SOSV names the 7 startups that make up MOX’s 10th cohort

US-based VC firm SOSV has named the seven startups that are set to receive US$150,000 in funding as part of the 10th cohort of its global Mobile Only Accelerator (MOX) program.

SOSV’s William Bao Bean at Tech in Asia Jakarta 2018 / Photo credit: Sweet Escape

MOX is an accelerator program for consumer internet, focusing on mobile-first markets that include Southeast Asia, South Asia, the Middle East, South America, and Eastern Europe. Some of its notable alumni are Indian healthtech platform Phable, video publisher network Flickstree, and Google-backed AI language-learning app ELSA.

According to a statement, the companies in the program hail from Singapore, Hong Kong, Pakistan, and India, operating in the social commerce, live video, and financial structure spaces.

In addition to receiving funding, they are set to go through a six-month accelerator program that would cover cross-border market entry. They will also be given perpetual support through growth, business development, and fundraising modules.

“As an investor, we’re seeing huge opportunities in social commerce, video content, entertainment, and hyperlocal services,” said SOSV general partner and MOX managing director William Bao Bean.

Additionally, over 40 million people in Southeast Asia have connected to the internet for the first time last year, according to Google’s 2020 e-Conomy SEA report.

The startups in the latest cohort are the following:

• Wallet Engine (Singapore), an embedded finance platform for cross-border apps.
• Betagged (Singapore), an influencer marketing platform with deep analytics that deliver higher returns on investment for brands in Indonesia.
• BistroChat (Hong Kong), a restaurant management software for the chat age, with superior NLP capabilities.
• Dastgyr (Pakistan), a B2B marketplace that connects small-scale retailers with manufacturers and suppliers.
• 24Seven.pk (Pakistan), a grocery ecommerce platform serving 200 million Pakistanis.
• Stack Finance (India), a smart app that tracks and manages its users’ money.
• Kiko TV (India), a live commerce startup with AI-powered video content.

The accelerator is operated by SOSV, which had more than 1,000 portfolio companies and US$855 million in assets under management as of the close of 2020.