Future-Ready: How Tech And Agility Are Powering Business Resilience
At the 2025 FedEx Asia Pacific Small Business Grant Contest (SBGC), held alongside the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch Forum, Kawal Preet, President of Asia Pacific at FedEx, emphasized three strategic priorities for small businesses navigating this environment. First, building strategic agility through technology, by harnessing data and digital tools, enables faster, smarter decision-making. Second, adapting to shifting trade patterns is essential, particularly in dynamic markets like Southeast Asia, where staying responsive to new opportunities and regulatory changes is crucial. Third, partnering for growth can help simplify complexity, extend global reach, and allow businesses to stay focused on their core strengths.
FedEx remains committed to empowering small businesses that fuel global economies and uplift communities. By providing essential resources, recognition and reach, FedEx supports their journey toward sustainable growth.
The four finalists of the 2025 FedEx Asia Pacific Small Business Grant Contest (SBGC) once again underscore that impactful transformation isn't reserved for large enterprises. These pioneering startups are harnessing technology to foster growth and innovation across the region and beyond.
1. India – Digantara: Delivering accurate and real-time orbital insights for safer spacecraft operations
Spacetech startup Digantara was founded in 2018 to help commercial and government entities safely operate satellites and manage the increasing traffic in space. It aims to build the biggest catalogue of space situational awareness data.
'We realized that debris is a big problem in space,' said Anirudh Sharma, CEO of Digantara. The company recently launched a space surveillance satellite designed to track and monitor objects as small as 5cm in Earth's orbit. This capability helps mitigate collision risks and promote sustainable space operations by providing accurate and dependable data to satellite operators and regulatory bodies.
Today, the company focuses on building solutions for government defense agencies and commercial entities such as insurance companies. 'What we do today is beyond space situational awareness, beyond tracking of space objects,' Sharma said. 'We work on everything pertaining to intelligence and surveillance. For example, missile warning is another big area that we are focusing on right now.'
With its series B funding almost underway, Digantara aims to expand its defense capabilities globally.
2. Singapore – Aliena: Building compact propulsion engines to power satellites
Aliena builds electric propulsion engines that enable satellites to operate at lower altitudes, delivering high-impact data to industries such as finance, maritime, aviation, agriculture, energy, security and defense. In 2020, Aliena commissioned and built its own jet propulsion test facility in Singapore to scale up the development of its systems.
'Our engines help satellites move, maneuver, find their place in space and maintain their positions in orbit,' said Mark Lim, CEO of Aliena. 'We are one of the few in the world building systems this compact and efficient. We are not just power-efficient but also fuel-efficient—and we are ready to deploy anywhere,' he said, adding that with a robust supply chain in Singapore, Aliena offers both reliable lead times as well as cost competitiveness.
The startup claims it has achieved US$6.7 million in equity funding, launched two systems into space and secured customers from the U.K., Spain, Belgium, Singapore, Taiwan and the Middle East. It aims to raise another funding round to expand its product line and grow its market presence in the U.S. and E.U.
3. Singapore – NEU Battery Materials: Recycling lithium batteries profitably and sustainably
Established in 2021, NEU Battery Materials recycles production-grade lithium from waste batteries through its patented electrochemical redox-targeting technology. According to the company, this recycling technology essentially uses only water and electricity, is 100 times less polluting and up to 10 times more profitable than other existing methods.
'We specifically recycle a type of battery called lithium iron phosphate, which is commonly found in electric vehicles,' said Bryan Oh, CEO of NEU Battery Materials. This type of battery is typically not recycled due to high costs, but 'we can do it profitably, and most importantly, sustainably,' Oh added.
In 2023, the company raised US$3.7 million in seed funding from Singapore government-backed SGInnovate, ComfortDelGro Ventures and Shift4Good, among others. The company's semi-commercial recycling plant in Singapore now recycles about 2,000 electric vehicle batteries annually. The business aims to be profitable in the next few years and plans to build its first commercial facility globally in the next five years.
4. Indonesia – McEasy: Simplifying complex logistics operations through technology
Set up in 2017, McEasy is an Internet of Things (IoT) and software-as-a-service (SaaS) enterprise that helps companies monitor their transportation fleets using software and other tools such as AI cameras, GPS and sensors. This B2B business seeks to build a safer, smarter and more efficient logistics ecosystem in Indonesia.
McEasy has helped its clients boost fleet utilization by 60%, reduce fuel costs by 10-15% and cut down on reckless driving due to driver fatigue by more than 60%, according to its CEO Raymond Sutjiono. 'The company has serviced more than 2,000 clients spanning over 40,000 active fleets in Indonesia,' Sutjiono said.
In June 2024, McEasy raised series A+ funding led by Granite Asia, following an earlier US$6.5 million round led by East Ventures in 2022, bringing its total series A funding to US$11 million.
Kawal Preet, President, Asia Pacific, FedEx (middle) with (l-r) Raymond Sutjiono, CEO of McEasy; Bryan Oh, CEO of NEU Battery Materials; Anirudh Sharma, CEO of Digantara and Mark Lim, CEO of Aliena.
This year, Digantara emerged as the grand prize winner, receiving a cash award of US$30,000. The three other finalists each received US$13,000.
'This year's winners demonstrate how technology-driven entrepreneurship is delivering real-world solutions—from battery recycling and carbon tracking to satellite propulsion and space safety,' Preet said. 'Their bold ideas are not only addressing today's challenges but also shaping a more connected and resilient future. At FedEx, we are moving in step with this spirit—harnessing data and technology to build a more flexible, efficient and intelligent network that empowers our customers to navigate change, seize new opportunities and grow with confidence in a rapidly evolving world.'
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