Startup Arena Hits and Misses

Out of 19 presenters, three teams walked away with prizes at the recently concluded Startup Asia Arena. The two day event saw a lot of ideas fly around. Pardon the cheeky comments.

Startup Asia, 2 to 3 February 2012. (Image: Penn-Olson)

  • Acheevit submitted a sales team app for real-time performance information and feedback. Managers and supervisors can sign in and track team sales, while team members can motivate each other. Just when you thought the boss wasn’t breathing down your back anymore…
  • CloudyRec from Singapore offered cloud-based back-end support for mobile app developers. (sorry, the blurb was too complicated for me to follow). Cloud-yRec… teehee…
  • Dr. Pad from Taiwan presented a solution for doctors who need patient history and information on the go. Doctors get instant access to patient lab test results, medical images, charts and graphs on their iPads while doing their rounds, or in minor emergencies — it would be bad form to have your doctor check his iPad first before patching up your severed arm…
  • Flocations is a Singapore-based startup that offered their search application for backpackers. Users key in their budget and location, the app presents a map where they can get lost on a dime…
  • Singaporean startup Gspot offered a marketing app that businesses can subscribe to for offering their special promos, where users can get discounts on products or services by talking about it on their social networks. Another great way to show how much of a cheapskate you are…
  • Singapore-based Gushcloud presented a social media marketing tool for establishments or individuals, where users get rewarded for “gushing” about the businesses (those who subscribe to the service) on their social networks.  This idea banks on what 80% of people do at the start of the working day: open their Facebook accounts…
  • Justaple from Taiwan introduced their cloud-based social bookmarking app, where you can save and share your bookmarked sites or pages with your friends. Gone are the days of sending links to your 50 best friends and relatives, now they can relish entire pages…
  • Mocku.ps from Singapore presented a free online platform where advertising companies and designers can upload their mock-up plans or designs for review with their clients. Fun for the whole family…
  • Panoplaza, a startup from Japan presented an online shopping experience in panoramic 3D. Businesses can sign up, have their store and shelves captured so users can shop online and browse through the “actual” store — not a bunch of items on a sorted list. It bugs me when some store attendants keep asking if “they can help” while I’m browsing , so I like this idea…
  • Piktochart pitched an interactive infographic application. The founders have have raised US$30,000 for their startup business, with up to 2,000 users (managers love graphs…).  They will offer 3 versions of Piktochart: Freeware, a US$10 and a $30 version. Can’t think of anything to say, charts and meeting talk making me sleepy…
  • Japanese startup Phroni offered a mobile app text selection function that helps users select, copy and paste words or phrases on their mobile devices. I bought a keyboard and a mouse for my tablet to get around this difficulty, but I don’t use them anyway. I still go back to my laptop…
  • Japan-based Sakebii pitched a networking app that keeps you and your 30 closest buddies in synch with drinking meetups, schedules, shoutouts and location tagging. Location tagging might not be such a good idea if the wife gets hold of one of your buddy’s account…
  • SecQMe from Malaysia introduced a phone app that gives users, their friends and families a way to keep in contact whenever the user feels threatened or is in imminent danger. When activated, the app can keep track of your phone (ergo your location) by the minute — until the snatch thief turns the phone off…
  • SpellDial from the Phillipines presented a phone app that helps users dial friends and businesses just by entering their names. Kinda like your phone’s contact list — but you can find people by typing in their names… oh wait…
  • Vibease (I think Gspot beat Vibease on the name registration here) pitched a pleasure delivery system for long-distance relationships. A mobile app is paired with a bunny shaped vibrator, and the party on one end can control the bunny while the receiving party watches an erotic clip on the phone. I think this should have gotten the US$10K prize at the Arena…
  • Korean startup Waffle presented a free WiFi finder, where users can latch on by signing in with Twitter or Facebook, or by taking a quiz or survey. Businesses who sign up for this service get social media airtime when the users check-in and users get caught  by their bosses when they goof off at the coffee shop…