Embracing a forward-thinking approach to champion workplace gender equality, Singapore-headquartered global community platform Women Icons Network has unveiled its transformation into Collective for Equality (CofE). This strategic rebranding marks a significant milestone, symbolizing a purposeful shift towards fostering a more inclusive and collaborative environment in the pursuit of workplace gender equality.

Collective for Equality (CofE) embodies a profound commitment to inclusivity, going beyond gender-specific boundaries to engage a diverse spectrum of professionals and organizations dedicated to advancing workplace equality. This evolution isn't just about a change in name; it's a bold step towards cultivating a community that embraces diverse perspectives and catalyzes concerted action in the realm of Workplace Gender Equality.

"At Collective for Equality, our vision is rooted in the belief that progress stems from unity," remarked Vishwesh Iyer, Founder at Collective for Equality. "This rebranding reflects our steadfast commitment to providing an all-encompassing platform that encourages collaboration, amplifies diverse voices, and drives substantive change in workplace dynamics."

Central to this transformation is the deliberate inclusion and engagement of male corporate leaders, notably CXOs and decision-makers. Collective for Equality recognizes their pivotal role in effecting meaningful change and endeavours to carve out a dedicated space for them to contribute their insights, share experiences, and spearhead initiatives toward fostering inclusive workplaces.

"We aim to create an environment where male leaders are equally and whole heartedly engaged in shaping the dialogue on gender equality at work," emphasized Vishwesh. "Their active involvement is pivotal in reshaping workplace culture and driving initiatives that benefit everyone."

Collective for Equality is poised to become a pivotal hub for collaborative endeavours, uniting individuals and organizations committed to propelling workplace equality. Beyond a simple name change, this rebranding represents a transformative step towards fostering a robust, diverse, and inclusive community dedicated to effecting substantive and lasting change.

As part of this evolution, the platform will introduce innovative initiatives, thought-provoking discussions, and actionable resources tailored to address the multifaceted dimensions of workplace gender equality. Collective for Equality aspires to cultivate an environment conducive to fostering inclusive workplaces on a global scale.

The transition from Women Icons Network to Collective for Equality signifies more than a mere rebrand—it's a declaration of a collective commitment to inclusivity, collaboration, and a unified vision for realizing workplace gender equality.

https://collectiveforequality.com/

The Assembly Place (TAP) has successfully launched its largest co-living space till date. Campus by the Assembly Place is Singapore’s first premium co-living student accommodation situated along 116 Lorong J and 119 Lorong K Telok Kurau, spanning more than 100,000 sqft with more than 20 facilities tailored for students, such as social kitchens, study pods, indoor gym and outdoor CrossFit zone and with landscapes that boast of hideout gardens and pavilions. There are a total of 426 beds in this asset.

“Many thoughts have been put into the design of this space since we took over the asset in May this year.” said Eugene Lim, CEO and Founder of The Assembly Place. “We realise that most student accommodation in Singapore would just have a single bed with a small desk beside it. What we have created is a self-sufficient loft system that our students can still enjoy their own privacy while staying with fellow members in the room. These pod-like system comes with its own bed, wardrobe, study table, as well as a space to put their luggage and even shelves for their books. Each space comes with its own lighting system and power sockets for charging of laptops and other electronics” he added.

“We have also engaged renown landscape architect, Ecoplan with our landscape design. With a site that spans more than 100,000 sqft, we want to ensure that the landscape and facilities that is created will be suitable for our students” said Lim.

More than just spaces, The Assembly Place is in the business of building a robust community. With the launch of Campus, TAP will have more than 1800 keys and is on target to cross 2000 keys by the end of this year. “As our community grow and with more members in our database, we can have more scalable and meaningful community events” says Lim. “We are very excited with the many programs that have been lined up at Campus which will also benefit our wider community. The joy is always to see our members connecting and making meaningful friendships, especially for our overseas friends during their stay in Singapore.”

Strengthening The Assembly Place’s Position as the Accommodation of Choice

Other than the launch of Campus, The Assembly place has also secured 2 more buildings, 18 Roberts Lane, by Goodland Group and 21 Lor 13 Geylang. These 2 additions will add on another 55 keys to TAP’s growing portfolio and stronghold in these areas. Renovation works has started for both projects and they will be launched by the end of this year.

TAP has also recently launched its second serviced residences, The Assembly Place, Serviced Residences @ River Valley which is located at 3 Tank Road and their third serviced residences located at 18 Penhas is slated to be launched by the end of the month.

These will add on to the range of accommodation choices that can cater to the different needs of our members and strengthen TAP’s position to be the accommodation of choice.

Strong Occupancy Rate

In early April this year, TAP took over Feng Lai Mansion, an 80 keys apartment block located at 39 Lorong 30 Geylang. It was launched in two phases during the third week of May after completing major renovation and uplifting works. Within the first 2 months of launch, TAP has managed to achieved 100% occupancy rate for this property. The strong take up rate can be attributed to the convenient location, attractive room rates and the growing demand of quality accommodation in the area.

Since the launch of the residential building block at 6 Duke’s Road and 551 Bukit Timah Road in February this year, all of the 42 keys within the property were fully leased within the first six weeks of launch and demand and occupancy has remained strong till date.

With the shift in mindsets and lifestyle preferences, TAP is optimistic that demand and occupancy for co-living will remain strong due to its cost-efficiency, social connections and convenience.

About The Assembly Place

The Assembly Place is a homegrown Co-Living brand that was founded in 2019 and started from a humble beginning of 6 rooms in 2019. It is the first Co-Living operator in Singapore to cover the full spectrum of accommodation spaces, to be the accommodation of choice. The Assembly Place aims to foster connections and build an inclusive community.

In the X Games for Startups, contestants win awards and investments through a series of high-intensity pitches. X-PITCH is not only a challenge, but also a fantastic opportunity for founders to drastically improve their pitch and re-examine their business. Since 2018, the contest has been held in skyscraper elevators, self-driving buses, and MRT. This year, the event will take place on the Singapore River.

As a landmark startup contest in Asia, X-PITCH has attracted more than 8,000 startups and 100,000 participants from over fifty countries in the past two years. Winners have raised a total of US$38 million in funding and connected with investors, corporates, government agencies and accelerators through the event.

“We are hosting X-PITCH in Singapore for the first time. Through this platform, we hope to help founders around the world access to the vibrant market of the city-state and Southeast Asia. Like previous years, the competition format is also a global first. This time, we’ll be doing it on bumboats!” said K. Yu, Organizing Committee Chair of X-PITCH 2023.

Powered by XCEL NEXT, X-PITCH 2023 is in collaboration with e27, the leading startup media in Asia. The event is proudly supported by top organizations including Enterprise Singapore, A*StartCentral, ACE.SG, Block71 Singapore, BSSC, Cool Japan Fund, DOST-PCIEERD, HKSTP, KOVA, MDEC, TA, TINVA, TusStar, and VITTBI.

Media OutReach Newswire, Asia's first global newswire, has partnered with X-PITCH as "Official Newswire Partner" to empower news distribution for the 2023 event. Media OutReach Newswire will work with X-PITCH 2023 to disseminate its announcements globally, and work with startups to educate them on the power of newswire distribution.

The theme of this year's contest is "Accelerating Deeptech", highlighting the forefront of technological advancements in four domains including advanced manufacturing, healthcare, sustainability, and digital economy. Ten awards will be presented at the Grand Finale on 10 November at the National Gallery Singapore, with the top three teams receiving investments totaling at least US$1 million. Visionary founders from Asia and around the world are welcome to take up this challenge: www.xpitch.io

About X-PITCH

X-PITCH is a landmark startup contest in Asia, and probably the most challenging pitch event in the world. Known as the "X Games for Startup", contestants go through a series of pitch challenges to win awards and investments.

- A chance to win US$1,000,000 and more

- Pitch in 15 seconds, 60 seconds, and 3 minutes

- Meet 1,000+ investors and get exposure across 200+ global media

- Activities including pitch training, fundraising workshops, market access, investor matching, and more

Monarch Tractor, maker of the MK-V, the fully electric, driver-optional, connected tractor, today announces the expansion of its operations in Singapore, signaling major growth and appetite for the company's A.I., robotics and smart farming technology within the Asia Pacific region (APAC). Building off of its existing Singapore presence and successful expansion into Hyderabad, India, earlier this year, Monarch Tractor will move to develop the next generation of data scientists, machine learning engineers and A.I. practitioners by partnering with government agencies and academic institutions to grow their A.I. research & development team.

"After our early success in Singapore with the development of our 'Monarch Auto Drive' tractor operation, we're excited to continue to evolve our technology with the help of Singapore's finest talent," said Praveen Penmetsa, Co-Founder & CEO, Monarch Tractor. "In partnership with the Singapore government, Monarch Tractor is able to provide more job opportunities and also propel our mission for a greener future. More than ever, farmers, government bodies and consumers are looking for more viable options to sustain our planet."

Building upon Singapore's early success to develop the MK-V's driverless capabilities, Monarch's expansion and development of new talent will work to create automation capabilities that extend to full farm operations leading to the enablement of profitable and sustainable agricultural practices within the region and globally.

As almost 25 percent of global GHG emissions result from agriculture, this strategic expansion will champion and enable large-scale emissions reductions that support Singapore's Green Plan 2030, including the country's aspiration to become net-zero by 2050. Monarch is currently hiring talent throughout Singapore to support and develop cutting-edge A.I. robotics technology - creating a smarter, greener and safer farming industry.

Following its launch in 2020, Monarch Tractor has continued to revolutionize the agriculture industry at a global scale through innovative electric and autonomous capabilities. Moving to bring AI to farmer's fingertips, the company has captured the attention of other major sustainable-focused countries within APAC including New Zealand, where Monarch delivered the first-ever electric tractor to the NZ0 farm.

Founded in 2018, Monarch Tractor's Founder Series MK-V is the world's first fully electric, driver-optional, connected tractor set to enhance farmers' existing operations, alleviate labor shortages, and maximize yields. Monarch Tractor is committed to elevating farming practices to enable clean, efficient, and economically viable solutions for today's farmers and the generations of farmers to come. With cutting-edge technology, global reach, and an experienced team, Monarch is delivering meaningful change for the future of farming. For more information, visit www.monarchtractor.com.