Daily Briefing: Validus bagged $28.35m in series B funding; SFA launches tender for rooftop farming sites at HDB car parks

And retrofitted SMRT buses to transport patients between facilities.

From e27:

Lending platform Validus has secured $28.35m (US$20m) in a series B round from investment firm Vertex Growth Fund and Orion Fund managed by K3 Venture Partners, according to an announcement.

Dutch public-private development bank FMO, Vertex Ventures, Openspace Ventures, Thailand’s Siam Cement Group, and existing investor VinaCapital Ventures from Vietnam, also participated in the funding round.

The new capital will be used by the company to invest in technology and data capabilities to further improve the use of its AI and machine learning as well as to expand into the ASEAN market. It has also revealed plans to fund its new upcoming venture in Thailand which has been slated for Q4 2020.

The company’s goal is to drive inclusive growth for SMEs and economies in the ASEAN region.

Read more here. 

From Channel News Asia:

Singapore Food Agency (SFA) launched tenders for nine urban farming sites on 12 May, according to an announcement.

Located on the rooftops of HDB estates’ multi-storey car parks, the sites for rent will be used to farm vegetables and other food crops, as well as for activities like packing and storing produce.

Two cluster sites will be tendered out, one at Sembawang and another at Jurong West. Meanwhile, another five sites in Choa Chu Kang, Tampines, Hougang, Ang Mo Kio, and Toa Payoh will be offered as single sites.

Consisting of two plots each, these cluster sites will enable production at scale, which is said to save costs for farmers.

Read more here. 

From Channel News Asia:

Twenty buses from transport operator SMRT have been retrofitted to help with the mass transfer of COVID-19 patients between hospitals, worker dormitories, as well as community recovery and care facilities, according to an announcement.

The buses, dubbed COMET MAXIs (COVID-19 Multi-Passenger Enhanced Transporters), can take more than 30 passengers at each time.

Features include an airtight partition separating driver and passenger compartment, as part of measures to minimise the risk of transmission. The driver’s section also has seats for two additional passengers, if paramedics or escort officers are needed.

Drivers do not come into contact with passengers, and vehicles are decontaminated after each deployment.

Read more here.