Going the extra mile

• Education for underprivileged women is becoming more accessible, affordable, and inclusive, thanks to a partnership between 500-backed integrated automotive marketplace Carsome and AirAsia Academy!
• The two companies will help develop in-demand, marketable tech skills through a campaign dubbed #RatuTech to encourage women to expand their economic opportunities, participate in decision-making, network, grow as individuals, and simply have fun with technology.
• Eric Cheng, Co-founder & Group CEO of Carsome said, “As one of the fastest-growing tech companies in the Southeast Asian region, Carsome understands the shortage of tech talent to fill the growing demand for STEM jobs. We are happy to support AirAsia Academy’s efforts to expand the digital talent pool by helping women gain access to education, training, or networks that can make a career in technology possible.”
• “We are actively exploring creating job opportunities for the graduates of RatuTech, as we are confident that they will be capable and competent after taking Academy’s digital courses,” he added.
• Read the full announcement here.

Content for gamers by gamers

• Gaming is leveling up with more gamers becoming content producers. 500-backed edtech startup Nas Academy partnered with Axie Infinity, a popular blockchain game, to offer fellowships to 200 budding content producers.
• The course was created by Nas Academy specifically for the Axie Infinity community, and it aims to boost the number of community members providing instructional content centered on Axie Infinity.
• The 3-month fellowship includes a 2-month mentorship and the training focuses on topics such as producing new content ideas, writing engaging screenplays, smartphone recording, end-to-end mobile video editing, social media uploads, content strategies, and branding.
• What’s more, a $25,000 prize pool for the best films is up for grabs!
• Read more here.

Support for the local drone industry

• The India government has been taking significant steps toward making the country a global drone hub by 2030.
• Its latest move? Selecting 23 beneficiaries under the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme for promoting the manufacturing of drones and drone components in the country.
• One of the 23 is 500-backed drone manufacturing startup Aarav Unmanned Systems (AUS), and a total of over US$15M incentives will be given over 3 years to these companies. 
• Congratulations to the AUS team!
• Get the full list here.