ZeeBox, founded by shipping conglomerate CMA CGM, today announced the launch of its APAC headquarters to drive further technological innovation in the supply chain industry. Based in Singapore, ZEBOX Asia also covers markets such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea.
The APAC Center is supported by Enterprise Singapore, a board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry to encourage SME development, and the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, along with industry partners Bureau Veritas Offshore, PSA unboXed and Synergy Marine Group.
In the year Founded in 2018 by CMA CGM Group Chairman and CEO Rodolphe Sade, ZEBOX already has centers in France, the United States, the United Kingdom, West Africa and the Caribbean, which have raised a total of $235 million with 100 startups. Financial support. Startups are in ZEBOX’s incubator and have 20 corporate partners to work with. including BNP Paribas, CEVA Logistics, Infosys, BNSG Railway, Port of Virginia and Centrime.
Along with mentorship, expertise, business opportunities and funding, the incubator program provides opportunities for startups to test their solutions and work with larger corporations, ZEBOX CEO Gwen Salley told TechCrunch. For corporate partners, the advantage is working with startups that can solve their unique business challenges and engage in proof-of-concept ventures.
The incubator network chose Singapore for its new hub because more than 4,000 regional headquarters and startups are located there and it has pro-business policies, an efficient regulatory framework, clear legal and financial systems and strong digital infrastructure, Sali said. “Furthermore, the city-state’s strategic location at the crossroads of major shipping lines and airways makes it a global logistics hub, connecting large parts of Asia with the rest of the world,” he added.
Some examples of startups created by ZEBOX include Searoutes, which uses routing engines and predictive data to show how much CO2 emissions shippers generate at key points in the supply chain, and Sublime Energy, a deep-tech startup that focuses on biogas liquefaction technology and biogas collection services. Both of these participated in ZEBOX France.
BasicBlock, which participated in ZEBOX America and raised more than $78 million in funding, automates invoicing and develops financial products for the shipping industry. Expedoc has raised more than $20 million from Zeebox America to automate shipping documents, payables reconciliations and other manual paperwork. Meanwhile, the SMO Solar Process, a solar-based technology involved in Zebox Caribbean, converts carbon-based waste into other materials, such as hydrogen, biochar and carbon powder.
Zeebox is looking for starters in around four. One is operational efficiency, or technology that helps reduce the physical movement of goods in day-to-day operations. Another is decarbonization, and Zeebox looks at alternative fuels, net zero energy, asset recovery, green infrastructure, emissions tracking and reporting, and sustainable warehousing and distribution. This is a particularly critical area for CMA CGM Group, whose goal is to reach net zero carbon by 2050. The company claims to have reduced carbon emissions per container by 50% since 2008.
A third area of focus, workflow automation, seeks startups that streamline and eliminate back office tasks so companies can get more done in less time. Finally, employment opportunities are concentrated on startups that innovate in training, workplace safety, employee engagement, talent acquisition, hybrid work environments, ESG and customer experience.
“Startups play a critical role in the transformation of the maritime sector by generating value through innovative solutions. Working with partners, MPA from Singapore will develop, test and further develop maritime techniques for the benefit of the global maritime community,” said Teo Eng Dyh, CEO of the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore. He hopes to equip it in Singapore.
