Drones, phones, and automobiles: Singtel Innov8 wants startups tackling new problems

Photo credit: Singtel Innov8

Singaporean telco Singtel’s venture capital arm, Singtel Innov8, announced today a new program for startups called Innov8 Connect. Through it, Singtel will invite companies to tackle technical and business challenges faced by the telecommunications and multimedia group.

Startups selected for the program will receive up to S$75,000 (US$52,000) to implement their ideas. The telco will then help bring successful ideas to market and support the startups through its customer, partner, and business networks. Singtel Innov8 can also provide additional funding to successful startups in collaboration with its global partners and other investors.

The Innov8 Connect’s program is on the lookout for startups that solve a variety of problems. The first batch of project briefs includes things like ways to help migrate apps between different cloud platforms; ideas for capturing and analyzing real-time data on crowd and traffic behavior; methods of saving energy for data centers; and innovations on customer support and troubleshooting of infrastructure failures.

An interesting one is a call for ways to protect specific areas or events from drones. Examples include “the ability to monitor drone movements, manage intrusions non-destructively, and determine the drone’s profile and risk level.” O tempora o mores!

Startups can submit their applications through the site. Some of them will then be selected to pitch to a panel of Singtel representatives. Out of that process, one startup will be selected to work on each brief.

“Entrepreneurs are looking for problems to solve. This program enables Singtel to share real-world business challenges and invite solutions from startups globally,” says Edgar Hardless, CEO of Singtel Innov8 in a statement.

Headquartered in Singapore, Singtel Innov8 has used its US$250 million-strong fund and the support of parent Singtel to invest in and partner with startups all over the world. It has offices in San Francisco and Tel Aviv.