Singaporean start-up enabler StartupX has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with corporate partners SembWaste, Circulate Capital and The Incubation Network.
In partnership with National Environment Agency (NEA) and Enterprise Singapore, all parties pledged their commitment to supporting sustainable innovation in the areas of plastic, electronic and mixed waste through Asia’s inaugural waste-tech accelerator programme, named HyperScale.
Asia is the largest waste generating continent, with a projected waste generation amount of 1.8 billion tonnes by 2025.
HyperScale is dedicated to helping waste-tech startups build solutions that can address the growing waste problem in Asia, reads an April 18 press release by StartupX. “In partnership with Enterprise Singapore, HyperScale will help waste-tech ventures cross borders and scale their sustainable innovations globally.”
HyperScale will take place from August to November 2022. Over 12 weeks, start-ups will undergo weekly masterclasses, workshops, mentorship and industry engagements, culminating in a Demo Day.
The open call for HyperScale applicants has begun. Interested parties can find out more at www.hyperx.global/hyperscale.
See also: Circulate Capital breaks down Southeast Asia’s plastic problem
Minister for Sustainability and the Environment Grace Fu witnessed the signing at the CleanEnviro Summit Singapore on April 18 at the Sands Expo and Conference Centre.
Ng Chun Pin, deputy CEO (Planning, Corporate and Technology) of NEA, says: “The National Environment Agency is glad to support the HyperScale programme. Electronics and plastics waste are priority waste streams for closing the resource loop, which will help Singapore achieve its vision of a zero-waste nation. With 5.88 million tonnes of waste generated by our land-scarce country in 2020, it is critical that we find innovative and novel ways to manage this amount of waste and build the circular economy.”
Geoffrey Yeo, assistant CEO of Enterprise Singapore, says: “Enterprise Singapore is happy to support StartupX on the launch of HyperScale, as part of our efforts to develop Singapore as a regional launchpad for sustainable solutions. Through accelerator programmes such as HyperScale, we hope to build a vibrant waste-tech ecosystem where startups can co-develop innovative solutions with prominent industry players. We welcome waste-tech startups to leverage Singapore as a base to testbed their solutions and seize opportunities both locally and overseas.”
See also: Singapore-headquartered Purpose Venture Capital co-invests US$17.3 mil into biotech startup
Durwin Ho, CEO of StartupX, says: “For sustainability innovation to truly take off in Singapore and the region, it requires the presence of a vibrant and world class ecosystem where both the private and public sector work together hand in hand, and new possibilities are unlocked to address the waste challenge we face today. We are honoured to be a key facilitator of this drive through the startups we will accelerate at HyperScale.”
Photo: StartupX
