Growing more with less

• Is it possible for farm owners to reduce their environmental impact while increasing crop yield? Thanks to 500-backed agritech startup Plant Cartridge, it is! The Malaysia-based startup raised US$3 million in seed funding to boost its efforts in empowering agriculture producers to grow more productively and sustainably.
• The company designs and produces modern sustainable farming systems. According to Plant Cartridge, it allows farmers to decrease growing media usage by up to 200 times, reduce water consumption by 90%, and boost crop yield by up to 10x.
• The fresh funds will be used to expand its operations by 1,000,000 square feet and develop new advanced farming solutions that are sustainable, scalable, and accessible.
• It will continue to provide hardware and software for controlled environment agriculture (CEA), including seed, germination, irrigation, and nutrient management systems, along with an integrated farm operating system for crops such as leafy vegetables, fruiting, or tuberous plants.
• Congratulations to the Plant Cartridge team!
• Read the full article in e27.

Solving a real (estate) problem

• As more of the world moves towards 5G connectivity, countries like Indonesia begin to face a problem: there isn’t enough space to build more internet infrastructure, especially in densely populated areas.
• Fortunately, this doesn’t mean they will be left behind. In collaboration with global technology services firm NTT Ltd, 500-backed startup Transcelestial is bringing its wireless laser communications technology to Indonesia’s manufacturing and telecommunications sector.
• According to Rohit Jha, co-founder and CEO of Transcelestial, its CENTAURI wireless laser technology is Indonesia’s best opportunity to rapidly build a fiber-equivalent network, which can provide speeds of up to 1GB, as well as secure connectivity for data, voice, and video.
• In the longer-term, Transcelestial aims to develop a constellation of small satellites positioned in Low Earth Orbit, allowing their laser network to not only beam across cities but upwards to connect continents globally too.
• Read the full article in Tech Wire Asia.

Safe & affordable travels 

• Countries are beginning to bounce back from the pandemic and travel in Southeast Asia is expected to rise.
• To address growing travel needs, 500-backed hospitality startup RedDoorz launched Urbanview, a new label in the startup’s portfolio with a collection of accommodation for urban and business travelers.
• Urbanview properties are strategically located close to key business districts, transport nodes, urban areas, and key tourist attractions. RedDoorz currently has 50 Urbanview properties in Indonesia and rooms are priced at an average rate of US$15 to US$20 per night.
• Amenities will also be provided at an affordable rate, while adhering to RedDoorz’s proprietary HygienePass-certified cleanliness measures for travelers’ peace of mind.
• Get the full announcement here.