Four Startups Win Microsoft’s Inaugural Emerge X Pitch in Asia Pacific
Microsoft Emerge X APAC Startup Winners Were Announced in SINGAPORE, 7 December 2020
About the Emerge X Program
The Emerge X Program is part of Microsoft’s broader Highway to a 100 Unicorns initiative, launched in Asia Pacific in October 2020. This program identifies high-potential technology startups and helps them scale rapidly by offering access to enterprise clients, mentorship, and cloud tools like Azure and GitHub credits.
The Microsoft Emerge X APAC startup winners
- Abivin (Vietnam): AI-powered supply chain optimization solving complex vehicle routing problems.
- Lifetrack Medical Systems (Philippines & Singapore): A cloud platform that expands access to affordable medical imaging in emerging markets.
- Agrithmics (Sri Lanka): A digital platform that connects farmers to buyers and streamlines the agri-supply chain.
- Milky Way AI (Singapore): A smart retail solution using image recognition to improve shelf inventory management.
Supporting Startup Innovation Across APAC
Microsoft partnered with 70+ startup ecosystem enablers across 16 Asia Pacific countries—including Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, and New Zealand—to nominate over 300 startups for the Emerge X program.
Out of 79 startups selected, 21 pitched at the Philippine Startup Week 2020. A jury of investors and industry leaders then selected the top four startups listed above.
Quotes from Microsoft and Partners
“Through the Highway to a 100 Unicorns and Emerge X, we aim to help startups meet unspoken industry needs and become resilient businesses,” said Andrea Della Mattea, President, Microsoft Asia Pacific.
Kevin Wo, Managing Director of Microsoft Singapore, added: “Singapore is Asia’s tech capital. The pandemic has sparked new opportunities for startups. We’re proud to recognize local innovation in healthcare, retail, and finance.”
Spotlight on Microsoft Emerge X APAC startup winners
Each winning startup has leveraged technology to create impact:
- Abivin: Saves up to 30% in logistics operations by optimizing routes.
- Lifetrack Medical Systems: Diagnosed over 1.7 million patients across 12 countries using LifeSys™.
- Agrithmics: Enabled over 40,000 farmers with their AgriX platform, processing 100 million kg of tea leaves.
- Milky Way AI: Boosted in-store productivity using AI-powered stocktaking in four countries.
Looking Ahead: SWITCH 2020
The regional event for Highway to a 100 Unicorns takes place on 9 December at the Singapore Week of Innovation & Technology (SWITCH). Microsoft and industry leaders will share insights on startup growth, resilience, and innovation across APAC.
Peter Ong, Chairman of Enterprise Singapore, remarked: “This event creates synergy by connecting top startups with global experts. We’re excited to deepen our partnership with Microsoft.”
This article was Published on Microsoft’s Singapore News Center
