Smart City – Page 29 – StartUp Borneo

30 Jun 2019

Sarawak’s Power Play

Community Initiative, Digital Economy, Industry 4.0, Our Community, Renewable Energy, Sarawak, Smart City

Two sudden blackouts across Sarawak many weeks ago brought about the realisation of how important it was for the state to have consistent power and electricity supply. As more commercial and industrial developments blossom all over the state, the need to maintain an undisrupted power supply to alleviate potential loss of business is of top priority in the state’s economic development agenda. Higher demand arising from organic growth coupled with higher consumption especially from energy intensive multinationals at the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE) region will fuel the need for additional capacity for power. Industry players believed the prospects…

30 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

Transforming Sarawak’s rural areas

Aviation and Aerospace, Community Initiative, Creative Arts & Design, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Farming & Agriculture, FinTech, Fishing, Industry 4.0, Our Community, Renewable Energy, Sarawak, Smart City, Social Innovation

A visit to a longhouse or a village in the interiors of Sarawak will enlighten one on the lifestyle of the people in the rural area. Some are farming and selling their crops to make a living while others are working as labourers in the mining, oil palm, construction and timber sectors in a small town or ‘pekan’ to sustain their livelihood and support their families. Normally, the men are the breadwinners of a family while the women will take care of the household chores and their children. Some women will also support their families by bringing harvested crops and…

30 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

Telcos to provide Internet access to schools

Digital Economy, Industry 4.0, Smart City

The three ISPs will also provide Internet service to several sections at the ministry and 366 teachers’ activity centres nationwide. File Photo PUTRAJAYA: Three internet service providers (ISPs), namely Telekom Malaysia Bhd, Celcom Axiata Bhd and Maxis Broadband Sdn Bhd will supply Internet access to schools nationwide from July 1, for six months, the Education Ministry said yesterday. The three ISPs will also provide Internet service to several sections at the ministry and 366 teachers’ activity centres nationwide. “The ministry will choose a new Internet service provider for the period from Jan 1, 2020,” the ministry said. — Bernama [Source: "Telcos…

30 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

Go further downstream

Community Initiative, Creative Arts & Design, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Farming & Agriculture, Industry 4.0, Our Community, Sarawak, Smart City

Chief Minister tells plywood mills to move to a ‘higher-level’ by manufacturing furniture, flooring products to remain in business Abang Johari rides a bicycle made from bamboo, which is a memento for him. Seen from left are Naroden, Hashim, Awang Tengah and Len Talif. — Photo by Chimon Upon KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg has acknowledged that local plywood mills have fallen on hard times, but urged industry players to change in order to survive. He said that plywood industry operators who are exporting the raw material needed to shift to a ‘higher level’ rather than…

26 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

Precision farming startup Taranis gets $20M Series B for its crop-monitoring tech

Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Farming & Agriculture, Industry 4.0, Smart City

Taranis, an ag-tech startup that uses aerial scouting and deep learning to identify potential crop issues, announced today that it has raised a $20 million Series B led by Viola Ventures. Existing investors Nutrien (one of the world’s largest fertilizer producers), Wilbur-Ellis venture capital arm Cavallo Ventures and Sumitomo Corporation Europe also participated. Tel Aviv-based Taranis says its aerial imaging technology, carried on high-speed drones or manned aircraft, is currently used by farms in Argentina, Brazil, Russia, Ukraine and the United States. It plans to expand into more countries with this round of funding, including Australia. Founded in 2015 by Ofir Schlam,…

26 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

AgroStar gets $27M Series C to give more Indian farmers increased crop production with data analytics

Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Farming & Agriculture, Smart City

Indian agriculture tech startup AgroStar announced today that it has raised a $27 million Series C for its platform, which helps farmers increase crop production, manage orders and buy supplies online. The round was led by Bertelsmann India Investments, with participation from returning investors Accel, Chiratae Ventures and Aavishkaar Bharat Fund. AgroStar bills its app as a “one-stop solution” that contains everything India’s 135 million farmers need, including agronomy tools, such as a crop disease diagnosis tool that combines image recognition technology, educational content and an e-commerce store that sells farming products. Its new funding, which brings AgroStar’s total raised so far…

26 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

Neighborhood social network Nextdoor raises $123 million at $2.1 billion valuation

Aviation and Aerospace, Creative Arts & Design, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, FinTech, Industry 4.0, Smart City

Above: Nextdoor for iPhone Nextdoor, the social network aimed at local neighborhoods, has raised $123 million in a round of funding led by Riverwood Capital, with participation from Benchmark, Tiger Global Management, Kleiner Perkins, and an undisclosed “large global asset manager.” This takes Nextdoor’s total raised to more than $400 million since its inception and gives it a valuation of $2.1 billion — around $600 million more than its reported valuation at its last round of funding in late 2017. Founded out of San Francisco in 2010, Nextdoor is like Facebook, except it focuses on connecting people in local areas.…

26 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

WALLS OF HISTORY: Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE)

Community Initiative, Creative Arts & Design, Digital Economy, Our Community, Sarawak, Smart City

[WALLS OF HISTORY] Creative murals illustrating some of Sarawak's cultural village on shop lot walls in Kuching area. Commonly known as street art, these artworks gained encouragement and support from the Kuching North City Hall (DBKU) in 2015. A mural project called Old Kuching Smart Heritage (OKSHE) was then launched by DBKU to further encourage local artists in perserving past history through mural paintings. Photographer: RAZALI NORDIN #bernamaimages #imagesbernama #bernama #malaysia #sarawak #kucing #streetart #mural #paintings #history #illustration #preservation #walls #culture #heritage #unique #creative #DBKU #OKSHE #nikon #nikonasia #nikonmalaysia #nikanD5 @BERNAMA [Source: Facebook BERNAMA] Photo Credits: BERNAMA / RAZALI NORDIN

26 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

Dianggap gila, pemuda kutip 1.5 tan sampah di Sungai Selangor (VIDEO)

Smart City, Social Innovation

Masbudi Abdul Malek mengutip purata 300kg hingga 400kg sampah setiap kali membersihkan Sungai Selangor. — Foto-foto oleh Yusof Mat Isa KUALA SELANGOR, 7 Jun — Seorang pemuda di Kampung Kuantan di sini dianggap “gila” dan “bodoh” hanya kerana usahanya mengutip sampah sarap dengan menaiki sampan di sepanjang Lembangan Hilir Sungai Selangor. Namun, Masbudi Abdul Malek, 33, tidak peduli dengan kritikan itu kerana beliau tidak sanggup melihat alam sekitar tempat tinggalnya tercemar akibat sikap “tidak ambil peduli” manusia. Berbekal tangguk, sarung tangan, but, plastik hitam dan jaket keselamatan, Masbudi turun ke sungai dan mendayung sampan sejauh empat hingga enam kilometer untuk…

26 Jun 2019

By Charmaine Yeap Xun Fang

11 Great Inventions We Need to Thank Malaysia For

Aviation and Aerospace, Creative Arts & Design, Digital Economy, Entrepreneurs, Farming & Agriculture, FinTech, Industry 4.0, Renewable Energy, Sarawak, Smart City

When you think of Malaysia, you may picture mouth-watering delicacies such as nasi lemak, tropical beaches, and natural rainforests. Or the iconic sights of the KL Tower, Petronas Twin Towers, and Batu Caves. But what about the inventions that represent Malaysia’s culture and support the everyday lives of locals? Here are the great things that you may not know were created by Malaysians. Gasing ‘spinning tops’ Gasing, known as spinning tops, are carved by the villagers in Kelantan and Melaka. They believe that spinning tops would bring a good harvest. Every rice harvest season, villagers challenge each other to see…