Kasikornbank, through Beacon VC, in collaboration with Google Cloud, has announced the success of the Earth KATALYST project, a 3-month Accelerator program designed to enhance the technological and business strategy capabilities of startups in the climate and environmental technology and agricultural technology sectors in Southeast Asia. Five outstanding startups showcased their application of Google Earth Engine technology to create tangible positive impacts on society and the environment while addressing business needs with innovations that enhance management efficiency and sustainability.

Mr. Thanapong Na Ranong, Managing Partner of Beacon Venture Capital Co., Ltd. (Beacon VC), stated that as a venture capital firm of Kasikornbank, Beacon VC is committed to continuously strengthening the Thai startup ecosystem by providing support in terms of venture capital, knowledge, advice, and technological tools. Recently, it has expanded its role to support Climate Tech startups concretely, aligning with Kasikornbank's mission to drive Thailand towards its greenhouse gas reduction goals and create a sustainable positive impact on the world.

This year, Beacon VC collaborated with Google Cloud to organize the Earth KATALYST program, a 3-month training initiative designed to enhance the technological and business strategy capabilities of startups in the climate and environmental technology and agricultural technology sectors, enabling them to create tangible positive impacts on society and the environment. Throughout the program, participating startups received comprehensive support, including mentorship from industry experts, benefits from the Google for Startups Cloud Program, and strategic advice from international partners such as New Energy Nexus, a global organization focused on supporting clean energy entrepreneurs and startups, Navagis, a company specializing in location intelligence, and Third Derivative, a platform accelerating climate tech startups. Additionally, they participated in workshops for fundraising planning from Beacon VC and prepared to expand their businesses in the Southeast Asian market while testing the latest technologies from Google Cloud, such as Vertex AI, BigQuery, and Google Earth Engine, which has over 50 years of historical geospatial data.

For this year's Earth KATALYST, over 40 teams applied to participate, with 12 teams selected for the program and 5 outstanding teams chosen to present their work at the Earth Jump event. Each team received a funding support of 20,000 baht and Cloud Credit support from Google, including:

  • RIFFAI, a Thai startup focused on satellites and artificial intelligence, developing AI technology to monitor environmental changes via Earth observation satellites.
  • Aquawise, a Thai AI-satellite technology startup that helps farmers prevent severe disease outbreaks and increase yields by 40-50% through continuous water quality monitoring without the need for hardware.
  • Muvmi, an AI-driven microtransit platform addressing urban travel issues through route-sharing systems.
  • Pasar Mikro, a digital platform from Indonesia for trading and accessing funding sources for smallholder producers in the agricultural and fisheries supply chains.
  • Arkadiah, a Nature-Tech startup from Singapore that integrates AI, LiDAR technology, and satellites to convert natural resource data into digital formats and accelerate the restoration of utilized natural areas to regain economic and environmental value.

Mr. Ananp Sirithikul, Country Director of Google Cloud Thailand, stated that Google Cloud is committed to supporting startups in creating products that address real-world problems with modern, flexible, and energy-efficient cloud and AI tools. He believes that these startups will lead the way in advancing sustainability innovation, and Google Cloud will continue to provide ongoing support in the future. The Earth KATALYST project not only serves as an incubator for sustainability innovation but also reflects the strength of the expanding startup ecosystem in Southeast Asia. The success of this first cohort marks the beginning of a long-term collaboration to drive change towards a better world.

Mr. Thanapong further added that the success of the Earth KATALYST project reflects the power of collaboration with partners that enhance the capabilities of startups in both technology and business operations, leading to the presentation of tangible solutions and representing another significant step in preparing startups to enter the global stage in the future. Kasikornbank aims to promote a strong and continuously growing Startup Ecosystem in Thailand and Southeast Asia, as it believes that these startups are at the forefront of innovation that will elevate and play a crucial role in creating a sustainable positive impact on the world.