Singapore-based Tech Storm aims to bring digital content about innovation to an Asia-wide audience.
Debbie Lee, CEO of Tech Storm, started the tech media platform about 4 years ago. (Image credit: Tech Storm)
By Linda Lim
Tech Storm is on a mission to deliver well-crafted digital content about the tech world by partnering with leading content providers and delivering it through multiple platforms.
The Singapore-based media company showcases made-in-Asia entrepreneurs and innovations to audiences across 25 regional markets. Some of its shows include Next Billion Maker, Discover IT First and Storm Bytes.
Tech Storm CEO Debbie Lee saw a business opportunity in technology entrepreneurship while she was in the midst of setting up an education technology start-up four years ago. Despite Asia’s vibrant tech scene, she noticed a lack of consumer media outlets for entrepreneurs and inventors to share their stories.
Debbie shared, “What I saw was a fragmented media landscape, with little to no focus on made-in-Asia tech entrepreneurs and icons, or a platform for storytelling. That’s when we decided to come in.”
She explained that Tech Storm is targeted at "tech-loving fans in Asia who are interested in cutting edge innovations, and also interested in starting a business."
From the get-go, Tech Storm has positioned itself as a regional media destination. The firm's content team has developed a strategy to ramp up its asset bank through buying international television series and formats, and collaborating to create or co-produce high-quality intellectual property. Debbie revealed that this approach of “buying, producing and syndicating” will give the team the flexibility and agility to deploy assets quickly.
Currently, its in-house content team produces several hundred hours of technology-enabled content, which are shot on green screen and integrated with virtual reality (VR) design during post-production.
Attracting Partners
Tech Storm is banking on partnerships with content providers and media platforms to help achieve its goals. The firm has inked deals with a host of content sources to ensure it showcases leading trends in the innovation space. It has also partnered with media players like Singapore Press Holdings, which syndicates and distributes Tech Storm content on their platforms.
"We have tied up with partners like MIT to get access to innovation at its source," said Debbie. MIT Technology Review accredited Tech Storm in 2015 as one of its media companies and partner for Asian innovation events, such as EmTech Asia, and provides the company access to its content.
Unsurprisingly for a digital media company, Tech Storm's content is available on multiple devices, including PCs, mobile phones and tablets.
Open Sesame
Its most recent partnership is with e-commerce player Aladdin Street, a move that could open up new business opportunities for Tech Storm. “With our content commerce partnership with one of the region’s premium e-marketplace, Aladdin Street, we’re confident that our video feeds will be made available in more than three million digital homes in Asia in the coming months,” said Debbie.
By the end of the year, Aladdin users will be able to view products – from robots to drones – curated by Tech Storm on the e-commerce website.
“This partnership is an example of our unique approach to combining content and commerce, and our commitment to collaborate with other companies that have a strategic interest in developing and expanding the Asian media influence and footprint,” said Debbie. Going forward, Tech Storm plans to collaborate with VR content creators to produce and test new VR experiences and stories with Tech Storm’s regional customer base. A champion for Asian entrepreneurs and innovations, Debbie said, “We want to become something like an evangelist for them in the region.” She added, “We also want to bring inspiring content to the average man on the street and help him find delight in these stories.”
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