Crossing the “valley of death”: Deep SAGE backs deep tech start-ups with S$1.5 million

Crossing the "valley of death": Deep SAGE backs deep tech start-ups with S$1.5 million

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Cold chain logistics. Insurance claims. Personalised medicine. Three industries, three bold solutions, and three start-ups ready to scale.

Logice, Sembuh AI and StratifiCare emerged as the top winners at the inaugural Deep Tech Seed to A Growth Expansion Programme (Deep SAGE) Demo Day. Deep SAGE is a collaboration between NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial heart of NUS, and TIS Inc., one of Japan's leading IT companies. Each start-up received S$500,000 in funding from TIS Inc., along with continued strategic and execution support through the programme.

• Logice

  Logice develops integrated cold chain solutions for perishable goods.
• Sembuh AI

  Sembuh AI uses AI to simplify insurance claims processing.
• StratifiCare

  StratifiCare develops diagnostic tests to guide personalised liver cancer treatment.
• Logice

  Logice develops integrated cold chain solutions for perishable goods.
• Sembuh AI

  Sembuh AI uses AI to simplify insurance claims processing.
• StratifiCare

  StratifiCare develops diagnostic tests to guide personalised liver cancer treatment.

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Logice is building a more efficient cold chain ecosystem with integrated, technology-enabled storage, transport and warehousing solutions for perishable goods. Sembuh AI is streamlining health insurance claims through an AI-powered platform that automates processing while detecting fraud and overbilling. StratifiCare is advancing precision medicine through diagnostic assays, including tools to guide liver cancer treatment decisions and support more personalised care. All three start-ups were recognised for their technological strength, clear market potential and readiness to expand.

Where bold ideas take the first step

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Over the afternoon, all 10 start-ups in the programme's first cohort presented their solutions to a closed-door audience comprising management teams from NUS Enterprise and TIS Inc. Each team delivered a 10-minute pitch followed by a 10-minute Question & Answer session where they addressed questions on technology validation, business models, and strategies for regional and global expansion.

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The judging panel, comprising Mr Heng Wui Liang, Head of BLOCK71 Singapore; Mr Yew Hock Meng, Managing Director, Wonwey Pte Ltd; Mr Furusho Kensaku, Managing Executive Officer of Global Business Division, TIS Inc.; Ms Sayaka Kinoshita, Director, TIS Ventures; and Mr Senthil Kumaran, Director, TIS Ventures, evaluated the start-ups on both technological innovation and commercial readiness. The winners were announced during a networking dinner that evening.

Building the bridge from innovation to scale

Deep SAGE is a tailored accelerator programme that supports seed-stage start-ups from around the world in scaling towards pre-Series A and Series A funding. It addresses the "valley of death", the critical phase between accelerator graduation and Series A funding, where technology may be validated but commercial traction often remains elusive.

The collaboration brings together complementary strengths from NUS Enterprise and TIS Inc. to support start-up growth through an execution-driven approach. TIS Inc. contributes capital and its expertise working with large enterprises to help start-ups build execution capabilities and accelerate growth. It has committed S$7.6 million over three years, investing a minimum of S$500,000 in selected high-potential start-ups across cohorts.

NUS Enterprise delivers the programme through BLOCK71, its global network of physical accelerators across 11 cities, including Singapore, Tokyo, Silicon Valley, Saigon, and Suzhou. Participating start-ups receive mentorship and structured workshops, followed by a six-month incubation at BLOCK71 Singapore. During this period, they gain access to a global ecosystem that supports international market entry, pilot deployments and commercial partnerships.

"Deep SAGE was only launched last year, but its early success shows the strong demand within the deep tech ecosystem for deeper execution support beyond mentorship and capital," shared Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Innovation and Enterprise), NUS Enterprise. "By embedding seasoned executives directly with founders through our fractional C-suite model, we work side by side to drive execution. This hands-on approach builds commercial rigour, accelerates operational maturity, and better prepares start-ups to scale successfully towards pre-Series A and Series A funding."

Mr Furusho Kensaku, Managing Executive Officer, TIS Inc., said, "At TIS, we work closely with enterprises across industries, and we consistently see that the gap in deep tech is not innovation, but execution. Deep SAGE reflects our commitment to helping bridge that gap, not just through capital, but by supporting start-ups with strategic direction and real-world perspectives. We bring our industry experience to guide start-ups and, where relevant, connect them with enterprise partners to support their growth."

Fractional C-suites supporting global start-up growth

Unlike traditional accelerators that focus primarily on mentorship and funding, Deep SAGE is designed to close the execution gap. Over six months, seasoned mentors work closely with founders to refine strategy, develop go-to-market approaches, define Key Performance Indicators, and engage investors. Complementing this, the programme embeds experienced Fractional Executives (CXOs) within start-up teams for 12 weeks to execute these initiatives and translate pipeline into revenue.

While mentors and CXOs provide executive-level guidance, final decisions remain with founders, preserving their autonomy while accelerating the start-ups' operational and commercial maturity.

"My experience as a fractional C-suite for Logice is that the team is very diligent and ambitious in growing the business. For example, they took my advice to hire and operate a partner's cold storage facility, which became a key enabler for securing more business. They also invested in reefer trucks to complete their distribution capabilities, laying the foundation to become a true cold chain logistics player. They deserve the S$500,000 funding as they have the potential, skills, knowledge, network and team chemistry to succeed in this industry," said Mr Daru Kanugroho, Fractional Chief Product Officer, Logice.

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Reflecting on the experience, the start-ups highlighted the Deep SAGE's impact on accelerating their growth, from unlocking new partnerships to fast-tracking commercial deployment.

Logice shared that "the support from the embedded fractional C-suite has been very impactful… accelerating our pipeline expansion". Similarly, Sembuh AI noted that it "joined Deep SAGE with an idea and left with a product companies are already buying", adding that it "went from concept to enterprise deployment" within months. StratifiCare likewise highlighted how its fractional C-suite "helped us open doors… that would have taken years to achieve".

By NUS Enterprise