IMC Ventures has joined PIER71 as a venture capital partner with an objective to invest and nurture the maritime and supply chain ecosystem in Singapore.
With a vision to establish Singapore as a vibrant maritime ecosystem spearheading world-class innovation, the founding partners of PIER71 are Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (“MPA”) and NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (“NUS”).
Bringing together a community of stakeholders who are keen to digitalise and create the next wave of maritime innovation, PIER71 designs and delivers programmes to uncover opportunities within the maritime industry by providing access to markets, demand drivers, technology solution providers, investors and more.
With an aim to create a positive environmental and social impact via investments in the maritime & logistics industries, IMC Ventures was established by IMC Industrial Group (“IMCIG”) to focus on creating sustainable returns and operational synergies between start-ups and IMCIG’s business units by enabling these start-ups to scale through access to its network of customers, infrastructure and resources.
IMC Industrial Group (IMCIG) is a leading integrated industrial company providing logistics, shipping, shipyard management and engineering, procurement, construction (EPC) services to our customers while creating long-term value for our shareholders.
“The ethos of PIER71 is every much aligned with IMC Ventures. We are looking to catalyse the start- up scene in Singapore by not just providing capital to enable these new innovative ventures to scale, but also to value add through synergies with our operating businesses in the maritime and logistic space,” said Mr. James Ong, Investment Committee Member of IMC Ventures.
With this partnership, there are significant opportunities for the start-ups under PIER71 to leverage on IMC Ventures’ in-depth market experience, specialised technical knowledge and vast industry networks to test-bed and deploy their ideas and innovations within the global maritime and supply chain ecosystem.
In addition, IMC Ventures will be exploring investments within PIER71’s network and to initiate more cooperation and collaboration efforts to accelerate the development and adoption of market- disrupting solutions. This will be a boost for more improvements and enhancements within the maritime and supply chain ecosystem as a whole, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the environment and communities as a whole.
Mr. Thomas Ting, Chief Technology Officer, Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore said: “We are heartened by the partnership of like-minded ecosystem players like IMC Ventures with PIER71 and MPA. As we grow Singapore to become a leading hub for marinetech (maritime technology) start- ups, investments from private sector will be key.
In particular, venture capitalists with deep maritime expertise will be highly beneficial to the entire innovation ecosystem. I’m confident that IMC Ventures will bring their deep industry knowledge and networks to help marinetech start-ups commercialise and scale.”
Mr. Ryan Chan, Group Managing Director of IMC Industrial Group added: “IMC Ventures adds value to IMCIG as it allows ownership in ventures that brings value to our business and opens up possible opportunities to collaborate in setting the direction of innovative ideas in start-ups for various new technologies we are exploring. We will offer the capabilities and access to our shipping platform as partners to the right candidates.
With IMC Ventures partnering with MPA and PIER71, we are further building on the close partnership between IMC and MPA, to reaffirm our commitment to the future success and development of Singapore’s maritime hub.”
