Equo and AltoTech to pitch at finals of Startup Arena Pitch Battle 2021

Last week, Tech in Asia held the semifinals for the rest of Southeast Asia as part of Startup Arena Pitch Battle 2021 in partnership with venture capital firm East Ventures.

Four startups pitched in front of more than 2,000 viewers and a panel of three investor-judges: Devina Halim, vice president of investments at East Ventures; Kabir Narang, founding general partner at B Capital; and Santanu Mitra, managing director and group head of the digital economy group at DBS.

The startups were each given five minutes to make their best pitches and another five minutes to answer questions. They were judged on the clarity of their ideas and business models, and on how worthy of investment they are.

Equo, a sustainable solutions brand, presented the winning pitch, bagging a one-week trial to App Annie Intelligence Lite and a US$2,500 cash prize sponsored by East Ventures. AltoTech, an energy management platform powered by artificial intelligence and the internet of things, was the runner-up. All the semifinalists also earned attractive prizes from Google Cloud and Xendit.

Here’s an overview of the four startups that pitched during the rest of Southeast Asia semifinals.

WellNest (Philippines)

The pandemic has led to abnormal situations in everyday life, giving rise to emotions and experiences that many have not experienced before, including depression and anxiety.

That’s when WellNest’s founders asked themselves: “How can we help people adapt and thrive in the now normal?” That’s what led them to develop the mental wellness app, which provides on-demand access to high-quality virtual coaching, care, and insights to improve users’ quality of life.

HomeCrowd (Malaysia)

Millennials in Asia are finding it difficult to own property because of rising property costs, the increasingly long wait times for new flats due to Covid-19, and the complexity of housing loan applications.

Enter HomeCrowd, a startup that uses holistic data-driven credit scoring to help millennial homebuyers access mortgage loans. It is the first company in Malaysia to be licensed and regulated by the Ministry of Housing and Local Government for peer-to-peer lending for mortgage and consumer financing.

Runner-up: AltoTech (Thailand)

Every year, 5 million people die because of the effects of climate change, and that number is set to rise if nothing is done to curb greenhouse gas emissions.

Looking to play its part in saving the planet, AltoTech helps companies reduce energy consumption via its energy management platform, which is driven by AI and IoT. To date, the company has helped hoteliers manage their resources efficiently by reducing workflow costs and electricity bills by up to 30%.

Winner: Equo (Vietnam)

Every year, up to 1 million people and over 100,000 sea animals die because of plastic pollution. On top of that, 50% of plastic is designed to only be used once. If nothing is done, the world will soon reach a point of irreversible environmental damage by 2027.

Although governments across the world have imposed sweeping bans on single-use plastics, they haven’t had much of an impact on reducing plastic waste. That’s where Equo comes in. The 100% sustainable brand provides plastic-free, compostable, and convenient solutions to replace everyday single-use plastic items. Its straws, for instance, are made using grass, rice, sugarcane, coconut, and coffee.

Catch the finalists at Tech in Asia Conference 2021

As the winners of the rest of Southeast Asia semifinals of Startup Arena Pitch Battle 2021, Equo and AltoTech will proceed to the finals to be held on October 13 at the Tech in Asia Conference 2021. They will go up against the finalists from the Singaporean and Indonesian battles for a chance to win the grand prize of US$10,000 in cash.

Get your tickets to Tech in Asia Conference 2021 to watch the Pitch Battle finalists make one last push to the finish line, partake in insightful sessions, and build your network in the Asian tech and startup scene.

East Ventures is a pioneering sector-agnostic venture capital firm in Indonesia. Founded in 2009, East Ventures has transformed into a holistic platform that provides multi-stage investment, including seed and growth, for over 190 companies in Southeast Asia.

Learn more about East Ventures on its website.

This content was produced by Tech in Asia Studios, which connects brands with Asia’s tech community. Learn more about partnering with Tech in Asia Studios.