Equal opportunity

• 500-backed super app Grab has signed a two-year partnership with Singapore social service agency Association for Persons with Special Needs (APSN).
• The collaboration aims to provide vocational opportunities to around 400 special needs students. Grab will provide training to prepare them for jobs in the food delivery sector.
• The startup will also look at providing employment opportunities at Grab-managed operations, including GrabKitchen, GrabMart, and GrabSupermarket.
• Ngiam Xin Wei, Managing Director for Deliveries, Grab Singapore said, “Ultimately, we aspire to unlock these students’ potential to contribute to the digital economy. We also hope that through this partnership, we are able to spread the message of inclusive employment among our partners and within the community.”
• Read the full statement here.

New territories

• 500-backed e-scooter startup Neuron Mobility enters another Australian state. A 12-month trial beginning this month will see a fleet of 500 e-scooters deployed across Tasmania.
• According to a statement issued by the startup, in addition to providing a safe, convenient, and environmentally-friendly mobility option, Neuron will also invest in the state, creating over 50 jobs for Tasmanians.
• Some safety features on the e-scooters include the world’s first app-controlled helmet lock, an emergency button, voice guidance, and geofencing technology.
• Read the full announcement here.

Better business support

• In Hong Kong, 500-backed Carousell has partnered with two firms to provide value-added services to its SME users. The startup aims to help these SME run their logistical operations and payment settlements more effectively.
• Since September 2021, Carousell has been working with logistics platform GOGOX. The partnership is hoped to provide consumers and merchants with contract-free and convenient logistics services.
• More recently, the startup’s tie-up with Atome has given merchants the option to split their bills into three, zero-interest payments. This reduces time and paperwork and provides more flexibility for merchants to manage their cash flow.
• Thanks to the partnership, interested merchants can also sign up for an exclusive plan which includes ~US$14,000 worth of in-app advertising and other business support. 
• Get more details here.