ZEBOX, an international accelerator network founded by shipping conglomerate CMA CGM to bring more technical innovations to the supply chain industry, today announced the launch of its Asia Pacific headquarters. Headquartered in Singapore, ZEBOX Asia will also look into markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
The Asia Pacific Center is supported by Enterprise Singapore, a board of directors under the Ministry of Trade and Industry to promote SME development, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, along with industry partners Bureau Veritas Marine and Offshore, PSA unboXed, and Synergy Marine Group.
ZEBOX was founded in 2018 by CMA CGM Group Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Saadia, and already has centers in France, the US, the UK, West Africa and the Caribbean, which have collectively worked with 100 startups that have raised a total of $235 million in funding. It has 20 companies that startups collaborate with while in the ZEBOX incubator, including BNP Paribas, CEVA Logistics, Infosys, BNSG Railway, Port of Virginia, and Centrime.
ZEBOX CEO Gwen Saley told TechCrunch that along with access to mentorship, experts, business opportunities, and funding, the incubation program gives startups opportunities to test their solutions and work with large companies. For corporate partners, the advantage is working with startups that can take on their specific business challenges and engage in risk-free proof of concepts.
Sally said the incubator network chose Singapore as its newest hub because there are more than 4,000 regional headquarters and startups based there, it has business-friendly policies, an effective regulatory framework, transparent legal and financial systems, and robust digital infrastructure. “In addition, the strategic location of the city-state at the crossroads of major shipping lines and air routes connects large parts of Asia with the rest of the world, making it a global logistics hub,” he added.
Some examples of startups being incubated by ZEBOX include Searoutes, which uses routing engines and predictive data to show shippers how much CO2 they produce at key points in the procurement chain and Sublime Energie, a tech startup focused on biogas liquefaction technology that provides services Biogas collection. Both of them participated in ZEBOX France.
BasicBlock, which participated in ZEBOX America and raised over $78 million in funding, automates billing and develops financial products for the shipping industry. Expedock, also from ZEBOX America, has raised more than $20 million and automated shipping documentation, payment settlements, and other manual paperwork. Meanwhile, SMO Solar Process, partnered with Zebox Caribbeans, has developed solar-based technology that converts carbon-based waste into other materials, such as hydrogen, biochar and carbon powder.
ZEBOX is looking for startups in four areas. The first is operational efficiency, or technology that helps reduce physical movements of goods in day-to-day operations. Another is decarbonization, ZEBOX is looking for alternative fuels, net zero energy, asset recovery, green infrastructure, emissions tracking and reporting, and sustainable storage and distribution. This is a particularly critical area for the CMA CGM Group, since its goal is to reach net zero carbon by 2050. The company says it has already reduced carbon emissions per container load by 50% since 2008.
A third focus area, workflow automation, looks for startups that are streamlining and eliminating back-office tasks so companies can get more work done in less time. Finally, the future of work will center on startups that can innovate in training, workplace safety, employee engagement, talent acquisition, hybrid work environments, ESG and customer experience.
In a statement, Chief Executive Officer of the Ports and Maritime Authority of Singapore, Teo Eng Dae, said: “Startups are playing a critical role in transforming the maritime sector by creating value through their innovative solutions. By working with partners, MPA hopes to solidify more startups in the field of Marine Technology Singapore to develop, test and commercialize new products and services from Singapore to benefit the global maritime community.”