JIUQU VILLAGE — January 2017 saw Jiuqu Village in China’s Fujian province hop on Alibaba-owned Rural Taobao program to sell home-grown kumquats via livestreaming. In the run up to Chinese New Year, a livestream hosted by Italian chef Riccardo Messina included a cooking demonstration and interviews with local producers to assure quality and authenticity.

PEARL BRO — Xinda Zhan, one of the thousands of entrepreneurs utilizing livestreaming, broadcasts the process of harvesting pearls and has grown a devoted audience. Customers pay CNY 58 (USD 8.50) for a mussel and then watch live to see if it contains a pearl or several. A June 2017 BBC report cited Xinda Zhan, also known as ‘Pearl Bro’, made USD 4.4 million in six months.

SHOPSHOPS — Via Alibaba’s Taobao mobile app, ShopShops livestreams fashion items from US stores to potential buyers in China. Information about the item, including sizing and material are discussed on the livestream, before orders are placed on Taobao. As of July 2017, ShopShops had made more that USD 1 million made in total sales.

HONG HENG — The Singapore-based trio behind the Hong Heng Mobile Auction holds auctions for cellphone products (such as phone cases and power banks) via Facebook Live. The three facilitators used to own a physical store, but closed it to transition to Facebook Live in March 2017.

LIVE SHOP — June 2017 saw Live Shop launch in Japan. Via the app, social media influencers can create live shows to sell clothing, accessories and cosmetics, with viewers able to shop, comment and participate in polls and lotteries during the broadcast. Live Shop generates revenue from the affiliate links that shoppers click on when watching broadcasts.

Didi Chuxing — May 2017 saw Didi Chuxing partner with local government to power smart traffic lights in real-time and control the flow of traffic using data from its drivers. In the pilot program (debuted in the city of Jinan), the China-based ride-sharing platform could predict traffic patterns and reduce congestion by approximately 11%.

Industrial Design Centre — In January 2017, India’s Industrial Design Centre created an internet-of-things network to connect stores in Dhavari, Mumbai (one of Asia’s largest slums). Multiple beacon devices are stationed around the shanty-towns, pushing notifications about the offers and products in nearby stores to potential customers in the area.

Siam Commercial Bank — September 2017 saw Thailand’s Siam Commercial Bank and the State Railway of Thailand launch a free mobile app for vendors and shoppers in Bangkok’s Chatuchak Market. Available in Thai, English, and Mandarin, the app allows vendors to manage stock levels and receive payments via PromptPay, while visitors can access shop locations and promotions.

JSCHive — Co-working space company EV Hive and the government-sponsored Jakarta Smart City program launched JSCHive: a shared office meant to encourage collaboration between startups and the city government, in Indonesia. The Smart City program initiatives aim to deliver useful information to Jakarta citizens, such as traffic data, often in real-time.

Hawa Badlo — Hawa Badlo is a free mobile app enabling residents of New Delhi to help improve air quality. Users can report incidents of pollution, such as burning leaves and garbage, or construction activities. April 2017 saw Hawa Badlo release a feature on Facebook Messenger, allowing users to send in their location and receive real-time reports of air pollution levels in their area.

Whim — Launching in Singapore in early 2018, Finland-based Whim allows travelers to access various transport services - including public transport, taxis, bikes and more - via a single smartphone application. Users can choose from a pay-as-you go or monthly plan options. According to Whim’s founders, the company hopes to simplify transport options and discourage private cars.

Ola & Microsoft — India-based ride-hailing platform Ola have partnered with Microsoft to expand its internet-connected vehicle platform, Ola Play, and introduce Ola’s systems to car manufacturers. The partnership will allow riders to access entertainment and use Skype for Business and Office 365 during car rides.

PunMuang App — Developed by the Active Bangkok Citizens project, PunMuang App maps Bangkok’s alleyways and shortcuts, often touted as the city’s best-kept commuting secret for those on two wheels. This helps commuters escape Bangkok’s traffic jams by encouraging people to forgo the car for bicycles or motorcycles. As of November 2017 it has been downloaded 5000 times.

Gojek — November 2017 saw Go-jek unveil a billboard on one of Jakarta’s busiest roads, detailing a long story, asking the reader to reimagine their day if there was no traffic. The story ends by teasing the reader with the fact that they could read the whole ad because they had been stuck at the same place, and they should’ve just taken a Gojek ride.

Shenzhen Traffic People — April 2017 saw Shenzen’s traffic police trial China’s first 'lane robot', which redirects cars based on real-time traffic conditions. The robotic guard can reverse the flow of a lane if more cars need to travel in a certain direction, or insert itself between lanes to change the flow. According to traffic police, the morning rush hour ended an hour earlier as a result.

JD.com — In May 2017, Chinese etail giant JD.com announced that blockchain would allow customers to trace frozen beef products back to their source, combating food safety concerns. JD.com customers in Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou can scan a QR code on their packet of frozen beef, and trace the product to a specific farm and cow, identified by a unique code.

Carbon Conservation & Dappbase — November 2017 saw Carbon Conservation partner with tech platform Dappbase to fight forest fires in Indonesia using blockchain. A smart contract (a set of rules used to verify the terms of the contract on the blockchain) will automatically distribute funding to villages when they successfully reduce incidences of fire, monitored via satellite imaging technology.

Chow Tai Fook — Chow Tai Fook launched its T-mark program in 2016 to help consumers trace their diamonds all the way from the mine. September 2017 saw the Hong Kong-based jeweler announce that it’s reviewing the blockchain technology to help enhance the traceability and ensure the authenticity of its diamonds.

Japan Gibier Promotion Association x Tech Bureau Corp — Japan has high standards for wild game meat. Japan Gibier Promotion Association aims to use blockchain technology to promote wildlife hunting and create a traceable supply chain for distribution of wild game meat. Rural communities in Japan suffer from wildlife overpopulation, but the new supply chain system can help transform that into an asset for local communities.

Coins.ph — Coins.ph leverages blockchain to help overseas workers (including those without bank accounts) send remittances to family members back home. As of September 2017, Coins.ph has attracted more than 1 million users and established a network of over 22,000 disbursement and collection locations throughout the Philippines.

A Transparent Company x Provenance — In May 2017, blockchain technology company Provenance partnered with designer Martine Jarlgaard on her collection to promote full transparency and traceability in the fashion industry. Via a QR-code, consumers can see the full story of each clothing item’s production and track the journey of its raw materials through the supply chains in China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh

Hong Kong Tourism Board — August 2017 saw Hong Kong Tourism Board launch a video campaign starring five shiba inu dogs as Old Town Central local residents. The dogs went around enjoying what the area has to offer, taking photos and videos along the way using tail-activated cameras. The campaign also included free walking tours for humans, introducing them to the area’s food, art, and heritage.

Harper Collins India — Designed to encourage responsible pet adoption, Harper Collins India introduced paid leave for employees with new pets in April 2017. ‘Pawternity Leave’ entitles employees to five working days’ paid leave if they have just adopted a cat, dog or other types of pets. Staff can also bring their pets to the office, where they are kept in a designated area for the day.

Thai Dog House & Soi Dog Foundation — May 2017 saw the Thai Dog House and the Soi Dog Foundation shelter partner to reduce dog shelter overpopulation and aid owners of deceased pets through the Immortal Adoption campaign in Thailand. After uploading a photo of a deceased pet, an algorithm sorts through a database to match owners with a shelter dog identical to the one they lost.

Freedom Cafe — Even in a market just newly embracing consumerism, people are paying to spend time with cats. November 2017 saw the opening of the Freedom Cafe in Sanchaung, Burma. Visitors to the country’s first cat café can select two-hour visiting slots, with visits costing around MMK 5,000 (USD 3.66) per person plus food and beverages.

Okawa Kagu — In November 2017, Okawa Kagu unveiled two miniature pieces, both designed for cats. Each piece was inspired by the full-size ‘human’ version available in the Japanese furniture maker’s main range, and was designed and manufactured by traditional craftsmen based in the Fukuoka prefecture.

UberPET — UberPET launched in Singapore in October 2017, allowing passengers to travel with their pets - namely birds, fish, dogs, cats, rabbits, turtles and hamsters. Singapore is the first city in Asia, as of October 2017, to introduce the service. All UberPET rides will cost passengers an additional SGD 2, and are priced at the same rate as UberX.