CapitaLand announces the winners of CapitaLand Sustainability X Challenge 2023
CapitaLand has just announced the winners of the CapitaLand Sustainability X Challenge (CSXC) 2023. And guess what? They are providing funding of up to SGD 1 million (USD 741,000) to support the testing of their innovations at selected CapitaLand properties. How cool is that?
Special Recognition Awards
During the demo day event of CSXC 2023, four teams received special recognition awards. Let me tell you about them:
- viAct: These guys have developed an artificial intelligence-powered video analytics tool that enhances safety, productivity, and compliance with environmental standards in workplaces. Talk about innovation!
- Healthway Family of Brands: They use a patented low-pressure drop filtration technology to improve the performance and system-level filtration efficiency of existing air handling units. This reduces energy load on fan motors. Smart move!
- Ralos Enterprise Corporation’s (Enamil LLC Japan): They have come up with a lightweight, flexible solar module that can be installed horizontally or vertically as a building-integrated photovoltaic panel or as a conventional solar panel. Talk about versatility!
- Magorium: These guys have developed a technology that converts contaminated and unsorted plastic waste into a sustainable material that can be used for the construction of roads. Now that’s tackling the plastic waste problem head-on!
Each of these four teams received SGD 150,000 (USD 111,000) for their outstanding innovations. But that’s not all! Six other winning teams specializing in different areas also received SGD 75,000 (USD 55,000) each for their pilots. The areas include low carbon transition, water conservation and resilience, waste management and circular economy, and health, safety, and wellness in buildings. It’s great to see so many innovative ideas being supported!
Vinamra Srivastava, the chief sustainability officer of CapitaLand Investment, said, “Innovation is a key driver in our decarbonization journey as we work towards our 2030 sustainability targets. Through platforms such as CSXC and our SGD 50 million CapitaLand Innovation Fund, we aim to support innovators to scale and commercialize their technologies to create a climate-resilient built environment.” Kudos to CapitaLand for their commitment to sustainability!
BeeX secures USD 2 million in oversubscribed bridge round
Hey, have you heard about BeeX? They are a Singapore-based developer of underwater autonomous vehicles, and they just closed an oversubscribed bridge round, securing USD 2 million. The round was jointly led by Earth Venture Capital and ShipsFocus Ventures, with participation from SEEDS Capital, NUS Technology Holdings, and Infinita VC. Impressive, right?
BeeX plans to use the funds to support its go-to-market strategy for autonomous offshore wind farm inspections in Europe. They are also looking to support their growth initiatives. It’s great to see companies like BeeX pushing the boundaries of technology!
Digital Edge secures green loan for South Korean data center project
Exciting news from Digital Edge! The Singapore-headquartered data center platform company has secured a green loan to support the first phase of development of SEL2, its 100-megawatt data center project in South Korea. This is a significant milestone as it represents the first green loan for a data center project in the country.
The green loan is financed by a consortium of international and domestic banks and will be issued in two tranches over a five-year term. Credit Agricole CIB and ING Bank are jointly coordinating the financing. It’s great to see companies like Digital Edge taking steps towards sustainable development!
Refilled raises AUD 1.3 million in seed round
Let me tell you about Refilled, a Sydney-based developer of smart drink dispensers. They have just secured AUD 1.3 million (USD 845,000) in a seed funding round. The round was led by Melt Ventures, with participation from Cyan Ta’eed and Collis Ta’eed, co-founders of Envato.
Refilled’s smart drink dispensers, called “Refillers,” aim to address the environmental impact of plastic packaging for beverages. With the newly raised funds, they plan to manufacture 100 of these dispenser machines at their factory in Penrith, New South Wales. It’s great to see companies like Refilled working towards sustainable solutions!
Recent deals completed in China:
China is buzzing with exciting deals! Let me give you a quick rundown:
- Weilian Gubao: This Chinese burger and fast food chain raised RMB 10 million (USD 1.37 million) in a strategic financing round. The funds will be used for brand promotion and new store openings. Yum, burgers!
- Inkelink: This Shanghai-based company specializing in providing comprehensive digital solutions for the automotive industry completed a B+ funding round, raising nearly RMB 100 million (USD 13.7 million). They plan to use the funds for R&D efforts
Photo: Freepik.com
