Entrepreneur First names 9 deep-tech startups in seventh Singapore cohort

Global talent investor Entrepreneur First (EF) has unveiled the nine Singapore-based deep-tech startups that are fundraising from its seventh cohort of its accelerator program in the city-state.

Photo credit: Entrepreneur First

According to a statement, the selected companies cut across a diverse mix of industries such as biotech, fintech, and energy tech. Among the solutions presented by the EF Singapore cohort are a nano-molecular filter that can recycle hydrogen gas and an AI platform that optimizes waste collection in cities.

As part of the program, EF will invest S$75,000 into each of the teams that reach the launch phase, where they focus on building their products and prepare to raise funds externally. The investment, together with the roughly S$5,000 in monthly stipends paid over the duration of the program per team, is made in exchange for a 10% stake in each company.

EF said that the founders in the seventh cohort have had to pivot to remote working due to the Covid-19 pandemic. They also received guidance and training virtually from EF and a team of venture partners.

Here are the companies that are fundraising from EF Singapore’s seventh cohort:

• Allozymes is leveraging microfluidics – or the study of the behavior of fluids – to build a fast and affordable enzyme development platform.
• Bioponics has developed a sustainable, bacteria-based solution as an alternative to chemical fertilizer production.
• Cocoon empowers creators to become entrepreneurs with an all-in-one microbusiness platform that enables them to launch and manage their brand, community, and business from one place.
• DiviGas purifies and recovers hydrogen gas on an industrial scale with its nano-molecular filter, while helping to reduce overall carbon emissions.
• InPact improves data-driven decision making by extracting business insights from contracts and unstructured documents through an AI-powered enterprise SaaS.
• Origin Health’s AI platform for pregnancy ultrasound scans expands access to quality prenatal care by improving the reliability of ultrasound screening procedures.
• Surge Analytics is enabling rapid and cost-effective R&D for batteries and energy storage systems with its AI-powered SaaS simulation software.
• Venture L has developed a customizable platform for freelancers that integrates different tools, knowledge hubs and provides workflow visibility, to enable them to scale and build their business.
• Waste Labs optimizes waste collection systems in cities with a proprietary AI platform.

The company also said that applications for the next EF Singapore cohort are currently ongoing and will close November 30 this year.