Huawei launches hybrid accelerator programme in Singapore

The Spark accelerator programme is designed for deep tech startup companies in APAC.

Global ICT provider Huawei has called on deep tech companies in Asia Pacific to participate in the Huawei Spark accelerator programme at the online HUAWEI CLOUD Summit 2020 Singapore.

Centralised in Singapore, the hybrid global startup accelerator programme aims to incubate and accelerate startup growth and build an ecosystem for startups in the APAC region.

Organised by HUAWEI CLOUD, in partnership with Enterprise Singapore and Startup SG, Huawei Spark will be kicked off in Singapore as a startup competition with the company investing to support deep tech startups, focusing on the firms with the use of 5G, AI/Machine Learning & Analytics, IoT, Mobile Edge Computing, as well as Mobile & SaaS Applications.

Startups that are accepted into the Huawei Spark program will receive free cloud resources including hardware support such as AI modules and AI-based intelligent industry solutions, along with open-source software support such as AI framework, database and OS to develop their own applications, services, and hardware appliances.

Subject to a startup’s maturity, Huawei will offer multi-tier support from seed stage to late stage, including financial support in terms of cloud credits of up to US$125k, AI development fund up to US$100k, technical and training, as well as go-to-market support.

Eligible startups will gain access to Huawei’s unique ecosystem of resources through a three-tiered ‘sell-to, sell-with, and sell-through’ model named, Spark Fire. On top of that, startups will be able to reach over 600 million Huawei mobile users, and millions of enterprise users across the globe through Huawei’s Cloud marketplace.

To participate in the Huawei Spark 2020 startup competition, startups can submit their proposals until 4 October. The top 15 startups will be shortlisted to proceed to the next round where Huawei experts will mentor the companies and finetune their business proposals, before the top five will be selected to pitch virtually to a panel of judges in November.

Huawei is said to have received more than 200 applications from Singapore startups since applications opened on 10 August.