In a world defined by rapid shifts and constant transformation, agility determines business survival. Companies must be future-ready and customer-driven to adapt and grow. This principle drove the 2025 FedEx Asia Pacific Small Business Grant Contest, held alongside the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch Forum.
Kawal Preet, President of Asia Pacific at FedEx, outlined three strategic priorities for small businesses:
⚡Harnessing data and digital tools enables faster, smarter decision-making.
⚡In dynamic markets like Southeast Asia, staying responsive to new opportunities and regulatory changes is essential.
⚡Strategic partnerships simplify complexity, extend global reach, and allow businesses to focus on core strengths.
NEU Battery Materials was one of the four finalists using innovation to drive growth and solve real-world problems. Alongside us were:
Digantara from India, is a spacetech startup delivering accurate, real-time orbital insights for safer spacecraft operations by tracking objects as small as 5cm in Earth's orbit. Aliena, from Singapore, building compact, fuel-efficient electric propulsion engines that allow satellites to operate at lower altitudes, delivering high-impact data across industries from finance to defense. And McEasy, from Indonesia, is a IoT and SaaS company that simplifies complex logistics operations by helping companies monitor transportation fleets using AI cameras, GPS, and sensors.
Watch the full-length pitch here.