Smart science

• 500-backed Carnot Innovations has been featured by Hive Life as one of the sustainability startups to watch out for in Hong Kong.

• When it comes to building maintenance, the standard practice is to be preventative, which involves regular checks and replacements of machine components. Due to the imprecise nature of the preventative method, businesses could end up paying for excessive maintenance or fail to detect equipment malfunctions until scheduled checks.
• In comes Carnot, one of the startups working on making smart buildings a reality. Instead of ‘preventative maintenance’, the Internet of Things (IoT) and automation technology has made “predictive maintenance” possible.
• Sensors track a machine’s condition in real-time, measuring for warning signs. This data is then analyzed and the resulting diagnosis predicts when a machine might fail and suggests how to maintain it. This way, maintenance work can be performed before breakdowns happen, when it is actually needed.
• Read the full feature on Hive Life here.

In a timely fashion

• 500-backed fashion startup Pomelo has arrived in the Philippines with a localized online store, coinciding with the brand’s eight-year anniversary.

• According to the startup, monthly orders from the Philippines currently account for around 10% of total orders. Currently, the brand’s listing on Zalora Philippines has amassed more than 100,000 unique orders from locals.
• The Philippines’ online store will carry Pomelo’s exclusive collaborations including the brand’s new Spring/Summer 2021 Collection. The store will also feature the brand’s cashback reward and loyalty program, ‘Pomelo Perks.’
• As part of its digital expansion, the launch will help the brand strengthen its presence in Southeast Asia and increase its market share in the Philippines. The brand will also launch a flagship store in Malaysia this May.
• Read the full story on Retail News Asia here.

Furnishing happiness

• Filippo Lombardi, co-founder and Chief Product Officer at 500-backed home and living e-commerce startup Fabelio, was featured in a WeTalk podcast.

• Fabelio is a design-centric e-tailer based in Indonesia, partnering with local designers to create original designs. It also works closely with the factories to ensure good-quality products are produced at affordable prices.
• Filippo characterizes the startup as having an “obsession with customer experience”, with the aim of going beyond being seen as an e-commerce company. Ultimately, it aspires to be the one-stop destination for home and living in Southeast Asia.
• Listen to the full interview here and check out other 500-backed startups HappyFresh and mClinica in previous episodes.

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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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