As usual, we have quite a few Asian tech startups on our radar this week, from China, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Singapore.
For folks who are interested in investing or partnering with these startups, drop us an email — hello[at]penn-olson[dot]com – anytime. No promise, but we’ll try our best to be the bridge. And if you’re a tech startup founder in Asia hoping to be featured, kindly send us your pitch here.
1. Game Ventures | Singapore
Game Ventures has recently closed a funding round which raised them SGD$800,000 (approximately US$620,000) of fresh funds, led by Joi Ito’s Neoteny Lab, Infocomm Investments (IIPL), and Digital Garage.
2. iHandy Soft | China
iHandy Carpenter is an app introduced by Beijing app development firm, iHandy Soft. The app is made for folks who need to measure things such as angle, length, or check if something is level. The app isn’t the complete package for carpenters nor it is more precise then the proper tools. But it is very convenient because you have five tools right on your iPhone when you might not be carrying the real ones.
3. Mojing | China
Mojing, which means magic mirror in direct translation, is a face recognition app created by Beijing-based Facekoo. It recognizes your face and then links you up with someone who they think is suitable for you. I’m not sure what the magic algorithm behind it is but the app sounds fun, even if it is just some hokum random logic running behind it.
4. Huofar | China
Huofar promotes healthy living by giving users the best choices of food, based on their health needs. Some might question how does the app know our health needs? They have to ask. And oh boy…
5. Interesting Circles | China
A sweet-looking new app from a Chinese startup lets you ‘circle’ and categorize the people you follow on Sina’s Weibo, for easy grouping of your favorite ‘tweeters.
6. Reqvu | Taiwan
Reqvu is a Taiwan-based startup that lets users crowdsource their requests. For example, if you want to see what’s happening live at ABC Bar, a random user can actually take a video and load it for you. Also, if you miss a wedding you can ask your friends on Reqvu to take pictures/videos in real-time when the ceremony starts.
7. Yun.io | China
This year, after a hesitant start, cloud-based services and cloud syncing tech have finally hit China in great numbers. And now one new China-based startup has created perhaps the most cute-looking and thoughtfully designed of these – Yun.io…
8. BibbyCam | Indonesia
We all know how famous Instagram is with millions of users snapping and sharing grungy pictures with it on their iPhones – even in Indonesia. Yet, with most of us smartphone fans here having a Blackberry by our side, we wish it would be ported to RIM’s OS. Our wish has sort of come true…
9. Weyup | China
With interest – and financial potential – now booming in the travel and leisure industries in mainland China, it’s inevitable that some startups are rising to the challenge of making a business out of networking day-trippers and holiday-makers. Weyup is one such attempt… a clone attempt, though.
10. Squiryl | Singapore
Squiryl is a mobile app that digitizes loyalty cards. So instead of having a bunch of loyalty cards in your wallet, all you need is the Squiryl app. It looks like we have reviewed similar apps to Squiryl before. But Squiryl stands out because of its slick design and user experience. It makes the stamping of cards (in its own phrasing, ‘collecting acorns’) fun. It’s a branding/design gimmick but I must admit it does help to keep users stay on the app longer.
11. Peepapp | Japan
Peepapp helps you discover new and trending apps through your social connections. I must say I like it a lot. The only problem is that the app needs traction: If people don’t start joining and connecting with others, the user would never experience the beauty of the app. So I gave it some time to gain traction and it looks like it has gotten quite some users over the past couple of days…
Other startup related stories in Asia
- Running LinkedIn Singapore Like A Startup [PREVIEW]
- Why Even 4 Hours of Sleep is Not Enough
- Everyday is Like Startup Arena
- 360Buy CEO Liu Qiangdong on Investor Bullies and Not Fearing Failure
- PicoTube Wins Out of 11 Startups that Pitched at TechCrunch Japan 2011
Note: Use discount code < booth40 > to get a 40 percent discount on startup booth (includes one event pass) at Startup Asia Singapore. Offer ends on 10 December. (Yeah… because some startups requested me to extend the offer.)
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