Paying it forward

• Startups that use technology to address Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are increasingly getting recognition from investors.

• According to a Standard Chartered report, infrastructure-focused SDGs are worth US$35 billion in Malaysia, with the greatest opportunities found in improving the transport sector.
• Examples of 500-backed startups tackling SDGs include:

1. On-demand work platform GoGet and its partnership with the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) in 2019 to help GoGetters save their income.
2. Renewable energy startup SOLS Energy set up an academy to teach underprivileged Malaysians technical skills in the solar industry

• Read the full report here.

Learning on the go

• 500-backed microlearning platform Gnowbe has partnered with food delivery platform FoodPanda and Singapore’s higher learning institute Temasek Polytechnic (TP). The goal? To launch an eLearning portal catered to FoodPanda’s community of delivery riders.

• Through this portal, over 10,000 riders will be able to access onboarding materials, as well as complimentary courses related to customer service.
• Also, they will be able to access exclusive content created by Temasek Polytechnic.
• They also get discounted rates on other courses on the platform, which spans a wide range of topics, including finance, digital skills, and personal branding.

Building a better workforce

• The ins and outs of supply chain management are being brought from the real world into Australian classrooms.

• 500-backed supply chain technology startup Escavox partnered with Central Queensland University to create learning modules aimed at aspiring students to consider a career in agritech.
• “We are a young company at the forefront of the ag-tech evolution that will carry agriculture into the future,” Escavox CEO Luke Wood said. “To be globally competitive in this space it is critical we are equipping our students of today to be the innovators and leaders of tomorrow.”

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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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