At EPiC 2025, Singapore startups lead in fintech and sustainability

At EPiC 2025, Singapore startups are proving they can compete (and win) on one of the world’s competitive pitching stages.

Now in its ninth edition, the event hosted by the Hong Kong Science & Technology Park (HKSTP) has brought together more than 1,200 startups from over 70 economies. Each company delivers a high-stakes 60-second elevator pitch, competing for a share of US$100 million in targeted investment and US$240,000 in cash prizes. The Top 100 finalists advanced through regional pitching rounds across the US, Europe, APAC, and Hong Kong before meeting at the Grand Finale at Kai Tak Cruise Terminal in November 2025.

With a record 1,200 global applications and 87 per cent non-local participation, EPiC 2025 is the most international edition yet — and Singapore-based companies have emerged as standout performers.

Among them is Belli, named the fintech winner at EPiC 2025. The Singapore startup is tackling inefficiencies in air cargo operations by eliminating manual processes across commercial, ground operations, and finance departments. Built by a team of six former employees of a leading Southeast Asian airline, Belli positions itself as a modern alternative to legacy cargo systems that can take months or even years to deploy.

The company has demonstrated rapid implementation capabilities, completing an end-to-end cargo management system rollout for a midsize cargo airline in just three weeks. As Foon Qiao Hui of Belli noted in an interview with e27, the team achieved this speed by deploying staff onsite and running side-by-side training with airline employees.

Jayden Lu, Product Engineer, Belli (left)

With more than 15 clients, including notable names such as Lion Air, Belli has raised US$3 million and plans to expand into AI-powered modules for dynamic capacity planning and automated load-up planning.

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Another Singapore-based leader at EPiC 2025 is NEU Battery Materials, which secured both the Overall Champion title and FinTech recognition. NEU is developing a safer, cleaner approach to lithium battery recycling, using electricity and water rather than hazardous pyro- or hydrometallurgical methods that rely on burning or acid leaching.

In a separate interview, Bryan Oh of NEU said its process is five times cheaper, produces lower carbon emissions, and can scale through modular deployment–a critical advantage as demand for battery recycling accelerates worldwide.

NEU has recently announced its first close of a Pre-Series A funding round. Looking ahead, the startup plans to demonstrate a commercial facility in 2026–2027 and expand beyond Singapore, while exploring partnerships with battery manufacturers to support closed-loop production.

Sustainability innovation was also represented by Frass, a finalist at EPiC 2025. The startup converts food waste into animal feed using enzymes and bacteria, offering a sustainable response to rising feed prices driven by global supply disruptions.

According to Zihan Poh of Frass, its feed is 5-20 per cent cheaper than commercial alternatives and can last up to 2 years on the shelf.

Backed by the governments of Singapore, the UK, and Hong Kong, Frass is targeting mid-size and backyard farmers, focusing on poultry, fish, and soy markets. With production costs as low as S$0.03 per kilogram and technology protected through trade secrets, the company is now working toward manufacturing stability and licensing, with plans to expand across Southeast Asia through local partnerships.

Together, Belli, NEU, and Frass highlight why Singapore startups at EPiC 2025 are gaining global attention: they are solving urgent industrial challenges with scalable, investment-ready solutions. As EPiC continues to grow into a premier international launchpad, Singapore’s innovation ecosystem is clearly punching above its weight.

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Image credit: Frass, NEU Battery Materials, Belli

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