits for the environment aside, going circular could also lead to new economic growth, better public health and higher value-add employment, experts say
SWITCH Singapore 2021: Driving renewable energy impact through better business models
Startups need to communicate the business benefits of green solutions to their customers, rather than just pitching the hi-tech
SWITCH Singapore 2021: Tapping the $1tn sustainability market in Southeast Asia
Falling costs and simplified deployment of sustainability solutions will help boost adoption, especially in underprivileged communities
SWITCH Singapore 2021: Benefits and challenges of AI applications in healthcare
Medical experts and healthcare startups agree AI can contribute more to healthcare beyond improving diagnosis and personalized treatment, but hurdles still remain
SWITCH Singapore: Race in agrifood tech as a solution to feeding 10bn people
While the potential gains are huge, giving tech solutions to farmers, especially smallholders in developing countries, remains a work in progress
SWITCH Singapore 2021: How startups, corporates and government can co-create smart cities
The next generation of adaptive spaces will harness big data, deep tech and analytics to respond intelligently to both changing environments and human needs, says an expert panel
SWITCH Singapore 2021: How to harness the power of the deep tech ecosystem
Investor Jason Illian of Koch Disruptive Technologies talks talent, scaling for deep tech startups, and why longer gestation periods and mid-course pivots don’t have to be deal breakers
SWITCH Singapore: Xpeng expects strong China EV growth after 3Q rebound, launches overseas expansion
Welcoming foreign player entry as potential boost to EV adoption, Xpeng President Brian Gu also notes attractiveness of overseas markets, especially Europe
Taronga Ventures takes RealTechX to Singapore; plans Japan, US growth
The Australian proptech investor to focus on ESG in its acceleration program, including women under-representation and site safety
Inspired by kangaroos, ProAgni wants to wean the livestock farming industry off antibiotics
Australia’s ProAgni is making grain-feed supplements to improve livestock growth, negate antibiotic use and even reduce methane emissions, all based on kangaroo gut health research
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