CHIBA, Japan--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Asian Entrepreneurship Award (AEA) Steering Committee announced today that Eden Agritech from Thailand offering the solution to maintain food quality and extend its shelf life up to three times, won first prize at the Asian Entrepreneurship Award 2020 (AEA2020), an annual international innovation award allowing tech startups from Asia to showcase their product innovations and business plans. This year’s event took place from October 27th to 29th, and was held fully online, with the participation of 30 progressive tech startups from 12 Asian countries and regions. https://aea.events/e/
Since 2012, AEA has been providing a stage for promising entrepreneurs and startups from rapidly growing countries and regions in Asia to showcase business ideas and technologies addressing social issues. AEA2020 was attended by emerging Asian technology startups offering solutions in the areas of healthcare, communications, work style reform and quality of life. The startup entrants receive a mentoring session on the first day of the three-day event to brush up their business plans in preparation for presentation of these at the semi-final session, during which six startup entrants were selected to proceed to the final session on the last day. The finalists are assessed and selected on the basis of a wide range of criteria, including innovativeness, the social impact of their products and services, their commercial viability, the potential for collaboration with Japanese companies, and the opportunity for business expansion in Japan. This year, Eden Agritech from Thailand offering the solution to maintain food quality and extend its shelf life up to three times, won first prize.
The AEA2020 business matching session between Japanese companies and startup entrants also attracted many companies. Compared to previous years, the online format of the sessions enabled participating companies to be more active in initiating 1 on 1 sessions or online networking sessions, which resulted in more vibrant discussions among the startups and Japanese companies.
AEA2020 also hosted notable speakers from Asia, such as Mr. Vinnie Lauria from Golden Gate Ventures and Mr. Nalin Advani, an entrepreneur, investor and board member. Moving forward, AEA is committed to build an ecosystem of innovation in Asia by engaging and connecting tech startups and supporters across the region.
AEA will also continue to work closely with the Kashiwanoha area in Japan’s Chiba prefecture, which hosts the event and provides facilities for the testing of the innovative technologies developed by the startup companies, thus bolstering new industry generation in the area.
AEA2020 Winners
First Prize: Eden Agritech Co., Ltd. (Thailand)
Outline:
A transparent edible film that protects food, such as fruits and vegetables, from deterioration
From the judges:
The target of market size and the social impact of decreasing 40% of the food waste were highly evaluated.
Award: 3 million JPY
Second Prize: Nitium Technology Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
Outline:
Porous nickel titanium (NiTi) dental implants with new materials and low-cost manufacturing technology
From the judges:
The good match of technology and market together with the possibility of future expansion were highly evaluated.
Award: 1 million JPY
Third Prize: Onesight Technology Co., Ltd.（China）
Outline:
Building life cycle management solution using AR / BIM / IoT
From the judges:
The possibility of partnership with a Japanese company in a traditional field was considered to accelerate the growth speed.
Award: 500,000 JPY
Microsoft Award: Brain Pool Tech Private Limited (Singapore)
Award: Azure Sandbox Environment, Technical Mentoring
Life Science Award: ENDIMENSION TECHNOLOGY PRIVATE LIMITED (India)
Award:
- Support for scheduling 1 on 1 meeting with companies in LINK-J (Life Science Innovation Network Japan) network during business trip to Japan and PR support at LINK-J website after consultation with LINK-J.
- Posting an interview article of the award-winning company on website of LINK-J
- (Japanese startups only) One-year free membership of LINK-J
The Japan Academic Society for Ventures and Entrepreneurs(JASVE) Award: Mantra Inc. (Japan)
Award: 50,000 JPY
The award was given by JASVE to the most challenging team in solving problems and which is full of entrepreneurship.
IP Bridge Award 01: Chronoptics Limited (New Zealand)
Award: Strategy building support for Intellectual property
IP Bridge Award 02: Mantra Inc. (Japan)
Award: Strategy building support for Intellectual property
Audience Prize: Nitium Technology Sdn Bhd (Malaysia)
For a list of startup entrants and their businesses, visit https://aea.events/e/startup-entrants/
