Wavemaker Partners

ZuBlu Ltd. is a travel platform focused on scuba diving and underwater adventure tourism in Asia. Established in 2017 and based in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, the company offers a comprehensive service that allows users to search, compare, and book experiences from over 200 eco-friendly resorts and operators. The platform provides detailed travel information about various marine life, including rays, sharks, turtles, and whale sharks, as well as resources for learning to dive and enjoying beautiful reefs. Key destinations featured on ZuBlu include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Pacific, the Philippines, the Red Sea, and Thailand. By streamlining the booking process and offering expert assistance, ZuBlu aims to enhance the experience of planning dive holidays for enthusiasts while addressing the needs of a fragmented travel sector valued at approximately USD 4.5 billion.

ZuBlu Ltd. is a travel platform focused on scuba diving and underwater adventure tourism in Asia. Established in 2017 and based in Wan Chai, Hong Kong, the company offers a comprehensive service that allows users to search, compare, and book experiences from over 200 eco-friendly resorts and operators. The platform provides detailed travel information about various marine life, including rays, sharks, turtles, and whale sharks, as well as resources for learning to dive and enjoying beautiful reefs. Key destinations featured on ZuBlu include Indonesia, Malaysia, the Maldives, the Pacific, the Philippines, the Red Sea, and Thailand. By streamlining the booking process and offering expert assistance, ZuBlu aims to enhance the experience of planning dive holidays for enthusiasts while addressing the needs of a fragmented travel sector valued at approximately USD 4.5 billion.

Credit OK is a FinTech startup established in 2017 and based in Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand. The company focuses on enhancing financial inclusion by providing innovative solutions for the supply chain and B2B marketplace. Credit OK develops a proprietary credit risk assessment system that customizes credit scoring models tailored to specific industries. By leveraging alternative data and advanced technology, the platform enables businesses, particularly micro-entrepreneurs and small enterprises, to access financing and improve cash flow. This approach helps unlock working capital, allowing these businesses to expand their operations and increase productivity.

Ricult Inc. is an online marketplace that connects farmers with input suppliers and crop buyers, aiming to improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in developing countries. Founded by MIT alumni in 2015, the company operates in Thailand and Pakistan, providing a platform that helps farmers procure essential resources such as crops, fertilizers, and micro-nutrients. Utilizing credit scoring algorithms and predictive psychometric tools, Ricult assesses farmers' creditworthiness to facilitate access to loans and farm inputs tailored to their needs. The platform also employs geographic information systems (GIS), remote sensing, soil mechanics, and weather studies to recommend inputs that can enhance crop yields. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, Ricult is recognized as a social enterprise dedicated to lifting farmers out of poverty while engaging in a multi-billion dollar market.

KYKLO Inc is a technology company that specializes in providing cloud-based sales operation management software tailored for the electrical, mechanical, and automation markets. Founded in 2015, the company is headquartered in New York City, with an additional office in Bangkok, Thailand. KYKLO offers a comprehensive platform that allows wholesale distributors to create customized webstores, drawing from a vast inventory of product SKUs that are enriched and managed by the company. The platform includes features such as product content management, search engine optimization, and tools for suggesting add-on products, enabling distributors to effectively engage with customers and facilitate the selection of electrical and automation products. By focusing on the digitization of the wholesale distribution sector, KYKLO aims to transform a significant portion of the $5.6 trillion market, positioning itself as a key player in the industry.

Helpster PTE Limited owns and operates an on-demand staffing platform for workers and businesses. The company’s platform workmate helps employers to find temporary and permanent staff, including long and short term hires, and part time and full time positions; and connects people with businesses. It assists companies to find staff in the areas of food and beverage, warehouse and logistics, hospitality, customer services, cleaning, retail, data entry, and events. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Bangkok, Thailand with additional offices in Indonesia and Singapore.

GIZTIX Company Limited operates an online logistics marketplace that connects businesses with transporters across Asia. Founded in 2015 and based in Bangkok, Thailand, GIZTIX allows users to compare transportation prices, book shipping services for both domestic and international logistics, and manage shipments and invoices through a single platform. The service covers a wide range of destinations, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, China, Japan, Laos, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and Singapore. In addition to facilitating quick truck sourcing, GIZTIX helps fleet owners enhance their operational efficiency through its transportation management system (TMS) software. By streamlining logistics processes and leveraging data analytics, GIZTIX aims to optimize delivery speed and scalability in the trucking market.

Helpster PTE Limited owns and operates an on-demand staffing platform for workers and businesses. The company’s platform workmate helps employers to find temporary and permanent staff, including long and short term hires, and part time and full time positions; and connects people with businesses. It assists companies to find staff in the areas of food and beverage, warehouse and logistics, hospitality, customer services, cleaning, retail, data entry, and events. The company was founded in 2015 and is based in Bangkok, Thailand with additional offices in Indonesia and Singapore.

Eko Communications, Inc. is a company that develops a mobile communications platform designed to enhance workplace communication for businesses. Founded in 2012 and based in Bangkok, Thailand, Eko's platform facilitates mass communication and allows users to manage messages and threads efficiently. It features public and company-wide hubs for making announcements, creating interest groups, starting blogs, and sharing company policy documents. Eko aims to address the shortcomings of traditional enterprise mobile tools, which often fall short of meeting workplace needs by focusing on social communication instead. The platform is currently utilized by companies with a combined market capitalization of $70 billion and boasts over half a million paying subscribers.

Ardent Capital is a venture capital firm established in 2011 and based in Bangkok, Thailand. The firm focuses on investing in early-stage technology companies throughout Southeast Asia. With a team of experienced entrepreneurs who have a proven track record of successful exits, Ardent Capital combines essential elements such as team dynamics, strategic planning, operational efficiency, marketing expertise, technological innovation, financial resources, and a strong commitment to fostering growth. The firm aims to contribute to the ongoing technology revolution in the region by supporting the development of promising startups.

500 Labs, formerly known as 500 Startups, is a global venture capital firm and startup accelerator established in 2010 and headquartered in Mountain View, California. The firm focuses on seed and early-stage investments across a wide range of sectors, including technology, financial services, biotech, and various emerging markets. It aims to support small and medium-sized startups through funding, mentorship, and a structured four-month accelerator program. 500 Labs invests between $0.05 million and $1 million for equity stakes of 5 to 10 percent in companies with monthly revenues of at least $100,000 and valuations between $1.54 million and $7.69 million. The firm has a strong emphasis on diversity, actively seeking to invest in companies led by minority founders. With a global footprint, 500 Labs operates in regions such as the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, and has supported over 2,200 startups since its inception. It also contributes to building startup ecosystems through educational initiatives and global partnerships.