SAP.iO, an innovation arm of the world-renowned enterprise software company, has created a global network of foundries. These foundries are diligently working to cultivate startups, providing them with indispensable resources, expertise, and mentorship. These are critical in transforming innovative concepts into market-ready solutions.

The SAP.iO initiative is a strategic cornerstone in SAP’s agenda to broaden its ecosystem by harnessing the potential of promising startups, stimulating innovation, and driving digital transformation across various sectors.

Charting a Course for Sustainable Energy at SAP.iO Foundry

At the precipice of an energy revolution, the world is making concerted efforts to battle climate change and lay the groundwork for a sustainable future. This environmental endeavor calls for a profound transition from our dependence on fossil fuels to embracing net-zero carbon sources.

Amid this landscape, SAP.iO Foundry’s recent program is a beacon of hope. Over the next five months, it will work intimately with selected startups to cultivate enduring partnerships. These collaborations will strive to explore unique use cases, delve into product integration possibilities, and unearth diverse business development opportunities. Moreover, SAP’s clients will have an integral role in this innovative journey, assessing and implementing potential proof-of-concept opportunities.

The Chosen Eight: A Closer Look

The SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai program welcomes an exciting array of startups:

Firstly, Blue Tax stands at the forefront of optimizing governmental and corporate collaborations. The startup is revolutionizing the relationship between government departments, such as the tax bureau, and corporate human resources. By simplifying corporate tax calculation and social security issues, Blue Tax aims to increase collaboration efficiency by an astounding 80 times.

Secondly, we have Carbongram, a startup setting the pace in carbon management. They are striving to create a reliable, auditable carbon accounting infrastructure. This pioneering venture aims to help customers control their own carbon emissions and manage those of their suppliers effectively.

Then there’s Fei Liu Tech, which is applying the prowess of AI to transform the fashion supply chain. The startup offers comprehensive digital solutions that encompass smart manufacturing, supply chain collaboration, and intelligent marketing, thus revolutionizing the fashion industry.

Focusing on new energy resources is Inkelink, a startup dedicated to catalyzing the digital evolution of the energy sector. They’re working tirelessly to develop a digital smart factory solution and the Inkelink Industrial Internet platform, promising a more efficient future.

Matterhorn is championing the cause of Industry 4.0. With a variety of innovative solutions like workshop-level cyber-physical systems, intelligent data collection, machine-vision-equipped robots, and smart assembly, they aim to revolutionize traditional industries.

Next in the cohort, MHP is creating a stir in the automotive and related manufacturing industries. The startup is developing a host of digital and innovative solutions, embracing technological advancements to drive growth and sustainability.

O-tech is transforming the face of trade compliance. As a one-stop destination for trade compliance and customs consultancy services, the company also offers foreign trade management system development and operation, ensuring a streamlined trade environment.

Last but not least, Skyco2.com is paving the way in carbon emission management. Providing monitoring, reporting, and verification services for carbon emission data and carbon asset operation management, they cater to a range of sectors, from industrial to transportation and construction.

As the global energy sector undergoes a transformative revolution, initiatives such as the SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai program mark a significant stride towards a sustainable future. Through nurturing startups aimed at driving this new era of sustainable energy, SAP continues to stand as a pioneer in tech-driven, eco-friendly innovation.

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In an era of constant disruption and rapid transformation, businesses face the dual challenge of staying profitable while embracing sustainability and intelligence. By harnessing the power of innovative technologies, enterprises can gain a competitive edge by making informed decisions and swiftly adapting to dynamic market changes. Organizations that possess the agility and intelligence to navigate today’s complex business landscape are primed for long-term success.

The collaboration between SAP.iO Foundry Singapore and IMDA exemplifies the commitment of both organizations to drive sustainable innovation and support the growth of tech startups. By nurturing the talent and ideas of these startups, the program aims to pave the way for groundbreaking solutions that address real-world challenges and drive sustainable growth in industries across the globe.

Verena Siow, President, and Managing Director of SAP Southeast Asia, expressed enthusiasm for collaborating with IMDA to foster a vibrant ecosystem for startups to achieve their goals. Southeast Asia, known for its rapid growth and innovative potential, offers an ideal environment for nurturing startups. With its dynamic economy, diverse culture, and digitally savvy population, the region presents immense opportunities for businesses to flourish. SAP remains committed to fostering co-innovation and supporting the growth of startups within this thriving ecosystem.

The program places significant emphasis on sustainability, both in terms of business solutions and their impact on the environment. A jury comprising experts from SAP, IMDA, and selected SAP customers meticulously selected nine startups to participate in the program. These startups will have the unique opportunity to collaborate with leading corporations and end-users, showcasing real-world applications of their innovative technologies across various industries.

Startups Participate in SAP.iO Foundry Singapore and IMDA’s Program

Let’s take a closer look at the startups participating in the Intelligent Sustainable Enterprise program:

Ackcio specializes in building wireless monitoring systems that enhance efficiency and intelligence in industrial operations. Their innovative solutions aim to optimize processes and make industrial settings smarter and faster.

Meanwhile, Delta Capture focuses on managing the sustainability of agriculture supply chains. With their solutions, they empower businesses to monitor and enhance the environmental impact of agricultural practices.

Furthermore, Intangles revolutionizes fleet monitoring standards through its proprietary digital twin technology. Their solutions enable businesses to enhance fleet efficiency and reduce operational costs.

QZense specializes in helping companies optimize food supply chain operations through IoT-based automation and analytics solutions. Their innovative technologies enable businesses to enhance food quality, reduce waste, and streamline supply chain processes.

Scoutbee also offers actionable supplier insights powered by their Scoutbee Intelligence Platform. Their solutions enable businesses to make informed decisions about supplier selection, thereby optimizing supply chain efficiency.

Moreover, SkyMap provides location-based data analytics that delivers geospatial AI applications with a focus on sustainability. By harnessing the power of location data, SkyMap offers valuable insights that drive sustainable decision-making across various industries.

Unbox Robotics specializes in elevating fulfillment for digital commerce through intelligent vertical robotic sortation. Their cutting-edge solutions enhance warehouse automation, enabling businesses to optimize order fulfillment processes.

On the other hand, UNL Global empowers organizations to develop highly scalable, hyperlocal applications and services using their data, location, and mapping tools. Their solutions offer valuable insights into location-based services, driving efficient operations and enhancing customer experiences. By leveraging UNL Global’s tools, companies can unlock the potential of location data and provide tailored services that cater to specific localities.

Lastly, xSquare leverages intelligent warehouse automation technology to optimize warehouse operations without altering existing configurations. Their solutions enable businesses to enhance warehouse efficiency and streamline operations. By adopting xSquare’s technology, companies can achieve significant improvements in warehouse performance, including increased productivity, reduced costs, and streamlined workflows.

These startups, carefully selected for their innovative solutions, will gain invaluable resources and support throughout the program. They will also receive dedicated mentorship from the teams at SAP.iO Foundry Singapore and IMDA, and collaborate with the German tech giant’s enterprise customers and IMDA’s network of industry partners, startups, and corporates. Additionally, they will have access to SAP’s technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), empowering them to commercialize their tech solutions effectively.

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Following the announcement of SAP Startup Studio’s fourth cohort of early and growth-stage Indian startups in September, SAP, once again, has recognised six outstanding Indian startups to join the first SAP.iO Foundry accelerator program in Bangalore.

The SAP.iO Foundries, SAP’s global network of equity-free startup accelerators, are created to help promising startups integrate with SAP solutions and accelerate their entry into a curated, inclusive ecosystem whose offerings can be easily accessed and deployed by SAP customers. This month, SAP.iO Foundry Bangalore becomes the ninth strategic location for SAP.iO following the launch of SAP.iO Foundry Singapore and SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo.

Scott Russell, President of SAP Asia Pacific Japan (APJ) shared that SAP.iO Foundry Bangalore is a reflection of the German software company’s continued commitment to the dynamic Indian ecosystem. He stressed:

“We believe these startups have the ability to positively contribute to India’s growth potential by offering a variety of advanced solutions for SAP’s customers in India and the wider APJ region.”

The Select Six

The new Bangalore location will be the hub for the SAP.iO accelerator program, one of SAP’s innovation strategy designed to accelerate early-stage business-to-business (B2B) startups that build innovative software and deliver high value for SAP and its customers. The 13-week program is a testimony of SAP.iO Fund’s mission to funding tech startups in the early-stage phase that capitalise on emerging trends. 

The first SAP.iO Foundry Bangalore cohort is comprised of the following six early-stage B2B startups:

• Adloid is a B2B technology company that provides end-end solutions and tools for developing AR/VR applications for furniture, automobile, and retail estate sectors.
• FocusLabs, based in Kukatpally, provides a suite of logistics solutions built on artificial intelligence-based algorithms for route optimisation, load planning, and smart inspection.
• Jumper.AI, founded in 2017,  is the leader in omnichannel conversational commerce solutions for large-scale direct-to-consumer brands that value customer relationships. It is the world’s first end-to-end conversational commerce and shopper engagement platform today used by enterprises like Disney, Unilever, Jollibee, Samsung, BMW, Reckitt Benckiser, and L’Oreal. 
• Parcel Perform is the leading carrier-independent parcel tracking service for merchants worldwide with over 600 logistics carriers connected and the most comprehensive standardisation of logistics events. It offers value-added services to businesses to supercharge the postpurchase customer experience.
• Saara provides image-recognition tools to automate inventory processes and reduce supply-chain costs. With AI-powered supply chain automation, Saara promises to reduce returns by up to 30{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} and save up to 90{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of hours in managing returns and inventory.
• Schrocken Inc. is an enterprise blockchain-based SaaS that helps enterprises outsource manufacturing with unprecedented transparency, control, and compliance adherence. Schrocken is one of the Top 5 products showcased at NASSCOM conclave 2019.

“We will be working hand in hand over the next three months with these innovative startups to help them accelerate and deliver winning outcomes and incremental value to our customers,” said Lalitha Bhaskara, SAP.iO Foundries APJ Head.

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Following the recent launches of SAP.iO Foundries’ accelerator programs in Berlin, San Francisco, and Tokyo, SAP.iO Foundry Singapore kicked off its program focused on FinTech, spend management, and COVID-19 recovery.

The SAP.iO Foundry Singapore Fall 2020 program cohort includes 6 business-to-business (B2B) startups that are expected to support the investment of SAP customers in SAP Concur solutions for travel and expense management. The accelerator program’s cohort is also comprised of several startups that are founded or led by female entrepreneurs, much like the scenario of the inaugural SAP.iO Foundry Singapore program in 2019 and a representation of the SAP.iO No Boundaries initiative. 

Andy Watson, SAP Concur Senior Vice President and General Manager, Asia Pacific Japan and Greater China, said:

“By helping these enterprising startups in the SAP.iO program scale, we enable our customers to benefit from the value of some of these unique solutions and emerging technologies when they become available in SAP Concur App Center.”

The SAP.iO Foundries, SAP’s global network of equity-free startup accelerators, are created to help promising startups integrate with SAP solutions and accelerate their entry into a curated, inclusive ecosystem whose offerings can be easily accessed and deployed by SAP customers. 

The Cohort

During the 13-week program, the chosen startups will have access to curated mentorship and exposure to SAP technology and application programming interfaces (APIs) as well as collaboration opportunities with SAP customers across over 25 industries. 

Below are the selected startups for the SAP.iO Foundry Singapore Fall 2020 program:

• CardUp is a credit card enablement platform, enabling the payment or collection of big expenses using a credit card, where cards are not accepted today. The platform allows users to shift domestic and international payments made by cash, cheque, or bank transfers onto their credit cards. 
• LuggAgent creates a standardised international luggage delivery and tracking platform by widely applying radio frequency identification (RFID) while working with logistics services providers in varying countries. LuggAgent is available in over 200 cities worldwide.
• MatchMove is a Singapore-based Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) platform that enables users to move digital cash securely, allowing easy spending, sending, and lending. MatchMove won the category Best Payments Innovation of the Year of the 4th Payments and Cards Awards 2019 held in Mumbai.
• Railsbank is a BaaS platform that provides FinTech companies with a range of wholesale banking services, including IBANs, receiving money, sending money, converting money, direct debit, issuing cards, and managing credit through APIs. The founders of the London-based company, Nigel Verdon and Clive Mitchell, have been in the FinTech industry since the 1990s.
• Staple offers cognitive technology that can read, interpret, and extract data from business documents faster, more affordably and more precisely than humans, at scale, and in any language. Its unique interface allows viewing and sorting of documents with ease, intuitively.
• Timeshifter is the world’s first platform for circadian (body rhythm) shifting and helps businesses empower their travelling employees to create their jet lag plans. Timeshifter translates circadian neuroscience into applications that enable people to live modern lives while staying in sync with their natural circadian rhythm to optimise safety, health, and performance. In June 2018, the company launched its first product and now the most-downloaded and highest-rated jet lag app in the world –The Jet Lag App.

Ang Chin Tah, Vice President of Singapore Economic Development Board explained how the COVID-19 pandemic has compelled many businesses to embrace digital transformation in search of growth. He added:

“The Singapore Economic Development Board is glad to support the SAP.iO Foundry Singapore Fall 2020 acceleration program, which will bring startups from all around the world to Singapore to develop products that meet the needs of the new operating environment.

Singapore’s established base of industry leaders in finance and digital, as well as connectedness to regional markets, make us a great testing ground for their ideas. It is a wonderful new addition to our thriving ecosystem.”

The SAP.iO Foundry Singapore Fall 2020 program will culminate at the SAP.iO Cohort Demo Day in December 2020.

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The SAP.iO Foundries are SAP’s global network of top-tier startup programs, including accelerators that enable startups to build innovative software that delivers value for SAP customers. The month of October opened with three SAP Foundries launching accelerator programs in Tokyo, San Francisco, and Berlin. Each Foundry focused on various business niche including consumer products, human resources, and data and analytics. 

SAP.iO is an open innovation model and a zero-equity-ask program that enables visionary startups to use the power of SAP data, application programming interfaces (APIs), platform technologies, and new business models. SAP aims to help at least 200 startups around the world, committing 40{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of the investible capital in the SAP.iO Fund and bringing the SAP.iO Foundries program to scale with a focus on inclusive entrepreneurship. In 2019, SAP has accelerated 81 startups across 8 SAP.iO Foundries, including four new SAP.iO Foundries in EMEA and Asia. 

Tokyo Accelerator Program Kick-Off

For SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo, its first accelerator program focused on B2B technologies for consumer products. The selected early-stage startups are from the retail, consumer goods, and distribution industries.

Hirofumi Suzuki, SAP Japan President and Representative Director stated:

“COVID-19 has led consumers to adopt new habits and behaviors, which will continue in the long term. This program will allow us to offer our customers new digital technologies to connect with consumers.”

The chosen SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo startups will undergo a 13-week virtual program wherein they will have access to curated mentorship and exposure to SAP technology and APIs as well as collaboration opportunities with SAP customers.

Below are the startups for the SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo Fall 2020 program:

• ChatBook is a sales acceleration intelligence provider for marketing, inside sales, and sales teams. It provides marketing automation solutions to generate leads and deliver personalised experiences across the entire customer journey through instant communications platforms. Founded in 2016, Tokyo-based ChatBook is comprised of an international and multi-cultural team of entrepreneurs, designers, and developers.

• True Data provides Big Data marketing services and advanced analysis technology at scale by integrating the gender, behavior, and other ID data with product-trend point-of-sale data.

• Vox Japan takes pride in its next-generation smart delivery unit poised as an ultimate last-mile logistics platform. It provides a connected reusable boxing service with remotely operated smart delivery carts that authenticate and track delivery and pickup information by smartphone. 

Other SAP.iO Foundry Launches

Around the same time as the SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo Fall 2020 program launch, SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco and SAP.iO Foundry Berlin startup accelerator programs have also commenced.

SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco’s virtual accelerator program focused on HR technology and the future of work in conjunction with SAP SuccessFactors solutions. The selected six early-stage HR technology startups are focused on recruiting, talent and team management, well-being, and collaborative learning for human resources. The culmination of the program will be at the SAP.iO Cohort Demo Day in December 2020. 

The SAP.iO Foundry San Francisco cohort includes Cloverleaf, Crosschq, Cuéntame, Knockri, Landit, and Mathison,

SAP.iO Foundry Berlin launched its first accelerator program focused on data and analytics involving seven startups. The seven will participate in the virtual fall cohort held in collaboration with the SAP HANA and Analytics team focusing on the unique opportunities of data and analytics’ B2B technologies.

The SAP.iO Foundry Berlin cohort includes C2RO i,  datazeit, Teamcore, nwo.ai, Stylumia, Ubermetrics’, and ZEPL.

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SAP.iO Bangalore is looking for B2B SaaS tech startup companies who are developing enterprise software solutions for the consumer industry focused on:

• digital supply chain
• smart store/self-service consuming apps for retailers to connect with their principals/brands
• connecting farmers with consumers

Meanwhile, SAP.iO Tel Aviv is targeting startups that are innovating in areas such as retail and prosumer, enterprise asset management, generation and renewables, and transmission and distribution. SAP.iO Tel Aviv will be collaborating with European electric utility company E.ON—one of the United Kingdom’s top energy suppliers—and Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) for the Utilities Industry Cohort program. The two SAP clients will participate in the application screening phase, in some of the meetings and sessions during the program, share insights and industry challenges, and be potential beta-sites for pilots for relevant tech startup companies.

The three-month programs aim to help B2B tech startup companies build long-term partnerships with SAP globally. Startups who successfully pass the applications will be working closely with the teams at SAP.iO Banglore and Tel Aviv—who will provide focused mentorship and technical support in building integrations with SAP platforms. The startups will also get the opportunity to:

• engage with SAP clients globally through account plans created specifically for their needs
• work alongside world-class executives and mentors
• join the SAP PartnerEdge program
• join the SAP.iO alumni program

Tech Startup Companies: Next Generation of SAP Partners

SAP.iO Foundries are SAP’s global network of equity-free startup accelerators that help promising tech startup companies integrate with SAP solutions and accelerate their entry into the SAP ecosystem. SAP.iO Foundry has various accelerator programs—each focused on a different theme—that are being run by nine teams located in San Francisco, New York, Berlin, Munich, Paris, Tel Aviv, Bangalore, Singapore, and Tokyo. These innovation hubs accelerate 18 cohorts of startups every year according to SAP.

Currently, SAP.iO Foundries have two on-going programs in Singapore and Tokyo that are each focused on fintech and COVID-19 recovery, and the consumers industry space, respectively.

Seven other programs, including SAP.iO Bangalore’s Consumer Industry Cohort and Tel Aviv’s Utilities Industry Cohort, are scheduled to begin Fall 2020:

• Fan Experience program in Munich – for startups disrupting the way fans experience events in the stadium and remotely 
• Analytics program in Berlin – focused on data harmonization, business analytics, machine learning, and data-as-a-service
• Shaping the Future of Procurement, Paris – for startups developing solutions that are, or can be, integrated with SAP Procurement Solutions
• Future of Work, San Francisco – for startups that are innovating in workforce modeling, HR analytics, and talent management 
• COVID-19 Recovery in Automotive, Manufacturing & Retail in New York – for companies that have a female or diverse co-founder and/or executive team member with significant equity

About SAP.iO

SAP.iO is SAP’s early stage venture arm that makes strategic investments in startups who drive customer value from digitization. The firm invests in startups who can leverage SAP’s data, APIs and technologies. It also enables SAP customers to realize the new, highly incremental value to investments in SAP solutions.

SAP.iO is dedicated to closing the gap in resources for businesses owned and led by women, people of color, LGBTQIA+, first-generation and others from underrepresented groups.

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