Introducing SANS

• Last Friday, 500-backed hotel management company RedDoorz announced the launch of SANS, a new brand of accommodation that is not only stylish, but also economical.
• SANS, an interpretation of the Indonesian word “santai” (roughly translated as “chill”), features modern sensibilities and trendy furniture, without weighing down the wallet.
• The introduction of SANS is part of RedDoorz’s strategy to create an ecosystem consisting of accommodations that cater to consumer preferences — from no-frills quick stays to tasteful lodging experiences.

• “We’ve had a great journey over the last five years growing RedDoorz into the region’s number one hotel brand. We are now getting ready for our next phase of growth and despite Covid-19, we remain deeply committed to Southeast Asia’s hospitality potential.
• “Once the pandemic gets behind us, we will be the first hospitality company in our part of the world to spring back into full growth mode again thanks to everything we’ve done during this challenging year,” said Amit Saberwal, founder and CEO, RedDoorz.
• SANS marks the company’s second brand launch this year after KoolKost, an extended stay co-living brand in Indonesia allowing customers to rent long stay rooms under flexible leases, was launched in beta mode in January 2020.
• Come Q1 2021, RedDoorz will launch a new app, featuring easy access to multiple hotel brands and a new loyalty programme, which can be used to earn and redeem discounts and access exclusive partner offers and benefits.

Third time’s a charm!

• 500-backed Laka has been crowned Best Insurance Provider in this year’s Insurance Choice Awards!
• This marks the insurtech company’s third back-to-back victory, having won Innovation of The Year in 2018 and Best Cycle Insurance Provider in 2019.
• Now in its fifth year, the Insurance Choice Awards collate public opinion to find the UK’s best insurance providers, brokers, and partners.

• Founded in 2017, Laka goes against conventional norms by using a community-approach to insurance. Based on the “collective”, customers are charged a share of the cost of claims submitted in the previous month — up to a capped fee. 80% of those premiums go towards paying for other customers’ claims, and Laka said it then gets paid when the claim is settled.
• Most recently, it launched Recovery, a policy designed to support cyclists on and off the bike. Partnering with healthcare professionals, Laka aims to offer cyclists all they need to get back to full fitness if they’re injured.
• Congrats on the win, team Laka!

Eyes in the sky

• 500-backed drone tech firm Aerodyne has been assisting the police in New Delhi to help mitigate the spread of Covid-19.
• Thus far, Aerodyne has provided over 5,000 man-hours to Delhi authorities, specifically to ensure social distancing measures so the police can carry out their duties in a safe and contained environment.
• “These are unprecedented times and we want to do our part to keep the people safe. Drones and data technology have emerged as an exceptional low-cost tool for Police departments across the world to fight Covid-19. Drones offer a great vantage point and can cover a lot of ground in little time. They are also useful for patrolling hard-to-reach areas and broadcasting announcements without placing officers in danger,” said Arjun Aggarwal, Managing Director and CEO, Aerodyne India.

• Aerodyne drones are deployed throughout the day to collect data in the form of images and videos. The data is then analysed by an in-house research team. This helps the police manage their resources throughout the territory, without risk of the highly contagious virus.
• The platform also allows the police to plan the deployment of their forces with greater efficiency by identifying the key hotspots where violations take place.
• In Malaysia, where Aerodyne is based, 1,000 hours of flight time were recorded in May, as a response to the country’s Covid-19 emergency plans. At an average speed of 40kmh, the teams have covered over 40,000 kilometres, equivalent to flying around the earth’s circumference.

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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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