A study by the International Data Corporation (IDC) in 2015 has placed the Asia Pacific region to be frontline for Internet of Things (IoT). Connected devices in Asia are expected to expand exponentially from 3.1 billion to 8.6 billion devices by 2020, with the industry estimated to be worth USD583 billion. Local governments have also ramped up their efforts in introducing policies and initiatives to encourage the development and growth of the IoT industry in their countries. Below is a list of notable IoT startups that has established themselves in the Asian market.
Soracom (Japan)
Launched in September 2015, Soracom is a mobile virtual network operator that provides a secure communication platform for developers of IoT devices at relatively low prices. The platform allows for develops to monitor, manage and facilitate the operations of their IoT devices.
Website: https://soracom.io/en/
Aquabit Spirals Inc. (Japan)
Developer of online-to-offline-to-online (O2O2O) marketing solution. Its proprietary ‘Smart Plate’ technology is a IoT platform that allows for the delivery of digital content from any physical object onto a smartphone via Near Field Communication (NFC) tags or QR codes.
Website: http://spirals.co.jp/smartplate/en/
Xiaomi (China)
Xiaomi’s success in the smartphone market has encouraged the company to develop its own IoT devices to compete in the fast growing global IoT market.
Branded under the ‘Mi Ecosystem’, some of its innovative IoT products include a smart rice cooker, an electric bicycle and an air purifier. The company is valued at US$45 billion, placing it to be the most valuable startup in China.
Website: http://www.mi.com/en/store/
MXChip (China)
MXChip is a company that specialises in developing IoT solutions for device companies. The company focuses on providing products and services through embedded wireless modules, mobile application development, cloud computing support, and its proprietary IoT operating system, MICO.
Website: http://en.mxchip.com/
Xped (Singapore)
Developer of a technological platform, ADRC, that allows smartphone users to connect and control electronic devices found in everyday environment with just a simple tap.
Website: http://www.xped.com
GeoG (Singapore)
GeoG is an advanced IoT cloud platform that provides the necessary tools for developers to build inter-connected devices and apps easily and effectively. Through its state-of-the-art development process and its finely tuned software for a variety of devices, it allows for the development of IoT to be unified and simplified.
Website: http://www.xped.com
CarIQ (India)
A digital platform that helps to make cars smarter by allowing the car and the driver to make decisions based on real-time data such as recommended tyre pressure and health condition of car. The CarIQ platform also allows for businesses to provide personalised services to car owners. CarIQ is currently supported for automotive vehicles of major brands manufactured after 2008.
Website: http://mycariq.com
Smartron (India)
Through its unique “aggregation and acceleration” of innovation based on the IoT wave, Smatrron has been focusing on R&D, developing a range of innovative IoT devices and services for the consumer market. Aiming to be a global premium tech brand based in India, Smartron is intending to launch a smartphone and a number of IoT devices in the latter half of 2016.
Website: http://www.smartron.com
Pipeline Network (Malaysia)
IoT cellular network developer that enables various electric and electronic devices to connect to the Internet and with one another, allowing for the convergence of data. Some of its products include the Pipeline Cloud, Smart Agriculture and Smart Metering Infrastructure.
Website: http://pipeline-network.com/platform.html
MimosaTEK (Vietnam)
Focuses on developing IoT technology for precision agriculture, allowing farmers to maximize their productivity and minimize production risks crops.
Website: https://mimosatek.com
eFishery (Indonesia)
eFishery is a smart feeding technology for fish and shrimp farming. The technology allows for the fishes and shrimps to be fed automatically, providing convenience and cost savings for farm owners. Smart sensors embedded on the machine are also able to detect the fishes’ appetite in order to dispense the appropriate amount of feed.
Website: http://efishery.com/en/