Entrepreneur First unveils largest cohort of deep-tech startups

Deep-tech investor Entrepreneur First (EF) completed its fifth Investor Day in Singapore that saw participation from 24 deep-tech companies from around Asia. It is EF’s largest cohort of startups so far.

Photo credit: Entrepreneur First

The program showcased for the first time companies from Bangalore since it was established in India in October 2018. Startups from Singapore and Hong Kong were also represented in the program, with 16 of the 24 participating companies built in the city-state.

UK-based EF will invest up to 15% of every participating team’s seed round, the company told Tech in Asia.

Here are the 24 startups that participated in the latest edition of EF’s program:

• AarogyaAI is an AI software-as-a-service product that enables the rapid diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
• Atombrush builds robots to automate building painting, addressing worker shortages and increases productivity.
• Aurora generates quality K-12 assessments quicker through AI.
• BrainSight.ai is an AI SaaS tool that enables psychiatrists to diagnose mental disorders using just MRI scans.
• Connectify.ai looks to improve customer service compliance for healthcare providers by analyzing and responding to voice conversations.
• ETBio provides air filtration solutions by harnessing the power of microorganisms.
• F-drones transforms marine and offshore logistics with proprietary aerial delivery drones.
• FalconBio builds Smart Bacteria, a pioneering drug delivery system to fight cancer.
• Greywing is a digital platform that unifies the physical security market.
• Intensel uses tech to provide intelligence for climate risk.
• Kount is a digital finance platform for small and medium businesses, enabling more efficient financial operations.
• KrossLinker develops thermal insulation material for bio-pharma packaging.
• Leorix manages infrastructure for high-frequency data pipelines to reduce time and money spent on building complex custom solutions.
• LightSpeedAI Labs builds revolutionary optoelectronic processors that accelerate AI computations.
• MatchCast is an AI adtech platform that helps brands with their podcasts’ audio advertising.
• MechaniX uses AI with synthetic data generation.
• Mesotope uses chemistry to bridge innovation, efficiency, and activated carbons, resulting in up to 300% higher carbon efficiencies across multiple applications.
• Nucon is an AI quality manager for the architecture, engineering, and construction industry.
• Opmagic.ai is an AI SaaS tool that helps small manufacturing companies manage resources and double their speed and capacity.
• Outside Voice conducts qualitative market research at scale using intelligent bots.
• PakkaProfile develops games that assess personality and behavior.
• Plover is a digital financial wellness platform that provides comprehensive legacy planning for underserved communities across Asia and Australia.
• ReCornea is developing the first implantable corneal medical device – the Grosso Ring – that restores the physiological curvature of the cornea.
• Right-Hand Cybersecurity provides a SaaS platform for organizations to monitor, measure, and mitigate employee-inflicted cyber risk in real time.

EF said applications for the next cohort, which starts January 2020, are ongoing and will close on November 30. It’s open to all EF Asia locations in Bangalore, Hong Kong, and Singapore.