Korean Startup ‘Kairos Watches’ Come Runners up at Startup Asia in Singapore – Next Stop beLAUNCH 2014 In Seoul

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2014년 05월 09일

Startup Asia in Singapore has just ended and the team has already announced their 2014 winners and runners up. While the top spot and $10k prize went to a Hong Kong team, Bindo, first runners up are a team that will also be showcasing at beLAUNCH 2014 in Seoul next week, May 14-15.

Kairos Watches, a South Korea-based startup that manufactures a hybrid mechanical smartwatch . Second runner-up is Asli Goli, a Pakistan-based startup that helps check for fake medicine using a scratch-off authentication code on the container. Sending the code via SMS will return a message confirming whether that code - and the drugs - are genuine and when they will expire. Third runner-up is Facerecog, a Singapore-based startup that uses proprietary facial and signal tracking technology to track facial expressions. Fourth runner-up is MergePay, a Thailand-based startup that builds tools for small businesses that help them manage finances.

Bindo, this years Startup Asia winners, has created a point-of-sale (POS) system that merges online and offline operations for brick-and-mortar retailers counting on web sales for extra revenues.

Tech in Asia’s sixth international Startup Arena competition was part of the two-day Startup Asia Singapore 2014 conference, where ten startups competed in front of more than 1,300 attendees and an expert panel of five judges who are influencers in the entrepreneurship and startup scene. The judges at the Startup Arena competition were co-founder and executive chairman of Ardent Capital, Paul Srivorakul; director of Banean Holdings, Peng T. Ong; Venture Partner of 500 Startups, Khailee Ng; managing partner of TNF Ventures Pte Ltd and chairman of Singapore Infocomm Technology Federation (SiTF), Shirley Wong; and managing partner of East Ventures, Willson Cuaca.

The ten contenders were handpicked from more than 100 applications submitted prior to the event to pitch and challenge in front of top investors, industry leaders, and international press over the two-day event.

On the successful closure of its sixth international conference this evening at Biopolis in Singapore, Tech in Asia’s head of business development Gwendolyn Regina Tan noted:

"As a startup ourselves, we are always iterating and trying new things at our Startup Asia conferences, so as to continue to build stronger bridges amongst entrepreneurs, investors and other players in the startup community in Asia. It has been an exhilarating experience to bring everyone together again for the third time in Singapore, to take part in our own ongoing experiment, and to welcome all the new faces to this growing region. We look forward to continue putting together even better events for you."

The 10 startups chosen to compete at Startup Arena Singapore 2014 are as follows: