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SINGAPORE

TECH PLANTER in Singapore 2025

Discovering and nurturing Real Tech seeds
and entrepreneurs in Singapore
ABOUT
Purpose
At universities, research institutes, and corporate laboratories, the "seeds" of science and technology are being born, and it takes a lot of time and effort before they sprout into practical applications. The "TECH PLANTER" organized by Leave a Nest with its partner companies is an ecosystem that aims to discover these seeds and serve as a planter to turn them into businesses. Our program in SINGAPORE aimed at discovering and nurturing Real Tech seeds and entrepreneurs.
Target
  • Early stage startups and pre-startup researchers’ team or individual in Real Tech Field
  • Mature startups or SMEs seeking collaborators are also welcome, even if they are close to mass production or PMF establishment.
  • Visionaries that aim to change the world and/or their own country to a better place based on the science and tech based seeds
  • Those who are interested in the Japanese market or collaboration with Japanese corporations.
Categories of the TECH
Manufacturing, robotics, IoT, AI, agri-tech, bio-tech, healthcare, med-tech, food-tech, care-tech, marine-tech, ecotech, and etc.
Application Period
2025/12/1(Mon)-2025/3/23(Sun)
Judging Criteria
A panel of judges consisting of Leave a Nest and its partners will evaluate each of the following items.
  1. 01NOVELTY
  2. 02PRACTICABILITY
  3. 03IMPACT TO THE WORLD
  4. 04PASSION
Awards
The Winner: 3,000 SGD
Corporate Awards: 2,000 SGD (Multiple)
SCHEDULE
12/1[SUN]

Entry open

Please register from here and fill out the web form to apply.
We also hold information sessions at each university and on an individual to encourage your full registration to tell you how to prepare documents. Please feel free to contact us for more information.

3/23[SUN]

Application deadline & 1st selection

After our closing the application window, a panel of judges consisting of Leave a Nest and its partners will review the applications.
Applicants will be asked to submit information about their team, technology, passion, and future vision via web form.
All applicants will be notified of the results of the screening process and will receive feedback on their applications.
In addition, online individual interviews will be held for those who wish to participate in the presentation review.

Apr

Announcement of finalists

Selected Finalists will be announced in the middle of May.
For applicants who pass the selection, interviews will be held to brush up their presentations for the final DEMO DAY.
In addition, it is possible to set up interviews with partner companies for the purpose of business consultation and to develop collaboration projects.

5/24[SAT]

TECH PLAN DEMO DAY in Singapore

The 9 finalist teams that passed our selection will be judged on their presentations.

Jun-

Supporting period

Even after the DEMO DAY, the contact point between teams and Leave a Nest remains open, allowing discussions to develop their business..
We are responding to a wide range of start-up issues, from incorporation to prototype development, financing, and R&D.
In addition, collaboration between teams and partner companies is becoming more popular in this period to support business development.

PARTNER
Global Partners
Local Partners
Strategic Partners
ASSET
  1. ASSET01Leave a Nest Communicator
  2. ASSET02Japanese Partner Companies
  3. ASSET03Local Partners
  4. ASSET04Super Factory Group
SUPPORT
  1. SUPPORT01Organizing the vision your business
  2. SUPPORT02Brushing up your presentation
  3. SUPPORT03Opportunities for collaboration with Japanese corporates
  4. SUPPORT04Support for R&D and prototype development
  5. SUPPORT05Support for Knowledge and IP Strategies
  6. SUPPORT06Investment and support for finance
DEMO DAY
Name of the DEMO DAY
TECH PLANTER in Singapore 2025
Place
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) Multipurpose Hall, 57 Changi South Ave 1, Singapore. 485998.
Date & Time
2025/5/24 (Sat)13:00-18:00 in Singapore Time
Application Period
2025/12/1(Mon)-2025/3/23(Sun)
Eligible Participants
Deep Tech Startups and Research Teams
Organizer
Leave a Nest Singapore
Timeline
@Singapore Time
13:00～13:30
Opening Ceremony
13:30～16:20
Finalist Presentations
16:20～17:30
Judging, Lightning talks & Poster presentation
17:30～18:00
Awards & Closing
JUDGE
  • Mr. Shohei Maekawa
    Chief judge
    Director, Leave a Nest Singapore Pte. Ltd.
    Mr. Shohei Maekawa
    Mr. Maekawa is Director of Leave a Nest Singapore and President of Leave a Nest UK. He was born in the USA and raised in Europe. He studied Zoology for his undergraduate degree and Evolutionary Anthropology for his postgraduate degree, both at University College London. With experience abroad and passion towards advancement of science and technology, he joined Leave a Nest in 2013. He became the Director of Leave a Nest Singapore Pte. Ltd. from May 1st 2019 with the vision to interconnect various industry partners for global development.
  • Mr. Jia Hong
    Head of Ignite, Investment and Programme Manager, Elev8.vc
    Mr. Jia Hong
    Jia Hong is Elev8’s Head of Ignite, the fund’s dedicated resource to their pre-seed investments. Elev8 Ignite is Elev8’s pre-seed investment function that helps Singapore based Deep Tech innovators take their first steps out of the labs and on the path to their first commercial milestones. We engage the vast experience of the broader Elev8 team and its deep access to industry expertise, to deliver an experience for founders that is tailored to the specific needs of each participating startup, only where and when they need help. Serving as investment and programme manager, Jia Hong will be your go-to person on the Ignite journey.
  • Dr. Jeanne ONG
    Director (Ecosystem and Internationalisation), National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC)
    Dr. Jeanne ONG
    Jeanne is the Director of Ecosystem and Internationalisation at the National Additive Manufacturing Innovation Cluster (NAMIC), Singapore’s national platform for driving the adoption and industrialisation of additive manufacturing (AM) technologies. She leads efforts to strengthen Singapore’s AM ecosystem through strategic partnerships, industry engagement, and global collaborations.
    With a PhD in Chemical Engineering and a background spanning deep tech venture building and investing, research translation, and sustainability-focused innovation, Jeanne brings a multidisciplinary perspective to early-stage technology evaluation. She has worked across public institutions, startups, and multinational corporations, and is passionate about empowering deep tech startups to scale impactfully and sustainably
  • Mr. Qiao Liang
    Deputy Director, Startup Ecosystem, Enterprise Singapore
    Mr. Qiao Liang
    Qiao Liang hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the National University of Singapore, and began my career as an engineer at Micron Semiconductor Asia. I later transitioned into the public sector, joining the then SPRING Singapore, the current Enterprise Singapore. I contributed to initiatives supporting enterprise and ecosystem development in the Manufacturing, Logistics sectors, and the Innovation domain. Specifically, I was involved in the development and execution of industry plans, working closely with partners to grow enterprises, uplift sectors, and spur innovation-driven growth.
  • Ms. Celestine Khoo
    Senior Director, Venture, Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
    Ms. Celestine Khoo
    Celestine is a senior director at the Singapore University of Technology and Design where she leads the venture building, incubation and entrepreneurship initiatives. In addition to her vast public policy, investment and commercial experience, she was bitten by the startup bug after a stint in a start-up and is passionate about mentoring and supporting startups and deep tech spinoffs. She also leads SUTD’s co-investments in affiliated spinoffs and startups.
  • Mr. Norio Asahara
    Regional R&D Director, Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd.
    Mr. Norio Asahara
    Glico manufactures not only confectionery and ice cream, but also a wide range of food categories such as beverages, dairy products, processed foods and baby milk powder. Mr. ASAHARA is the director of research and development in Glico Asia Pacific. He is looking for new research partners as well as technical support, investment and opportunities for various collaborations such as buying of new ingredients. He is responsible for new business in Asia Pacific.
  • Ms. Mika Tsutsui
    Catalyser, GLOCALINK Inc.
    Ms. Mika Tsutsui
    Mika graduated from the School of International Relations at Peking University and the School of Political Science and Economics at Waseda University. After working in the food business at Mitsubishi Corporation, She was in charge of product marketing for the Japanese market at Google Japan. She then moved to Pinterest Japan, where she was in charge of product marketing for the Asia Pacific region and was involved in GTM strategy formulation, product development, and partnership promotion. As a trilingual (Japanese, English, and Chinese), she is strong in cross-cultural collaboration and works with global teams to drive the business forward while incorporating diverse perspectives.
  • Mr. Kohei Miyajima
    East Japan Railway Company
    Mr. Kohei Miyajima
    Kohei Miyajima is involved in the TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY project, one of the largest urban development projects in Tokyo, which opened in March 2025. With the aim of creating a global startup ecosystem in TAKANAWA GATEWAY CITY, he is in charge of the business creation facility "LiSH" and the venture capital "TAKANAWA Global Co-Benefit Fund."
  • Mr. Henry Tao
    Executive Director, UntroD Capital Asia Pte. Ltd.
    Mr. Henry Tao
    In 2023, Henry joined UntroD Capital Asia, which manages the Real Tech Global Fund franchise. He was appointed as a director in 2025. In his current role, he leads direct investments connecting Southeast Asia, Japan, and global markets, while supporting portfolio growth. He’s particularly interested in tech innovations that create meaningful impact in climate and sustainability. Before joining UntroD, he worked on early- and growth-stage investments in the industrial and agri-tech sectors. He began his career at Bayer AG in a global leadership program, holding responsibilities in Germany, the US, and Singapore.He obtained MBA from Harvard Business School.
FINALIST
  •  
    ThioSpark Energy
    Dr. Rayavarapu Prasada Rao
    Advancing safe, high-density, and cost-effective energy storage through next-generation lithium-sulfur battery technology.

    Theme:
    Advancing safe, high-density, and cost-effective energy storage through next-generation lithium-sulfur battery technology.

  •  
    Hydrogen Innovation Pte. Ltd.
    Mr. Sanjaiy Narayanan
    Advanced Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers for Low-cost Green Hydrogen Production

    Theme:
    Advanced Anion Exchange Membrane Electrolyzers for Low-cost Green Hydrogen Production

  •  
    Measure AI
    Dr. Gokula Krishnan Ramachandran
    Real-time, ultra-sensitive, and intelligent multi-gas sensing for advanced quality control and process optimization.

    Theme:
    Real-time, ultra-sensitive, and intelligent multi-gas sensing for advanced quality control and process optimization.

  •  
    PepShield
    Dr. Dhanya Mahalakshmi Murali
    Peptide-nanonet coating for medical devices that traps and kills bacteria on contact, preventing colonization and biofilm formation to enhance infection control and device safety.

    Theme:
    Peptide-nanonet coating for medical devices that traps and kills bacteria on contact, preventing colonization and biofilm formation to enhance infection control and device safety.

  •  
    Forte Biotech
    Mr. Kit Yong
    Affordable, portable, and highly sensitive DNA-based pathogen detection for real-time disease management in aquaculture.

    Theme:
    Affordable, portable, and highly sensitive DNA-based pathogen detection for real-time disease management in aquaculture.

  •  
    Sequential Pte. Ltd.
    Dr. Albert Dashi
    Sequential: A non-invasive, high-resolution skin microbiome platform enabling rapid, scalable insights from sampling to analytics.

    Theme:
    Sequential: A non-invasive, high-resolution skin microbiome platform enabling rapid, scalable insights from sampling to analytics.

  •  
    SMARTRX
    Mr. Tong Ping Heng
    A modular solution for automatic prescription dispensing and telemedicine, integrating real-time vital signs monitoring to deliver accessible, evidence-based healthcare in clinics, pharmacies, or remote environments.

    Theme:
    A modular solution for automatic prescription dispensing and telemedicine, integrating real-time vital signs monitoring to deliver accessible, evidence-based healthcare in clinics, pharmacies, or remote environments.

  •  
    Unistop Tech Pte. Ltd.
    Ms. Irene Zhu
    UniStop Tech: Smart, secure, and space-saving AI robotic stores revolutionizing retail with automated, contactless, and data-driven operations.

    Theme:
    UniStop Tech: Smart, secure, and space-saving AI robotic stores revolutionizing retail with automated, contactless, and data-driven operations.

  •  
    uHoo
    Mr. Dustin Jefferson S. Onghanseng
    Ensuring healthier and people centric spaces

    Theme:
    Ensuring healthier and people centric spaces

LIGHTNING TALK
Team Theme Representative
AeroFlux Membrane material is the first reported hollow fiber membrane to achieve commercial performance Dr. Feb Hillman
AQSolotl Pte Ltd Quantum Computer Dr. Yap Yung Szen
HealBac Pte Ltd Novel peptide-based food preservation Dr. Smarajit Chakraborty
M.I. Cloud Tech Pte. Ltd M.I. Cloud Tech, reduces snoring and improves sleep quality Mr. Zaid Ahmed Khan
O.Space Pte Ltd Adaptive, quick-assembly modular wall system Mr. Aaron Teo
Seamless XR Pte. Ltd Artemis Haptics Platform Dr. Ajinkya Sarang Bhat
NEWS
ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER SINGAPORE 2025
2025/05/22 ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER SINGAPORE 2025
  • English News
  • Singapore
  • ニュース
Announcement of Finalists and Lightning Talk Teams for TECH PLANTER Singapore 2025!
2025/05/07 Announcement of Finalists and Lightning Talk Teams for TECH PLANTER Singapore 2025!
  • English News
  • Singapore
  • ニュース
ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL 2024
2024/08/19 ANNOUNCING THE PARTNERS AND ESTEEMED JUDGES FOR TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL 2024
  • Asia Final
  • English News
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam
Leave a Nest Malaysia Successfully Organized TECH VENTURE MEETUP MALAYSIA 2024 and the 2nd ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year Award
2024/01/24 Leave a Nest Malaysia Successfully Organized TECH VENTURE MEETUP MALAYSIA 2024 and the 2nd ASEAN Deep Tech Venture of the Year Award
  • English News
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia
  • Philippines
  • Singapore
  • TECH VENTURE MEETUP
  • Thailand
  • Vietnam