Press Release: Silverstrand Capital launches Asia’s first biodiversity accelerator
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Singapore-based family office will address ecological crisis in South East Asia
Singapore, 23rd May 2022: Silverstrand Capital, a Singapore-based single family office, today announced the launch of one of Asia’s first biodiversity accelerator programmes. Designed to find eight high-impact, early stage companies to address the biodiversity crisis in South East Asia, applications are open from today for The Biodiversity Accelerator+.
The accelerator is supported by a range of both public and private organisations including Mandai Nature, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), the National University of Singapore’s Centre for Nature-Based Solutions, Temasek Foundation, and UBS Optimus Foundation acting as a knowledge partner.
“Mankind needs to work with nature, not against it. The business case for protecting and enhancing biodiversity is stronger than ever. Our programme is designed to upskill founders so they can meet the challenges ahead,” said Kelvin Chiu, principal of Silverstrand Capital.
The selected companies that form the first cohort of The Biodiversity Accelerator+ will undergo a three-month programme of support under the tutelage of world-class partners and professional coaches. Unlike other accelerators, support not only covers financial modelling, branding and marketing, business development and organisational culture, but also includes academia and non-profit partners to advise on biodiversity science and how the companies can work successfully with local communities.
The selected companies will be connected with guest speakers and mentors from the partner organisations working together to form customised development plans. At the end of the programme, participants can unlock investment of up to US$250k each and access a wider network of impact investors.
Lim Hock Chuan, Head, Programmes, Temasek Foundation, commented: “We need innovative deep technology solutions and nature-based solutions to solve some of the environmental challenges we are facing. The Biodiversity Accelerator+ can be a key player in the sustainability ecosystem and networks by enabling private enterprises to play a part in developing innovative ideas into solutions that can bring positive impact to our environment.”
The accelerator is accepting applications from two types of companies:
Nature technology: Businesses addressing executional barriers to conservation through hardware and software solutions; and
Nature-based solutions: Businesses protecting vulnerable landscapes or restoring degraded ones directly via on-the-ground operations.
The programme aims to preserve and restore our planet’s natural assets and biodiversity, which underpins economic activity. Biodiversity also enhances the resilience and stability of our species and planet, and provides us with a range of ecosystem services, such as clean air, water, and drought and flood regulation.
More information about The Biodiversity Accelerator+ is available here.
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For further media information:
Mark Jackson
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About Silverstrand Capital
Silverstrand Capital is a Singapore-based single family office founded in 2018. Its impact investing mandate is focused on addressing the biodiversity crisis, and aims for systems-level investment solutions that accelerate the widescale restoration and conservation of natural ecosystems. This mandate works in conjunction with its philanthropic activities which support relevant research and capacity-building projects.
