Insider Spotlight
Organized by the Singapore Management University’s Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship (SMU IIE), this year’s competition coincides with Singapore’s 60th year of independence and features a record S$2.5 million prize pool.
The big picture
The 12th LKYGBPC drew over 1,500 applications from 1,200 universities across 91 countries, a 57 percent jump from the previous edition. The competition zeroes in on Urban Solutions and Sustainability, spotlighting startups tackling energy, mobility and infrastructure challenges.
About Klimatech
Klimatech, based at the Asian Institute of Management in the Philippines, is developing the Vortex vertical-axis wind turbine (VAWT)—a design that blends aesthetics with functionality to provide sustainable energy for urban, remote and commercial spaces.
What they’re saying
“These numbers reflect the growing confidence from startups globally in leveraging Singapore as a business and technology gateway to the rest of Asia,” said Shirley Wong, Entrepreneur-in-Residence at SMU IIE and Chairperson of the 12th LKYGBPC Advisory Committee.
What’s next
Finalists will converge at SMU’s city campus from Sept. 29 to Oct. 2 for the Grand Finals Week. Startups will pitch their innovations before an international judging panel and engage in roundtable sessions with regional business leaders.
With its innovative wind turbine technology, Klimatech is poised to showcase Filipino ingenuity on a global stage, representing the country in one of Asia’s premier deep-tech competitions. —Ed: Vanessa Hidalgo
