Singapore, 5 March 2024; EduSpaze, Singapore’s leading edtech accelerator, welcomes six early-stage startups across the region into its well-established three-month accelerator programme. The latest batch of edtech startups aligns with the accelerator’s programme goal of supporting the development of innovative solutions that can improve the education landscape in Singapore and its region.
The six startups, including YAHO Lab, Edvance, Quippy, School on Cloud, Safe Space, and Salatech, were meticulously selected due to their high market potential and scalability, strong founding team, and clear value proposition while displaying great potential. As part of the renowned 3-month EduSpaze accelerator program, the startups would receive seed funding and mentorship from industry experts, access to a network of investors, and opportunities to expand their businesses in the region.
“The Southeast Asia region is known for its unique challenges and opportunities, making it a dynamic area for professional endeavors. This region comprises diverse countries, each with its own distinct characteristics and obstacles despite their geographical proximity. We observe varying levels of readiness for digital transformation among countries in SEA. For example, with a 98% internet penetration rate[1] among students in Singapore, the Edtech Masterplan 2030[2] is focused on creating a seamless and enhanced learning environment for students. However, in countries low internet penetration rate countries like Cambodia, their edtech policy is instead on prioritising expanding access to quality education for marginalised communities. As such, we are committed to bolstering the growth of the eighth cohort, to foster innovation and address the diverse educational needs and capacities within the SEA region,” shares Alex Ng, Managing Director of EduSpaze.
EduSpaze, operates under the umbrella of Spaze Ventures, a prominent seed capital firm and startup incubator, and is supported by Enterprise Singapore. The accelerator programme, now in its eighth iteration, strives to empower and uplift edtech startups within the region. Past participants of this highly regarded initiative, such as Flying Cape, ClassPoint, and myFirst, have experienced remarkable growth and progress during their engagement with EduSpaze. This testament to their success underscores the invaluable support and resources provided by the programme.
From local success to global impact: Supporting Singapore’s edtech startups in expanding globally
Singapore has emerged as a vibrant hub for technology startups, particularly in the education technology (edtech) sector. The city-state’s conducive environment for innovation, robust infrastructure, and strong government support has fueled the growth of numerous edtech startups, propelling them from local success to global impact. Notably, from the eighth cohort, School on Cloud has developed innovative solutions that gamify learning for children to address the evolving needs of the education sector, leveraging technologies such as artificial intelligence and data analytics to enhance learning experiences.
“At School on Cloud, we are dedicated to revolutionising the education system and providing quality education for all children, regardless of their backgrounds. Through innovative technology and inclusive teaching methods, we are determined to create a love for learning and break down barriers to education. Having been founded in 2021 in Singapore, we have since expanded our target market to include Indonesia, Vietnam and Malaysia. We are excited to be part of EduSpaze’s eighth cohort, especially with their team of educators-in-residence (EIR) to help provide an educator’s perspective, SOC is definitely on the right path in improving and bringing our innovative technology to a greater audience globally,” mentions Mint Lim, CEO of School on Cloud.
In addition to enriching educational opportunities, there is a growing demand for increased support in addressing student mental health concerns. In Southeast Asia, approximately one in seven individuals grapple with mental health issues, underscoring the necessity for the development of a more robust mental health care infrastructure in a region where such conditions are often stigmatised. Notably, in Singapore, data from the National Population Health Survey revealed a rise in mental health challenges from 13.4% in 2020 to 17% in 2022, with a concerning 25.3% of young adults experiencing mental health issues. This highlights the escalating need for mental health care startups, like Safe Space, to prioritise creating solutions tailored to young adults within the higher education sector.
“Safe Space has seen success in the corporate setting where we witness 93.7% of our users agreeing that our platform left a positive impact on their mental health. Our online service for counselling makes seeking mental health treatments more convenient and accessible, especially in SEA where mental health is stigmatised and not as well-established. In the corporate field, we have helped over 100 international clients from APAC, EMEA and ANZ and we’re excited to translate our successes into the educational field, where we are witnessing a growing demand for our unique solutions. Now that we are part of the prestigious EduSpaze accelerator programme, we are excited to combine our knowledge and experience in the mental health field with Eduspaze’s experience in the education scene, to continue our expansion globally,”said Antoinette, CEO of Safe Space.