 "New accelerator will look for digital health start-ups in Singapore")
Pan-Asian insurance group AIA and Japanese tech builder Konica Minolta are collaborating for a new start-up accelerator based in Singapore, the companies announced today. The AIA – Konica Minolta Digital Health Accelerator will be taking applications from December 1, 2015, until January 31, 2016. The programme will last for 12 weeks and will start on February 22.
The programme “aims to create opportunities to groom and nurture start-ups and supports the Singapore government’s push on adopting information and communication technologies to develop an integrated healthcare delivery system in the country,” according to a statement.
The accelerator is looking for start-ups developing healthtech products including health measuring sensors, diagnostic tools, digital imaging tech, analytics tools, and more.
Start-ups selected for the programme will receive support and expertise from AIA and Konica Minolta, including access to the two companies’ marketing, strategy, and networking resources. They will have the chance to build relationships with the two companies with a view toward future partnerships. Industry experts will also provide mentorship and insights.
The accelerator will be run by venture capital and incubation firm Nest, which has previously worked with corporations such as Singapore bank DBS and car maker Infiniti on start-up acceleration programmes. Previous investments include Simple, a Philippines-based start-up making a health monitoring sensor for the elderly, and Hong Kong-based online education start-up Gowell.
The Singapore government has been taking steps toward encouraging start-ups to come up with healthtech solutions for problems related to aging and the elderly.
