Opening up to startups that focus on robotics and AI, tech enabler Cyberview wants to transform Cyberjaya into a global hub, writes Balqis Lim
CYBERVIEW has added robotics and artificial intelligence as one of its focus areas for the Cyberview Living Lab Accelerator Programme. The tech hub enabler for Cyberjaya has shortlisted five startups to participate in its latest CLLA instalment.
The five startups have been working out of CoInnov8, Cyberview’s collaborative smart city space, for almost three months now and they will be plugging in two more months of intensive work under the programme.
Cyberview has been focusing on the areas of Fintech and the Internet of Things for its past two instalments of the programme, but now it has decided to open up to startups in the area of robotics and AI. This is in tandem with the market’s increased appetite for these, especially with robotics being one of the focal points for innovation leaders making strides to keep pace with Industry 4.0.
SELECTED STARTUPS
This time round, the startups are not in the early stage of ideation and proposals. They are already in the process of execution and implementation. They are Fintech players, such as EPC Blockchain, MEDKAD, CheQQme; IoT solutions provider Touchless and automation company Beebotics.
EPC Blockchain aims to empower the public to invest in energy efficiency as well as renewable energy projects. Leveraging on patent-pending solutions for the use of blockchain technology, the company will enable investments regardless of quantum to meet the pressing needs to mitigate climate change.
EPC Blockchain offers the possibility of monetising carbon credits from energy projects which will benefit small project developers as well as create an ecosystem that allows for the fundraising of energy projects through alternative models such as equity crowdfunding.
Medical benefits are made simple with MEDKAD. The startup provides cost-effective solutions for companies to manage their employees’ medical benefits and deliver the most user-friendly solutions for clinics with the fastest payment disbursement.
A gamification mobile marketing platform, CheQQme specialises in bringing online traffic to offline, especially for retailers who need walk-in traffic. The startup navigates on smartphones with greater visibility, promotions, and also entertains and engages with customers through “fun sales”.
Touchless is a parking management system that helps drivers get easier and faster parking access, and for parking authorities to manage their parking efficiently. By developing and utilising the latest technologies of IoT, AI and big data, Touchless is on a mission to be one of the world’s best parking system providers.
Beebotics provides robotics solutions. Its expertise is not limited to Autonomous Guided Vehicles as its primary product, but also developing a range of new products that solve problems within the manufacturing industry.
It is also working on other exciting technologies such as automation storage and retrieval system, exoskeletons and driverless vehicles for intralogistics.
VALUE ADDED SERVICES
In the course of five months, Cyberview’s collaborative partner Finnext Capital will run through roadshows, mentorships and strategic partnership initiatives with the startups in order to pilot their solutions.
Cyberview’s acting head of Technology Hub Development Division, Siti Shafinaz Mohd Salim, says it is not limited to that. These five startups also get value added services of up to RM100,000, access to tech companies and relevant investors and prototyping with Cyberjaya Innovation Council.
For Cyberjaya to be the leading city and a testing ground for smart city solutions, Cyberview has reverse-engineered the accelerator model. “Instead of building a solution and looking for clients or corporate partners, we curated a new innovation model based on the ‘demand-led’ model centred on the city’s problems.
“When choosing the startups, we look ahead in terms of projects at Cyberjaya in the future that we can add on with tech solutions.
“For example, by the end of next year we are going to have a hospital in Cyberjaya, so we select startups that can benefit the hospital like MEDKAD and Beebotics,” says Shafinaz.
This platform is a win-win for both sides. As for Cyberjaya, this programme will deliver what the city has put in its roadmap -— make Cyberjaya a global technology hub and an actual living lab.
“Cyberjaya is also ideal for these startups to pilot their ideas as 20 per cent of its total population are early tech adopters, which means that the community here is always ready to provide feedback on what works and what does not.”
QUALITY OF STARTUPS
Shafinaz says when they first started seriously looking into smart city, at least for the past two years, most startups involved were at the ideation stage and required a lot of hand-holding.
“That is why the startups that we are looking for today are the more mature ones and no longer in the ideation stage.
“At Cyberview, we are addressing a lot of the problems that we are facing. We bring on board our stakeholders, building developers and other organisations,” she says.
The quality can be diverse, depending on the maturity of the solution providers.
“Some may still require some hand-holding or refinement to address the needs of the potential client.
“Take Touchless, for example. We started engaging it when it was at the ideation stage, and it has improved a lot in its auto licence plate recognition pilot project at Cyberview.
“We gave it feedback. We informed it if its system was slow or was not working properly, and that helped to make sure its product is ready for more clients,” adds Shafinaz.
Some of the successful startups from previous cohorts include TheLorry.com, an online-based platform which provides on-demand transportation services throughout the country, from household appliances to commercial cargo.
Another example is LuxTag, which uses its system to solve counterfeit and theft problems with luxury items. Instead of a physical certificate authenticating a luxury item, this startup created a digital version of it to help keep track or trace the products.
Unlike previous cohorts, this group of startups is given specific problem statements that reflect the needs of Cyberjaya’s main stakeholders and its community.
This is to ensure that a solid purpose and direction is set for these startups who already have at least at minimum a viable product that can enrich the smart city ecosystem in Cyberjaya, and possibly the nation.
“They come to us because they need assistance, which includes mentorship and market access. It has always been our aim to engage with startups and provide them with a suitable launchpad towards the next phase of their commercialisation plan,” adds Shafinaz.
MOVING FORWARD
Being the tech hub enabler means ensuring a conducive business ecosystem to cater for investments from big companies, and local companies to grow in Cyberjaya.
“We want to be the role model for a smart city in this country, in addressing infrastructure, economy, environment and society,” says Shafinaz.
Cyberview will continue the accelerator programme to assist more startups and open doors for them to get clients.
“Their products and solutions can be piloted here, become a market validation that can also be the testimonial reference for them to take it further to potential customers.” Shafinaz adds.
“When they approach companies, they can proudly say that Cyberview is onboard with them.”
Cyberview seeks to achieve at least 70 per cent of the vision of startups.