Also, Carousell partners with Unilever to help the F&B industry.

Robots and robes

• A university in Tokyo relied on future-thinking ways to hold a graduation ceremony — all without needing students present to collect their scrolls.

• Faces of graduates were fixed on screens mounted on 500-backed OhmniLabs’ Newbe robots as they roll upstage to collect the scrolls on behalf of their human counterparts.

Japanese giant ANA Holdings are using their OhmniLabs engineered "Newme" robots to hold virtual graduation ceremony due to the #coronavirus at the Business Breakthrough University (BBT) in Tokyo, Japan. #telepresence #graduationhttps://t.co/YmTrC3OK99

— OhmniLabs (@OhmniLabs) April 6, 2020

• In times of social distancing, the telepresence robotics and 3D printing startup has been ramping up efforts to help people stay in touch virtually. Early this month, it deployed robots for isolated senior citizens and quarantined patients to contact their families.

Carousell supports the F&B industry with Unilever

• Under its #SupportLocal campaign, 500-backed Carousell has partnered with Unilever Food Solutions to assist F&B establishments hard-hit by the Covid-19 spread.
• Business owners can join the initiative by listing on either the #SupportLocal page for Singapore or the #TetapBuka for Malaysia.

• “Nothing binds our local community together more than their shared love for food, and we have partnered with Unilever Food Solutions, who are experts in the culinary industry, to help our local F&B owners tide through these difficult times,” said Lewis Ng, the Chief Commercial Officer of Carousell.

ESPL x Paytm First Games

• 500-backed eSports tournament network ESPL announced that it has entered a strategic partnership with India’s Paytm First Games, the fastest growing gaming community in the country.

• Paytm First Games is a joint venture between AGTech Holdings Limited and One97 Communications Limited, which is the parent company of India’s largest digital payments and financial services platform (Paytm).
• The link-up will see ESPL lending its expertise in securing global sponsorships and organizing grassroots tournaments to Paytm First Games, which claims to have over half a million players on the platform and 75,000 daily sign-ups.
• Founded by Michael Broda and Lau Kin Wai, ESPL is also a partner with eGG Network, the largest esports TV network in Southeast Asia and Australia (it reaches approximately 100 million viewers.

Tools to manage Covid-19 situation

• 500-backed Enplug has released a full set of Digital Signage Tools to assist business owners in navigating the new reality of WFH.

• From an awareness app to a library of free Covid-19 signage templates, these resources will help both employers and employees alike adapt to the new normal while staying safe and healthy at home.
• The full list can be found here.

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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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