The Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) – which features a startup accelerator and a separate market access programme – will support 10 innovative travel and hospitality companies this year.

Launched two years ago, the innovation programme aims to identify and support high-growth travel and hospitality businesses that have potential to contribute positively to local communities, economies, and the environment. It is jointly supported by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Australian government and six-government Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (MCTO).

Five local entrepreneurs from Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam earned spots in the MIST Startup Accelerator programme, which teaches business fundamentals to early-stage travel and hospitality startups.

The five startups are: BambooLao (Laos), which produces reusable bamboo straws; Ecohost (Vietnam), which aims to improve local homestay management and activities; Go Explore (Vietnam), which organises “workation” programmes aimed at international and domestic remote workers; Sidesbag (Cambodia), which enables airline passengers to purchase luggage allowance from fellow travellers; and VDEs (Vietnam), which connects event planners with event venues.

The Startup Accelerator finalists will reconvene in October, concurrent with ITB Asia in Singapore, to compete for innovation grants up to US$10,000.

MIST has also selected five companies to join its Market Access programme, which invites innovators from around the world to solve tourism and hospitality industry challenges in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). The programme helps innovators clear market entry obstacles, form local partnerships and secure financing for proof-of-concept pilots.

The five companies chosen are: Adventoro, a bookable directory of bucket-list worthy activities including whitewater rafting, jungle treks and diving excursions; DidaTravel Technology, which offers backend technology for hotel booking, providing real-time inventory and rates; hereO, creator of the heroO GPS watch for kids, and offers plug-and-play IoT technology; Moneybay, which provides a digital cross-border currency exchange platform; and Monkey Theory, which offers branded sporting events.

“There is no doubt that technology is rapidly transforming travel. The trick is to harness and accelerate innovative business models that also positively transform lives, communities and the natural environment,” said Jens Thraenhart, executive director of MCTO.

“MIST has received more than 350 applications from all over the world, demonstrating the GMS’ dynamism as a destination and its attractiveness to innovators,” added Dominic Mellor, senior investment advisor for the ADB.

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Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) will co-host a Travel Tech Pitch night in Ho Chi Minh City with New York-based travel tech incubator Voyager HQ, on March 1 to gather those on the cutting edge of travel, innovation for an inside look at the next generation of travel products and services.

While a selection of highly-qualified founders will present what’s coming up in the near future of travel to a panel of industry leaders, investors and corporate partners, experienced industry leaders will oversee the judging of the startups’ pitches. All judges, gold and premier sponsors, and startup founders will receive an analysis of their performance post-event.

Know more about the initiative, here.

MIST is the Mekong’s tourism and travel tech accelerator organized by the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office and the Mekong Business Initiative. It is sponsored by the Asian Development Bank and the Government of Australia to propel and transform innovative tourism ideas into sustainable businesses.

MIST has two acceleration tracks; the MIST Startup Accelerator focuses on early-stage tourism companies and startups already based in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar or Vietnam, and the MIST Market Access Accelerator welcomes mature businesses based anywhere in the world that wish to expand into the Mekong region.

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Singapore based Chan Brothers Group and TNB Ventures have partnered to launch an accelerator program to incubate and fund startups related to travel and tourism, lifestyle and hospitality. Under the accelerator program, they are looking for startups that have strong growth potential in international markets as well.

Chan Brothers Group is a travel agency based out of Singapore and has been functional for over five decades now. TNB Ventures has helped around 80 startups scale up in the past three years. The accelerator program launched today will invite startups to share their pitches over the next six to nine months.

The selected startups will be incubated in Chan Brothers Lab. It is an area in one of the group’s properties which is being converted into what you expect of a modern workspace. It will be equipped with kitchenette, meeting rooms, network connectivity, etc. enabling for the startups to work together, engage with each other and attend talks by the advisors and mentors. The startup stand to gain from the experience of the group. The key advisors and mentors will help the startups from their experience and share insights with them.

With the partnership, TNB is looking to raise SGD 1 million in funding for investing into the startups that are a part of the program and for operations of the program. Both the partners will also be investing.

To lead the initiative, Allen Leng has been hired as Director of Chan Brothers Lab and a director at the corporate office. Previously he has held senior roles with Singapore Airlines, UOB Travel and BCD Travel.

Travel industry has seen rapid changes in the past few years and many new startups are now trying to change the way we used to book and travel. In an interview with TTG Asia, Anthony Chan, group managing director, Chan Brothers shared that the objective behind this initiative is to stay in sync with the developments in travel space and get involved in the new economy so that they aren’t disrupted.

Startups interested in joining the accelerator program can email at lab@chanbrothers.com.sg.

Source: TTG Asia

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With so many technology startups coming up, it isn’t an easy job for new businesses to stand out. Some are valued in millions and scale up quickly with right mentors and investors while other barely make a name in the highly competitive market.

To help the tech startups in Wine&Spirits, Food and Travel industries, 33entrepreneurs will be organising its next acceleration Cuvee on Feb 1, 2016. 33entrepreneurs is Startup Accelerator and VC which focusses on tech startups in these industries. Founded, funded and driven by entrepreneurs, they help the startups grow by providing them with the network of mentors who are among the industry leaders in their focus verticals. They also provide startups with pre-seed and seed investments for innovative projects and also help them in further rounds of funding when required.

They organise these Cuvees twice a year and right now they are looking for interesting entries for the Spring 2016 edition. They will select upto 12 teams from all over the world. The application is open to everyone but like any other Startup Accelerator, it is highly competitive. In the previous iteration, they selected 7 teams out of 1,000 to be a part of the program. That translates to an application acceptance rate of less than 1 percent which means you really have to stand out to get selected.

Apart from being a part of the 3 month long acceleration program, these selected businesses will get €15,000 upfront cash investment in exchange for a maximum 5 percent equity and an option to get even more investments as required after graduating from the program. It will be driven by mentors who come with expertise in their respective industries. The selected teams will also get an office space in the Bordeaux downtown area to set up operations.

To be a part, you can apply using your angel.co account. The applications are open till November of this year and the program will start on Feb 1, 2015. To apply you can go to angel.co. For more details about entrepreneurs and their programs, you can visit their website here.

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