According to data obtained by Amazon Web Services (AWS), the Southeast Asia region experienced significant growth in early-stage startup funding in the first quarter of 2021. Pre-Series A startup funding has increased by 64.1 % compared to the same period in 2020, thanks to more affordable and easy-to-deploy cloud services available to budding entrepreneurs.
Industry analysts around the world agree that the ongoing pandemic saw the rise of promising digital startups as most countries implemented lockdowns. A key component to the success of this new generation of businesses is the general availability of affordable and easy-to-use cloud solutions.
When we talk about the cloud or cloud solutions, AWS is one of the ones that comes to mind the most.
“The pace of social change is parking new ideas as we see in the minds of Filipino entrepreneurs and cloud technology is enabling founders to bring these ideas to life. At AWS we say we are builders and invention is in our DNA at Amazon. It’s never been easier to build a startup than it is right now. The cloud is the best way to create startups, “according to Digbijoy Shukla, Business Development Lead, Startup Business Development ASEAN at Amazon Web Services (AWS) during a roundtable media round last week.
Using cloud technologies, startups enjoy zero start-up costs to launch their businesses faster. With the tools that AWS currently provides, for example, tech entrepreneurs can focus on growing their business rather than spending more time fiddling with the infrastructure. Using the cloud promotes innovation, as startups can experiment with their ideas without having to invest in expensive hardware like computer servers. AWS can easily provide startups with a framework with operational excellence, security, reliability, performance efficiency, and cost optimization.
Among the industries that are being transformed by startups during this pandemic are Healthtech, FinTech and eCommerce added by Shukla.
AWS Activate compatible with Philippine startups
AWS Activate offers startups a suite of benefits including up to $ 100,000 in AWS credits, AWS support plan credits, and training to help them grow their businesses. The benefits provided by AWS Activate are designed to provide entrepreneurs with the right mix of tools and expert support to succeed with AWS, while optimizing performance, managing risk, and keeping costs under control.
In the Philippines, Zagana and PayMongo are two of the startups that received the aforementioned benefits from AWS Activate.
Zagana is an online platform for fresh vegetables and fruits directly from our local farmers here in the Philippines, while PayMongo offers businesses of all sizes an online payment platform to accept credit cards and eWallets with zero setup fee. During the onset of the pandemic, PayMongo helped several non-profit and religious organizations create their own donation web pages for free.
