And more startup news to catch up.
I, Robot
- Healthcare facilities and hospitals worldwide are functioning at maximum capacity as the coronavirus infects mass populations in staggering fashion.
- The urgency paves the way for new technologies to take precedent. Robotics is one that has been surging in necessity.
- StartUs Insights analyzed over 395 robotics startups and emerging companies championing these efforts. Five made the top list, including 500-backed OhmniLabs.
- Particularly, OhmniLabs’ telepresence and teleconferencing robots are highlighted, which are allowing doctors and nurses to monitor their patients without being physically present.
- Besides, these robots also allow quarantined patients to interact with their family members, without fears of spreading the infection.
Naluri scores pre-series A round
- 500-backed healthtech startup Naluri has raised $1.1 million in pre-series A funding, the company said as reported by Tech In Asia.
- With the fresh capital, Naluri plans to extend its runway to at least 12 to 15 months before it gears up for a series A round.
- The new funding comes amidst the Covid-19 pandemic as digital health solutions are surging.
- In Indonesia, telemedicine platforms like Alodokter have clocked in record-high numbers in March since the first confirmed Covid-19 case in the country was reported.
- Founded by ex AirAsia X CEO and former iFlix Group COO, Azran Osman-Rani, Naluri combines behavior science, data science and digital design all into one app to offer healthcare coaching and psychological support.
- Naluri is a current participant of 500 Startups’ Global Launch program.
Covid-19 residential tenant relief
- In helping to offset some of the financial burden borne by tenants in Malaysia, 500-backed Speedhome has partnered with KYY Home, a property investment firm, to offer rent subsidies amounting to RM500,000 (~$114,843).
- “Our data shows more than 10 percent of tenants may not be able to continue paying for their property because of the impact of Covid-19 on their jobs,” Speedhome CEO and founder Wong Wei Meng said.
- Just last month, Speedhome offered a month’s rent-free stay at rental properties near 11 hospitals in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Selangor for Covid-19 frontliners.
Coronavirus; explained AGAIN!
- In November last year, Netflix released an episode of the docuseries Explained that elaborated the efforts underway to prevent the spread of a global pandemic.
- Just over the weekend, the streaming giant released a follow-up of sorts: A new mini-season of Explained devoted to the coronavirus.
- The first episode premiered on Sunday, with the second and third episode scheduled for a later date.
Stay tuned to tomorrow’s Daily Markup!
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500 Startups is a venture capital firm on a mission to discover and back the world’s most talented entrepreneurs, help them create successful companies at scale, and build thriving global ecosystems. In Southeast Asia, 500 Startups invests through the pioneering 500 Southeast Asia family of funds. The 500 Southeast Asia funds have backed over 240 companies across multiple sectors from internet to consumer to deep technology. It continues to connect founders with capital, expertise and powerful regional and global networks to help them succeed.
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