From blockchain fine art investment to growing truffles on demand, these companies are the ones we’re excited for in 2020. May they continue to do great things. 

1. Maecenas Fine Arts Singapore

In 2018, 31.5% of Andy Warhol’s Fourteen Small Electric Chairs (1980) was auctioned in cryptocurrency through a new digital art investment platform called Maecenas. This fraction was worth a cool US$1.7 million, and was sold in four weeks to investors who bought the digital certificates in both fiat currencies and cryptocurrencies (bitcoin, Ethereum, and Maecenas’ own ART Token).

The remaining 68.5% of Andy Warhol’s Fourteen Small Electric Chairs still belongs to a private owner. 31.5% was sold to 100 investors in the form of digital certificates.

The world’s first open blockchain platform that democratises fine art, Maecenas gives everyone access to fine art investment. It allows customers to buy, sell, and trade part ownership of fine art pieces on a liquid exchange.

Maecenas is also one of JustCo’s beloved members, working among many other tech companies at the Verizon Innovation Community managed by JustCo. The community provides a conducive workspace and offers unlimited collaboration opportunities for different companies that share common goals in the tech industry. It also serves as a platform to develop innovative business ideas.

What’s next for Maecenas? One of their priorities for 2020 is to continue expanding in  Asia, starting with a recently-signed partnership with a Tokyo-based company to allow them to venture into Japan.

2. Grower Agritech

With its ‘Plug and Plant’ method, Grower can supply fresh truffles to food manufacturers and restaurants on demand

The world is suddenly crazy about mushrooms. And even with its hefty $20-a-gram price tag, people are continuing to load their pasta, toasts, and even steak with black or white truffle shavings.

Inevitably, the question of whether constant foraging for truffles is sustainable or not has arisen over the years.

Enter Grower Agritech, a Singapore-based company that has developed an in-vitro cultivation method to grow truffles anytime, anywhere, and in any climate. Called “Plug and Plant”, their truffle growing facilities are designed to be located within urban cities. This enables them to provide fresh truffles to their customers on demand.

Grower’s Plug and Plant system yields 300 grams of truffles for every 1 square cube of space.

3. NewCampus

JustCo at Marina Square is one of the many inspiring locations from which NewCampus conducts learning classes  

The concept of NewCampus is simple yet crucial – that is of lifelong learning. Whether someone is looking for a mid-career change, making connections with like-minded people, or simply seeking new insights into the world, NewCampus offers a diverse range of classes for their members.

Located at beautiful, inspiring spaces such as JustCo’s multiple co-working spaces around Singapore’s CBD, these classes include how to pitch sales, parenting advice, the art of leadership, and even creating social impact with your business.

NewCampus acts as one of JustCo’s key learning partners, and members of JustCo can get up to three free classes with NewCampus monthly.

Check out upcoming events at JustCo spaces here.

4. Alchemy Foodtech

Verleen Goh and Alan Phua of Alchemy Foodtech winning SLINGSHOT@SWITCH powered by Startup SG in 2018

Today’s diet of refined carbohydrates and saturated fat is causing many health problems, and key among them is the rise of diabetes, which has quadrupled from 100 million in 1980 to 415 million in 2015. The number of people with diabetes is expected to reach 624 million in 2040.

In 2017, diabetes became the second highest most common disease in the world.

Alchemy Foodtech, a foodtech start-up, has created a solution called 5ibrePlus, a food composition that lowers the GI of traditionally high GI food such as white rice, white bread, and noodles. Working closely with food manufacturers to incorporate 5ibrePlus into recipes, Alchemy Foodtech creates lower GI variants of food staples that everyone can enjoy.

Interested to work within JustCo’s large community across Asia Pacific? Call us to book a free tour today.