Day: July 19, 2024

The world’s biggest IT outage: Here’s what happened

[Editorial note: This article has been edited to reflect the latest updates since reporting.]

Several companies and organisations worldwide have been affected by the global IT outage this afternoon (Friday, 19 July)

According to several news reports, the disruption was linked to Microsoft’s Windows and apparently came from an issue at cybersecurity software firm CrowdStrike.

Here’s what happened so far:

Snaking queues filled Changi Airport

Upon arriving at Changi Airport at around 3.45 pm, CNA reported long lines of travellers waiting to check into their flights at Terminal 1. Self-check-in machines for more than 10 airlines, including Scoot and AirAsia, were down, and passengers were directed to in-person check-in counters to check in for their flights.

Some flights at Terminal 4 were reported to be re-timed, affecting a couple of AirAsia and VietJet Air flights.

According to a report by CNA, tensions grew among passengers at Terminal 1 at the seemingly never-ending lines. One passenger reportedly shouted, “I have been waiting for two hours!” before being assured by airport staff members that their Scoot flight would not leave without them.

Unfortunately, that passenger was ditched by the plane. Staff told her that the earliest flight was tomorrow to Kuala Lumpur, where she would have to drive to reach her initial destination, Ipoh.

(The staff member at the Scoot flight management counter) kept saying, ‘this is not our fault, this is not our fault. Nobody wants this’.

He said ‘that’s all we can do. Enough is enough. We are trying to help. Don’t disturb. That’s so bad.

It’s so frustrating. It’s been a nightmare.

Ms Tan speaking to CNA

At 11.48 pm on the same day, Scoot announced that all its services were back up and that passengers no longer needed to arrive three hours ahead of time.

On the other hand, Singapore Airlines (SIA) shared that while currently flights are not affected, some services at its ION service centre and reservation hotlines are experiencing technical issues.

Customers who want to make new flight bookings or amend existing ones were advised to do so via SIA’s website or mobile app. Those who have non-urgent servicing requests are strongly advised to contact the airline later.

As of 7.20 pm on July 19th, all SIA services at its ION service centre and reservation hotlines were back up and running.

Media news outlets, SingPost, and some entities affected

According to a live blog by The Straits Times, user report website Downdetector.com showed a spike in outages on Microsoft 365, which had more than 150 reports from Singapore users at 2 pm.

Many Windows users complained that they encountered “the blue screen of death”, which indicated that their computer had run into a problem and had to be restarted.

At 4:38 p.m., customers using CDG Zig, ComfortDelGro’s ride-hailing app, were informed via a pop-up notification upon opening the app that payment methods such as PayLah, Nets, and Cabcharge are currently unavailable. They were also notified to use other payment methods instead.

At 5.19 p.m., CDG Zig’s services went back online, offering a S$2 promo code for users.

Unfortunately, Singapore Post has yet to recover from the outage. The organisation posted an Instagram story at 4.12 p.m., stating that they were experiencing “technical difficulties” due to the outage, adding that the team is working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.

As of 6 p.m., a Singpost spokesperson told The Straits Times that a number of services, including its tracking system and international and domestic shipping platforms, had been affected.

Bill payments, self-service kiosks, and label printing at POPStations are also temporarily unavailable. As of 10.24 p.m., all Singpost services were back up and running.

Earlier this afternoon, homegrown news outlets Lianhe Zaobao and The Straits Times reported that they had been affected by the outage.

Fortunately, according to a press release by the Singapore Ministry of Digital Development and Information (MDDI), government services, local telcos, banks, and hospitals were not affected. A follow-up statement was released the next day (Saturday, 20 July), stating that most companies affected by the outage had restored their services to the public.

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has also released a press statement stating that there was no or limited impact on customers and their key operations. 

“Some experienced disruptions to internal-facing systems used by staff but in all cases, critical systems were unaffected. Access to SGX’s post-trade system was temporarily disrupted, but other critical trading and clearing services were not affected,” the press release stated.

Global operations disrupted

Beyond Singapore, here are some big blows that the IT outage had on operations around the world:

1. Healthcare sector: Two hospitals in Thailand reported that some services might be delayed due to the outage. The National Health Service’s appointment system in England has been experiencing issues.
2. Malaysia’s railway operator KTMB confirmed its KITS ticketing system and customer service channels reported experiencing technical difficulties.
3. The London Stock Exchange Group platforms and transport operators were out of service.
4. Several banks and telecom companies went down in Australia.
5. 6 Indian airlines were affected by the outage.
6. 911 and non-emergency call centres affected in the United States

CrowdStrike CEO has since released a statement at 6.10 pm on X, stating that the outage was caused by a defect in a single content update.

Kurtz has since apologised on NBC News Today Programme and expressed his commitment to get customers back up and running.

Featured Image Credit: Reuters/CNN

Also Read: Hyundai launches made-in-Singapore Ioniq 6 EV

Hyundai launches made-in-Singapore Ioniq 6 EV

Hyundai has launched its locally assembled Ioniq 6 electric vehicle (EV), the second vehicle the Korean conglomerate is producing at its Hyundai Motor Group Innovation Centre Singapore (HMGICS) facility in Jurong, which has been assembling the Ioniq 5 EV and Ioniq 5 robotaxis since early 2023.

HMGICS was announced in 2020 as a multi-function facility for research and development and smart manufacturing. When it goes fully online in 2025, the 28,000 sq m facility will be able to produce up to 30,000 vehicles a year, with around 6,000 vehicles per year allocated for the Singapore market.

Four trims available

The long-range 2WD Prestige (77 kWh, Cat B) trim has a maximum range of 614 km (WLTP). All variants have enhanced connectivity features with Over-The-Air Software Updates and a localised version of Hyundai’s Bluelink Integrated Connected Car Services, which includes guidance for sustaining battery health and the ability to cool down the car on a hot day before you step into it.

Hyundai has also added SP Mobility as a destination charging service provider in addition to Charge+, while P.UP remains the mobile charging provider.

Feature Image: Hyundai

Survey: Where to work in S’pore? Ten most attractive industries in 2024 and perks they offer

In the largest annual survey of its kind, Dutch HR giant Randstad interviewed over 170,000 people across 32 markets, covering 75 per cent of the global economy, about their employment preferences and observations.

Its goal is to provide employers with information about what they could do to make their companies more attractive to prospective hires. For the rest of us it grants an insight into how the labour markets evolve around us and what matters to our colleagues (and competitors for jobs) at any given moment.

Singapore received its own dedicated report, released earlier this month, which, among other things, reveals the hottest, most attractive industries Singaporeans want to work for in 2024.

Top 10 industries in Singapore

The ranking is very tight, with a single outlier at the top, which has received around 10-15 percentage points more in favourability, the broad sector of businesses in life sciences, i.e. mostly biotechnology.

Life Sciences is followed by the currently booming Hospitality & Recreation sector, buoyant on the post-pandemic rebound, with travellers returning to Singapore. The related Auxiliary Services sector is in third place.

The rest of the list is bunched up far more closely and made up of a predictable selection of sectors: high-end Electronics Manufacturing, Finance, Engineering IT, Pharma and Retail.

So, what do Singaporeans find to be the most attractive about all of them?

I won’t spoil the surprise since there really isn’t any.

Show me the money

Given two years of rampaging inflation, the chief benefit that Singaporeans judge these to be the most attractive by is their financial health, i.e. the ability to pay well and remain stable in these tumultuous, expensive times.

The second most frequently cited characteristic of the most attractive sectors in Singapore is their good reputation.

Combined with financial health, we’re seeing that Singaporeans are seeking stability and security, perhaps spooked by many reports of sudden mass layoffs by major businesses in and out of the country.

Even though, judging by their personal preferences, they would like their employers to provide greater work-life balance and better pay, Singapore’s top industries are valued for their solidly established status. That will have to do for now.

Only in third place among the Employee Value Proposition (EVP) metrics used by Randstad can we see more variety. Benefits listed include a pleasant working environment and interesting job content, making up for shortfalls elsewhere.

The impact of the AI boom is visible in the high position of semiconductor manufacturing, followed by electronics, as tech companies around the world are scrambling for the latest hardware to power around 100 new data centres, worth a staggering US$480 billion over the next two years, according to Financial Times.

Thanks to Singapore’s strong position as both an international hub for data centres and a manufacturing one, the money trickling down from this spending spree is likely to lift incomes in related businesses.

As for the rest, given the unpredictability of that we remain in amid global conflicts, wars, and a not yet fully tamed inflation, Singaporeans are flocking to industries which offer shelter and certainty, at least until the situation returns to norm.

If you’re looking for a job switch, this is where you’re likely to meet the strongest competition.

Featured image: mentatdgt / depositphotos

6 S’porean businesses offering all-you-can-eat durian buffets starting from S$45/pax

Do you smell that strong, aromatic scent? 

That’s right, folks. Durian season is back (until August!) and vendors are going all out to give you the best deals.

It’ll be a whole year before it’s peak season again so why not go all out to satisfy your cravings?

As huge durian lovers ourselves (save for a few colleagues), we’ve compiled a list of six durian buffets available in Singapore for you to feast to your heart’s content.

1. NTUC FairPrice @ AMK Hub

From July 26 to 28, NTUC FairPrice will be hosting a durian buffet at their AMK Hub outlet. This will be held on Level 1 at the Outdoor Atrium which is located just outside BreadTalk.

There are two packages to choose from, with each offering different variants of the fruit:

• Regular (S$45) serves Red Prawn, D101, D13, and Kampung Durian only.
• Gold (S$65) serves Musang King, Pahang Old Tree MSW, Black Gold Durians, along with the other variants.

Each guest will receive a complimentary bottle of water. But do note that there’s a surcharge of S$3 per 100g for uneaten durians left.

According to its Facebook post, this event has limited seats and will require prior booking. There are only three slots available for the three days between 5:30PM to 9:30PM. You can book yours on their website here. 

Price: Starts from S$45 per pax

Buffet offering(s): Red Prawn, D101, D13, Kampung Durian, Musang King, Pahang Old Tree MSW, and Black Gold Durians

Time limit: 1 hour

Address: 53 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 3, #B2-40, AMK Hub, Singapore 569933

Contact: +65 6453 2521

2. SG Durian

SG Durian was established as a tribute to the founder’s late uncle who was a big fan of the fruit. That’s also where the founder learnt the art of selecting “the perfect fruit” and what motivated him to bring “the best of Malaysian durians” over.

For this season, they’re offering a durian buffet every day between 11AM to 10PM. There’s a few different variants to choose from but its main highlight is the popular Musang King. You’ll also get a free coconut along with the buffet to cool off the heat. 

They recommend customers calling to make reservations ahead of time to avoid being disappointed.

Price: Starts from S$48 per pax

Buffet offering(s): Musang King, Red Prawn, Black Pearl, D24, and others

Time limit: 1 hour

Address: 398, Upper Paya Lebar Road, Prestige Point #01-01, Singapore

Contact: +65 8834 5068

3. Resorts World Sentosa All Hail The King Durian Fest 2024

Resorts World Sentosa is hosting its All Hail The King Durian Fest 2024 from July 26 to August 4, 2024. This happens to be pretty popular as at the time of writing, only two dates are left available: July 26 and August 2. 

There’s also two time slots starting from 6PM up until 9:30PM. According to its Facebook repost, they’ll be serving Musang King, D24, and Jin Feng as well as other seasonal fruits. 

You can reserve a seat by booking here. Do note that the tickets are non-transferable so you’ll want to make sure you can make it.

Price: Starts from S$268 per pax

Buffet offering(s): Musang King, D24, and Jin Feng

Time limit: 1.5 hours

Address: 8 Sentosa Gateway, Singapore 098269

Contact: N/A

4. UOL Malls

Unlike the others on this list, UOL Mall’s durian buffet is a one-day only event. And they’re serving one thing and one thing only—Musang King durian.

If you’re a fan of this variant, then you might want to block your calendar for August 3 (Saturday) from 5PM to 6PM. This feast will be held at United Square Shopping Mall on the first floor’s outdoor area, near Wine Connection Bistro.

There’s limited seats and tickets seem to be running out fast, so we recommend securing your spots soon. Tickets can be purchased online via the U-POPP App for S$68 per head. 

Price: S$68 per pax

Buffet offering(s): Musang King

Time limit: 1 hour

Address: United Square Shopping Mall, 101, Thomson Road, Singapore, 307591

Contact: N/A

5. Global Events Management and Travel

For those that don’t mind a short trip, Global Events Management and Travel is hosting their exclusive 1-Day Buffet Tour to Johor Bahru. This is currently available up until mid-August 2024.

Part of the guided tour includes:

• A Musang King durian buffet that’s inclusive of lunch
• A visit to Chee Ann Khor temple, which has a prominent dragon structure you can walk through
• A pop in at some local cultural gems
• A shopping spree at Mid Valley Southkey Mall

You’ll be taking an early morning air-conditioned coach from Lavender MRT and returning by sundown. There are only limited spots available for each tour so you’ll have to book in advance here.

Price: S$69 per pax for children, S$88 per pax for adults 

Buffet offering(s): Musang King

Time limit: N/A

Address: N/A

Contact: +65 8839 4763

6. Zuma Travel & Services Pte Ltd

Another option you could consider is the 1-Day Durian Buffet to Johor Bahru by Zuma Travel & Services Pte Ltd happening on August 3, 2024. 

This package is slightly pricier than the previous one, but instead of lunch they’re including a seafood dinner. There are also various coach pick-up points available, namely Tampines MRT, Admiralty MRT, and Bukit Gombak MRT. 

Not much information is shared on its Facebook page, but we do know that it’s a Muslim-friendly guided tour. Seats can be reserved by calling their contact numbers below.

Price: S$118 per pax

Buffet offering(s): N/A

Time limit: N/A

Address: N/A

Contact: +65 8700 1961 / +65 9028 9255

-//-

As always, you should keep yourself hydrated by drinking plenty of water to cool down as durian is a “heaty” fruit. We also caution against pairing durian with alcoholic beverages and sodas as this could lead to indigestion.

But other than that, happy feasting!

• Read other articles we’ve written about Singaporean startups here.

Also Read: 5 AI features in ASUS’ new OLED laptop & how they’ll benefit your productivity & gaming

Featured Image Credit: SG Durian / NTUC FairPrice

10 startups in M’sia got shortlisted for UOB’s greentech accelerator, here’s who they are

UOB’s innovation accelerator, UOB FinLab, has launched the GreenTech Accelerator 2024, enabling greentech startups to grow, transform, forge partnerships and create pilots to address sustainability challenges.

Out of 350 applicants, 34 companies were shortlisted. And 10 of those companies were greentech startups in Malaysia. 

The six-month regional programme aims to fast-track the development of sustainable technology solutions through masterclasses featuring more than 30 mentors from three countries. It also leverages UOB FinLab’s network of 25,000 industry leaders.

The programme will offer up to S$100,000 for greentechs to pilot relevant, impactful, and deployable solutions.

Addressing real-world challenges

During the accelerator, the selected greentech startups will tackle real-world sustainability pain points from more than 50 challenge statements.

These are contributed by 27 challenge partners including UOB and external partners such as Encompass and Great Cosmo Industries to co-create solutions for partnerships and pilot projects. 

The challenge areas for 2024’s programme are:

• Circular Economy and Waste Management
• Energy Efficiency
• Food and Agriculture
• Sustainable Cities and Urban Planning
• Carbon Management and Reporting

You can read the full challenge statements on the accelerator page.

Here are the Malaysian startups that made the cut and what they’re addressing.

1. Bina-Biox Biomaterials

Tackling the Circular Economy and Waste Management category, Bina-Biox Biomaterials is a Malaysian startup that creates mycelium-based packaging as an eco-friendly alternative to polystyrene.

Specifically, according to its website, it uses agricultural waste to create nature-based packaging solutions.

Its website also states that the startup comprises a group of scientists, dreamers, engineers, and nature lovers.

2. Entomal Biotech

Leveraging black soldier fly larvae, Entomal Biotech addresses challenges in circular economy and waste management.

It provides sustainable waste management solutions using black soldier flies, converting organic waste into high-protein feed and fertilisers.

In an interview with Vulcan Post, the team shared that the company’s solution is packaged into shipping containers with a standard 20 feet x 8 feet size, which can treat up to one tonne of food waste every month.

3. Intlife

A smart home software startup, Intlife’s solution reduces management cost and enhances energy efficiency in homes. Its solution falls under the Sustainable Cities and Urban Planning category.

To elaborate, Intlife creates smart home software for property developers to have unified smart home controls in a single platform.

Its mission is to assist real estate developers and operators to modernise the properties by automating, protecting, and connecting to create a sustainable living environment.

4. iVis Technologies

iVis Technologies is a startup that identifies wastages and inefficient equipment usage.

Falling under the Circular Economy and Waste Management category, it allows businesses to monitor their on-site operations more efficiently by installing sensors that transmit data back to the startup for analytics and AI diagnostics.

According to its website, the company has been involved in energy monitoring over the past decade, utilising its own propriety methods.

5. Letrick Link/CUCUK

Addressing issues in the Sustainable Cities and Urban Planning category, Letrick Link’s CUCUK is an EV charging startup.

According to its website, Letrik Link was formed by a group of technology enthusiasts in 2022 to create a sustainable impact in the future of next-generation transportation.

The brand CUCUK was founded on the ambition to create a sustainable society that is driven to transition towards electrification mobility.

6. Materials In Works

Materials In Works (MIW) addresses climate change by upcycling paper liner waste from the label industry, offering solutions in Circular Economy and Waste Management.

“MIW is able to reintroduce the residual paper liner into the value chain, via an IP-backed treatment process that turns it into a high-quality raw material for paper products manufacturers, effectively diverting the valuable residue from ending up in landfills,” founder John Ooi told Vulcan Post in an interview.

7. MEC Clearwaste

MEC Clearwaste is a solution by Millennium E & C (MEC). Established in 1999, MEC has been providing cutting-edge solutions in the energy and utility sector, counting industry leaders such as PETRONAS, Technip, Exxon, and MMC as clients.

The company has also developed a solution for solid waste management known as ClearWaste, which provides comprehensive waste management solutions that efficiently convert all forms of waste streams into reusable and recyclable by-products.

In doing so, it addresses issues in Circular Economy and Waste Management.

8. Qarbotech

Under the Food and Agriculture category, Malaysian startup Qarbotech brings its photosynthesis enhancers, which help address challenges in food security and climate change.

Previously featured on Vulcan Post, Qarbotech offers a biocompatible solution, having developed patented photosynthesis enhancement nanotechnology that increases crop yields by 60%.

It works by using organic compounds with properties similar to chlorophyll, which increases leafy plants’ photosynthesis rates, resulting in shorter growth cycles and thus higher yield. 

9. Retragreen

Addressing Carbon Management and Reporting, Retragreen offers comprehensive services for energy data collection, management, and certification.

Specifically, it offers various types of sensors, data storage and processing equipment, machine learning software, and control systems.

Although incorporated in Australia, Retragreen is currently growing its arm in Malaysia.  

10. Wimera Systems

Providing technology and consulting for businesses to optimise electricity consumption, Wimera Systems addresses pain points in Energy Efficiency.

It enables rapid deployment by connecting every device on the shop floor, integrating data with enterprises’ platforms and enabling edge applications at scale.

Wimera has headquarters in India and Singapore, according to its website, but appears to have an arm in Malaysia.

A greener future

GreenTech Accelerator 2024 builds on the inaugural run in 2022 that began in Singapore. It saw over 150 applications and the establishment of eight pilots and partnerships.

Now in its second run, this year’s programme has expanded beyond Singapore to UOB’s key ASEAN markets, Malaysia and Thailand, with the aim to create a positive impact on sustainability. 

Helmed by UOB FinLab, the programme demonstrates UOB’s commitment to sustainability across ASEAN. 

The six-month accelerator will conclude in November 2024 with a showcase day at the Singapore Fintech Festival. We can’t wait to see what the 10 shortlisted startups in Malaysia cook up at the end of the six months.

• Learn more about UOB Finlab here.
• Read other articles we’ve written about Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: This agritech solution by UiTM & TechnoDex aims to boost food security & empower B40 farmers

Featured Image Credit: UOB Finlab

You don’t think website building is worth RM100K until you know what this M’sian team can do

[This is a sponsored article with Fuse Solutions.]

Many of us have tried designing a website, whether for a school project, portfolio, or ecommerce website. Using templated builders like Wix or WordPress is an easy and affordable start.

But for some, that’s not enough. Did you know that people would pay up to RM150,000 for a website? 

That’s the kind of clients Fuse Solutions serves.

They make more than just a website

Fuse Solutions is a Malaysian software and IT support firm founded in 2017 by Chong Poh Kit (CEO) and Kevin Yap (CTO).

Their developers create interactive websites and mobile apps for diverse industries, from F&B and agriculture to event and advertising agencies.

Speaking to Vulcan Post, Poh Kit explained that his company’s services go far beyond basic builders like Wix and WordPress. In his words, Fuse Solutions makes “more than just a website.”

To highlight their capabilities, we interviewed clients who have benefited from their sophisticated web development services.

They’ve helped a client win at the Kancil Awards

The Kancil Awards is Malaysia’s premier advertising competition celebrating creative excellence. Fuse Solutions’ development of Telekom Malaysia’s (TM) Mengukir Malaysia website for their client VML (formerly called VMLY&R), a global creative agency, won bronze at the 2022 ceremony.

For TM’s Raya campaign in 2022, the website rolled out a proprietary tool that converts heartwarming greeting messages into digitalised Kufi art. 

Did you know: Kufi art, or Kufic script, is one of the oldest forms of Arabic calligraphy, developed between the seventh and 10th centuries. Derived from the Iraqi town of Al-Kufa, it was a preferred script for writing the Quran and is still used by artists today.

Bayt Al Fann

Users could simply key in their message in Malay, and it would automatically be converted into Kufi typography. Users can also customise the design to create their own unique digital art piece.

“This has not been done before, so there was a lot of experimenting to see which of the solutions can work, and amidst all of it, we are all running against time,” shared Ai Vee, VML’s Creative Director. 

Ai Vee credited Fuse Solutions’ round-the-clock dedication to bringing creative ideas to life as a noteworthy experience from their team of developers.

Kevin and Poh Kit shared that they can do so thanks to their nimble team’s constant pursuit of staying up-to-date with the latest technology available in the market. 

“And we constantly share this knowledge with our clients,” they added.

They’re trusted by global brands

When the co-founders were asked about their proudest achievement in Fuse Solutions’ almost decade-long operations, they highlighted the global recognition they’ve achieved.

“The team managed to secure a large European F&B client and we had to adapt to the different regulatory standards applicable to Europe. This shows how versatile our team can be, despite being a Malaysian company,” they stated.

That client is Uhrenholt, a global food supplier behind Emborg, the premium dairy and cheese brand sold in over 90 countries around the world.

While Emborg’s HQ is in Europe, they have plenty of consumers from Malaysia and the Philippines, stated Fie Østerlin Jensen, a brand manager from Uhrenholt, Denmark.

Fuse Solutions was tasked to build Emborg’s website from scratch. The website needed a fresh makeover to better reflect Emborg’s product quality, and be a place to inspire cooks across the world. 

With Fuse Solutions’ technical know-how and localised market insights, they built a full-stack website consisting of inspirational recipes showcasing how Emborg’s products could be used in various dishes and cuisines.

“Fuse Solutions has unique insights that we do not have and has helped with everything from brainstorming, hosting services, development and coding, content upload, keyword study, and more,” Fie shared.

Chariot Agency, another trusted client, shares this sentiment. They’ve collaborated with Fuse Solutions on campaigns for Tiger, Guinness, Pocky Malaysia, and MISC Berhad. Managing Director Adrian Cheah praised Fuse Solutions as a reliable partner for web development and tech solutions.

“They’re truly our go-to people and we can rely on their prompt responses and problem-solving skills,” said Adrian.

They can be your go-to for website development 

Ultimately, not every website requires the level of sophistication showcased here. Sometimes, simple templated designs from free builders suffice. 

However, for brands serious about long-term growth, investing in advanced digital solutions—like CRM, analytics, SEO, and internal systems—can enhance your online discoverability and engagement.

For those aiming for long-term growth through advanced digital solutions, Fuse Solutions can be your go-to partner.

Their expertise goes beyond basic builders, offering innovative solutions that truly set your brand apart. 

• Learn more about Fuse Solutions here.
• Read about other Malaysian startups here.

Also Read: This agritech solution by UiTM & TechnoDex aims to boost food security & empower B40 farmers

Featured Image Credit: Fuse Solutions

How this S’porean created Asia’s leading fertility, reproductive and family health platform

“It’s about time already. When do you want to get married and have kids?” That was a question that a relative asked me, without fail, every time we met. Much to her disdain, perhaps, my answer remains the same: “I don’t want to rush to get married and have children just for the sake of it.”

It turns out I wasn’t alone: there were fewer marriages in Singapore in 2023, with the proportion of women between the ages of 25 and 49 rising from 31.2 per cent in 2013 to 35.4 per cent in 2023, and the number of babies born last year was the lowest in 50 years!

This outcome is the result of many socio-economic factors, with many respondents noting high costs and prioritising their careers over starting families. 

However, we also can’t ignore the biological limitations many women will experience as they age, and given that I am just shy of turning 24, I’m worried that when I finally decide to have children on my own, it might be too late. 

This spurred me to look into alternative methods to have children, leading me to learn about egg freezing. Wanting to hear more stories about women who had gone through the egg-freezing process, I started to dig deeper. 

That was when I came across a viral blog post from Anna Vanessa Haotanto, the founder of homegrown femtech startup Zora Health, as her article also included photos and videos of herself administering trigger injections as part of the egg-freezing process.   

When she first shared her story on social media, Anna received over 200 direct messages seeking her advice. Since then, she has spoken to more than 80 women on egg-freezing and fertility issues, with the majority of the conversations being with strangers. 

Anna was surprised by the immense traction she gained, but it turned out to be a critical driver in her founding Zora Health. 

“I was driven by a deep-seated commitment to empower individuals with the knowledge, tools, and support they need to make informed decisions and navigate their fertility journeys confidently,” explained Anna. 

Determined to fill a gap in the fertility industry, Zora Health was pre-launched in May 2023, with Antler investing US$125,000 in the startup.  

Zora Health was Anna’s “fresh start.”

If there’s anything you need to know about Anna, she is no stranger to Singapore’s startup scene. With 17 years of experience under her belt, she has built and scaled up companies and executed numerous mergers and acquisitions (M&A). 

Aside from being the Managing Director of Food and Beverage (F&B) investment firms ABZD Capital and Gourmet Food Holdings, Anna also founded The New Savvy, an online financial, investment, and career platform for women, in 2015. 

Since its launch, it has garnered 80,000 subscribers. Anna was also a television host for a few finance and tech-centred programmes, including a four-part documentary on Web3. 

It’s safe to say that Anna is a jack of all trades, but why did she choose to enter the femtech and fertility space as her next venture? 

“[At that point] I’ve worked for nearly 20 years and was ready for a break and a fresh start. I stepped down last year because we reached a significant milestone, and I was keen to explore more tech opportunities,” explained Anna. 

Anna often suffered from fertility health issues, including polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a chronic hormonal condition that affects one out of ten women of reproductive age—and had five surgeries last year alone. 

She added that once she thought that she had perimenopause—a condition when you have early menopause, and started learning more about the symptoms. This led her to discover that there was a lack of credible resources and solutions available, spurring her to create a new solution to help those who went through similar health issues.

Navigating the complex femtech space

According to Anna, only 44 per cent of fertility treatments are done in Asia, with Southeast Asia having just three to four fertility tech companies. Although awareness of fertility-related issues has increased in recent years, knowledge gaps are still apparent, which can affect patients’ confidence in seeking treatment. 

When my friends see doctors, they share their discomfort but are un-understood. It’s not because doctors don’t want to solve the problem, but rather that they don’t understand it. 

We’ve spoken to about 400 women; many don’t know about the egg-freezing process. I did it five years ago, and I still didn’t know the process until I wrote my egg-freezing article. 

Anna Vanessa Haotanto, founder and CEO of Zora Health

She pointed out that patients often delay seeking treatment, and it “might be too late” for them once they start taking action, referencing a friend’s experience. 

“A younger friend of mine was told that she could only retrieve one viable egg. She’s only 37, so I think it’s a real problem. It’s just a problem that has never been talked about,” lamented Anna. 

To make fertility treatments and consultations more accessible and transparent to patients and their families, Anna and her team created a “one-stop fertility, reproductive and family health platform.” 

Rather than offering direct medical advice, Zora Health aims to be a centralised source of information for patients worldwide. From a clinical treatment concierge to an educational resource provider, the platform helps to simplify the otherwise tedious and time-consuming process for patients. 

Transparency, particularly in financial aspects, is imperative to Zora Health’s operations. Anna explained that her team aims to reduce the financial burden of those seeking treatment, including patients who do not qualify for government subsidies. 

Zora Health earns its revenue through two business models: the first from marketing fees from clinics, and the other from working with external corporations. 

However, the team does not push their patients towards specific clinics. Instead, they provide information upfront at the patient’s request, such as the doctor’s qualifications and their treatment success rates, if any.   

Eight months after its pre-launch, Zora Health secured S$1 million in funding to officially launch the platform and expand its team and global outreach. However, reaching their fundraising goal was anything but easy. 

2023 was a funding winter for startups, and investors became more conservative and prudent in their investment decisions. For Anna, it took her 158 pitches to reach her target fundraising goal, and unfortunately, she also encountered sexism in the process. 

“I don’t like bringing up gender issues, but the problem exists. We know that two per cent of the total funding goes to women,” Anna shared ruefully. Frustrated with the lack of results, she decided to rethink her approach. 

Given that Zora Health’s operations are geared towards women, Anna reached out to several female investors, who understood the pain points from the start. As a result, 55 per cent of investors were women, with notable angel investors consisting of Cheryl Goh, founding CMO of Grab; Prajit Nanu, CEO of Nium and Åsa Lidén, former COO of Pitch.com. 

Although the company has yet to break even, Anna shared that the encouragement and insights she received boosted her and her team’s confidence in providing accessible, quality care to all women, regardless of their life stories and backgrounds.

Facilitating access to treatments worldwide

Currently, Zora Health has a network of over 80 partner clinics from 16 countries, which allows the company to cater to individuals worldwide, including medical tourists seeking treatments outside of their home countries. 

“A patient of ours from the United States was looking to do IVF in Malaysia, and they asked us to find a “female Muslim doctor” in Malaysia. As we have the largest database of clinics and doctors, we know how to help them,” shared Anna. 

Anna attributes Zora Health’s growth to the city-state’s strategic geographical location, which gave the company an advantage in growing within Asia and beyond. She added that she and her team can maintain a global perspective while adapting to the region’s unique needs and regulations. 

In July 2023, the age limit for single women to freeze their eggs expanded to 21-37 years in Singapore, leading to a twofold increase in fertility clinic sign-ups soon after. This exemplifies the increased prevalence of reproductive health issues amongst Singaporean women today. 

While the team continues to connect patients and couples to clinics and medical professionals, Anna shared that the company is focusing on building more collaborations with external corporations. 

Helping companies in their efforts to reduce the stigma of fertility and reproductive health at work can help them in attracting and retaining talent. As they may not have the wherewithal to fully implement their intentions, Anna and her team support them by conducting educational workshops and providing fertility health benefits for all employees.  

The company is also working to improve its platform and broaden its scope of products and services beyond fertility, such as reproductive health, prenatal care, men’s health and menopause management. 

Most recently, the company launched the first-ever and largest fertility provider directory with nearly 900 clinic listings and 2700 doctors globally, as well as growing a library of information on fertility treatment, currently spanning over 42 countries. 

Anna has also expressed her ambition to unlock new possibilities for women’s healthcare in Asia, presenting women with choices to live without limitations. She also envisions Zora Health becoming a leading force in healthcare, known for its innovative solutions, unwavering commitment and transforming the lives of individuals around the world. 

Embark on your startup journey with MAS-regulated ANEXT Bank, one of Singapore’s first digital banks for SMEs.

Featured Image Credit: Zora Health

Also Read: S’pore’s record low fertility rates can’t be fixed as it has nothing to do with living costs

MAS backs quantum tech and AI with S$100 million grant scheme

The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has just announced that it will commit an additional S$100 million under the Financial Sector Technology and Innovation Grant Scheme (FSTI 3.0) to support financial institutions in building capabilities in quantum and Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies.

This commitment by MAS follows Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s announcement in June 2024 that the government would add S$300 million over five years to the National Research Foundation’s research and development budget to support quantum technology research and development.

MAS sees Quantum technology as a rapidly advancing field that holds significant potential to transform the financial industry and the broader economy, and this grant scheme will help the National Quantum Office establish a Quantum track to support financial institutions building quantum capabilities in Singapore via: 

• Technology Centre grant: Up to 50 per cent funding support for manpower and hard/software infrastructure, subscriptions and licenses, for 24 months. 
• Technology Innovation grant: Up to 50 per cent co-funding support will be provided to advance the exploration of industry use cases for quantum solutions and solving relevant industry-wide problem statements.
• Security grant: Up to 30 per cent funding to enable experimentation using Post-quantum Cryptography (PQC) and Quantum Key Distribution (QKD) to safeguard critical data.

MAS will also enhance the existing AI and data grant scheme under FSTI 3.0:

• Bolster financial institutions’ development and deployment of AI technologies in Singapore – to support financial institutions in establishing AI innovation centres in Singapore for a range of functions including AI model building and training, deployment of AI models for high-impact use cases, test and monitoring, as well as governance and risk management.
• Develop AI platforms to address industry-wide use cases –Support the development of industry-wide AI solutions and high-impact use cases.

Singapore’s National Quantum Strategy is focused on developing scientific and engineering capabilities in quantum technology through innovation and enterprise partnerships while developing our local talent. 

Singapore started research and development into quantum technology in 2002, and this MAS announcement takes the total amount Singapore has invested in building a sovereign quantum technology industry to S$800 million, which is minor when compared to the US$55 billion that countries and corporations worldwide have so far invested in quantum technology.

What is Quantum technology?

It is not hyperbole to state that Quantum technology is the next big thing that will change our world. The following YouTube video by physicist Dr. Michio Kaku explains the technology: 

Quantum technology is now on the cusp of commercialisation, with applications in navigation, communication and data security.

Feature Image: Monetary Authority of Singapore

Also Read: Singapore partners with Microsoft to accelerate AI adoption in SMEs