Sophie’s Kitchen wins SLINGSHOT@SWITCH 2017 powered by Startup SG

Sophie’s Kitchen wins SLINGSHOT@SWITCH 2017

powered by Startup SG

A total of
S$600,000 Startup SG grant was awarded to five teams at SPRING Singapore’s
inaugural startup competition

1.    Sophie’s Kitchen was awarded
the grand prize of S$200,000 Startup SG grant at today’s SLINGSHOT@SWITCH, the
inaugural startup competition by Startup SG. Founded in 2010, the US-based
foodtech startup clinched top spot for its plant-based seafood alternatives
that are developed using innovative ingredients and its patent pending technology[1]. Startup SG is an
initiative by SPRING Singapore (SPRING), an agency under the Ministry of Trade
and Industry responsible for helping Singapore enterprises grow.

2.    Four other startups – BLITAB
Technology, LPixel Inc., Lucence Diagnostics and Smart Animal Husbandry Care –
took the runners-up prize of S$100,000 Startup SG grant each, at the three-day
event held at Sands Expo and Convention Centre as part of the Singapore Week of
Innovation and Technology (SWITCH). All winners will be provided with up to 12
months’ free workspace at JTC LaunchPads.

3.    The winners were selected by
a panel of judges that comprised venture firms and multinational corporates
such as B Capital Group, DeClout, Golden Gate Ventures, Google, KK Fund,
Mistletoe, P&G, and Red Dot Ventures. The competition, graced by Mr S
Iswaran, Minister for Trade and Industry (Industry), and Mr Taizo Son, Founder
and CEO of Mistletoe Inc., had attracted more than 900 teams from over

30 countries.

4.    Grand prize winner, Eugene
Wang, Founder of Sophie’s Kitchen Plant-based Seafood, said “Through the
SLINGSHOT event, I see the promising future in

Singapore. Especially, given
its strategic location in global trade, I think Singapore shows its ambition to
nurture any new technology that is good for the world.”

5.    Through SLINGSHOT@SWITCH,
SPRING aims to add more vibrancy to the local startup ecosystem by providing
promising startups with a platform to showcase their technology and business
ideas. These global startups will bring unique and innovative skillsets,
talent, and networks to bolster Singapore’s position as a leading startup hub.

6.    Mr Edwin Chow, Group Director
for Industry Development and Innovation & Startups, SPRING Singapore, said,
“My heartiest congratulations to all winners of

SLINGSHOT@SWITCH. We are
excited by the ideas and passion of the participating startup teams, and the
discovery of potentially disruptive innovations. As global startups bring value
and vibrancy to our scene, we hope that they will also find new partners, and
leverage our infrastructure and strong regional network to grow and scale up
from here. For our local startups, we are confident that such an exchange has
helped to incubate new ideas, nurture a global mindset and expand their global
networks.”

7.    “Startups matter. They shape
the business landscape ahead and mould the possibilities for social
improvements, too. To have the most impact, it’s increasingly important for
startups to have a global mindset, and that’s precisely what the local

Singapore ecosystem and SPRING Singapore is
fostering. It was on display at

SLINGSHOT@SWITCH this week, and it was inspiring
to see,” said Ms Stephanie

Davis, Singapore Country Head, Google.

8.    Interested parties can visit www.startupsg.net  for more information.

1  More
information on Sophie’s Kitchen and the other winning startups are as enclosed
in the media factsheet.