Manulife announces winners of Innovating for Asia's Demographic Future Challenge.

Manulife announces winners of the Innovating for Asia's Demographic Future Challenge, a multiyear partnership to shape the future of longevity innovation. Ten ventures were selected from over 85 submissions for their transformative potential in supporting financial resilience, healthy aging, and lifelong fulfillment across Asia's rapidly evolving demographic landscape. Winners gain access to networking opportunities, strategic partnerships, and global visibility.

Manulife, in collaboration with UpLink, the World Economic Forum's early-stage innovation initiative, has announced the winners of the Innovating for Asia's Demographic Future Challenge. This is the second challenge in a three-part series aimed at shaping the future of longevity innovation. The initiative sought bold, scalable solutions to support financial resilience, healthy aging, and lifelong fulfillment across Asia's rapidly evolving demographic landscape.

From over 85 submissions, ten standout ventures were selected for their transformative potential. These winners will gain access to exclusive networking opportunities, strategic partnerships, and global visibility through the UpLink ecosystem. Three top innovators will receive a combined CAD $200,000 in prize funding to accelerate their impact.

The winners include Agewhale from Hong Kong, AqlCare from Abu Dhabi, DoctorTool from Jakarta, Happy60plus from Bengaluru, Infiheal from Pune, Kinexcs from Singapore, PINTAR's Berkala program from Singapore, Sav from Dubai, Xandar Kardian from Toronto, and YoungHappy from Bangkok. These ventures offer innovative solutions in areas such as home safety and care management, cognitive screenings, primary care digitization, holistic wellness programs, mental and sexual health support, AI-driven rehabilitation, lifelong learning, and autonomous finance platforms.

Manulife's Global Chief Sustainability Officer, Sarah Chapman, stated, "Manulife is proud to lead this initiative in partnership with UpLink, supporting innovative winners who are driving meaningful change across Asia to address the region's demographic transformation." By 2050, one in four people in Asia will be over the age of 60, highlighting the urgency of addressing these demographic shifts [1].

The challenge focused on three key areas: Multigenerational Financial Resilience, Equitable Healthy Aging, and Lifelong Fulfillment. John Dutton, Head of UpLink, noted, "Early-stage innovation is vital to turning the challenges that come with Asia's demographic shifts into meaningful opportunities for communities across the region" [1].

Manulife's multiyear partnership with UpLink is part of their global Impact Agenda, which aims to empower sustained health and well-being, drive inclusive economic opportunity, and accelerate a sustainable future. The third and final challenge in this series will launch in 2026 with a new thematic focus.

References:
[1] https://finance.yahoo.com/news/manulife-uplink-announce-winners-innovating-060000616.html
[2] https://blockworks.co/news/sora-ventures-bitcoin-treasury-asia
[3] https://finimize.com/content/cciam-future-energy-bets-big-on-electric-scooters-in-asia