Singapore, May 21, 2025 —Federal Express Corporation, one of the world’s largest express transportation companies, today announced the Winner of the annual Small Business Grant Contest (SBGC) TM in Asia Pacific. Three other companies were recognized with Special Mentions. The four companies Aliena (Singapore), Digantara (India), McEasy (Indonesia) and NEU Battery Materials (Singapore), will share a combined prize pool of US$69,000, each receiving a grant to accelerate their business in the region and beyond.
This is the fourth year that FedEx has collaborated with Forbes Asia to identify rising start-ups from the Forbes Asia 100 to Watch list. A panel of judges from FedEx and Forbes Asia selected the finalists from among the region’s most outstanding start-ups and small businesses across a broad spectrum of industries. Four companies stood out for their innovations in manufacturing, energy, construction and logistics and space technology, demonstrating their remarkable vision and scalable business ideas.
The Winner received a grand prize worth US$30,000:
- Digantara (India) - Founded in 2018 by CEO Anirudh Sharma, Digantara aims to build a ‘Google Maps’ for space. By offering space surveillance and intelligence capabilities, it helps commercial, and government entities securely operate satellites and manage the increasing traffic in space.
The following three small businesses were accorded Special Mentions and awarded a cash prize of US$13,000 each:
- Aliena (Singapore) – Co-founded in 2018 by CEO Mark Lim, Aliena develops electric-propulsion engines for satellites, enabling operations in very low Earth orbits. Its flagship product, MUSIC (Multi-Stage Ignition Compact) thruster, allows satellites to extend operations while gathering high-resolution data.
- McEasy (Indonesia) – Co-founded in 2017 by CEO Raymond Sutjiono, McEasy helps transportation companies monitor their fleets with software and IoT Technologies like AI cameras, GPS and sensors.
- NEU Battery Materials (Singapore) - Founded in 2021 and led by CEO Bryan Oh, NEU Battery Materials recovers the critical material, lithium from waste LFP batteries using a patented electrochemical redox targeting system. By consuming primarily electricity and water in its process, the startup aims to reduce the environmental footprint and costs of lithium recycling.
“This year’s winners demonstrate how technology-driven entrepreneurship is delivering real-world solutions — from battery recycling and carbon tracking to satellite propulsion and space safety,” said Kawal Preet, president of Asia Pacific, FedEx. “Their bold ideas are not only addressing today’s challenges but also shaping a more connected and resilient future. At FedEx, we are moving in step with this spirit — harnessing data and technology to build a more flexible, efficient, and intelligent network that empowers our customers to navigate change, seize new opportunities, and grow with confidence in a rapidly evolving world.”
The FedEx SBGC was first launched in the U.S. in 2012, and now covers 31 international markets across Asia Pacific, Europe, and Latin America. For more information about the contest, please visit.