HP launches Garage 2.0 to support AI startups

Launched in conjunction with HP’s 55th anniversary in Singapore, Garage 2.0 will power next-gen AI innovation and support startups in scaling their impact globally.

Garage 2.0 is HP’s first kind of initiative in the world to accelerate startup growth and spearhead AI breakthroughs. Modeled on the original HP Garage in Palo Alto, Garage 2.0, which was launched in Singapore in conjunction with the vendor’s 55th anniversary in the country, aims to empower AI startups to turn ideas into relevant and impactful solutions. This initiative is also part of HP’s long-term commitment and contribution to Singapore as a hub for innovation and talent.

According to Koh Kong Meng, Managing Director for Singapore and Southeast Asia, HP Inc, the vendors 55th anniversary in Singapore is not just about celebrating HP’s past but also reaffirming the future.

“HP has long been part of Singapore’s innovation journey, and with Garage 2.0 we are taking a bold step forward to accelerate AI breakthroughs and nurture the technologies that will shape the future of work. This is our way of building on our legacy here while continuing to collaborate with Singapore as a strategic partner, supporting the nation as it innovates and adapts to the ever-evolving technology landscape,” Koh said.

Looking back at HP’s history in Singapore, the vendor first established its manufacturing site in 1970 and grown its presence over the decade to become a strategic innovation hub for the region. Today, HP has strong capabilities in R&D across print, personal systems, and smart manufacturing applications in Singapore. The vendor has also delivered numerous world-firsts out of Singapore, including the launch of the Smart Manufacturing Applications and Research Center (SMARC), while nurturing generations of innovators, underscoring Singapore’s role as a launchpad for global innovation.

Ten startups have been selected to be part of the initial cohort of Garage 2.0. Each of these startups pioneer next generation solutions across industries with an emphasis on AI-driven applications. This is aligned with current industry innovation priorities in AI, sustainability, and next-generation technology as industries and businesses in Asia turn to new technologies to digitalize their operations and for a competitive edge.

Startups in the inaugural HP Garage 2.0 cohort includeWubble.ai, the world’s first ethical B2B AI music platform, enabling businesses to create customized, royalty-free music in seconds at a fraction of the cost. AdaptiveX, a voice-first AI company that delivers enterprise-ready conversational AI solutions tailored to each organization’s workflows is also chosen to be part of the first 10 startups.

Others include Sprouts, an AI native “Generative Demand Platform” that boosts B2B pipeline conversion with real-time account intelligence and AI-driven workflows, Addlly, an agentic GenAI platform that optimizes brand content for visibility in AI search engines like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity as well as Jan.ai, an open-source superintelligence platform that lets anyone run powerful AI locally on everyday devices, with over 4 million downloads worldwide.

ELGO AI, Techpay, Pints Ai, byteEdge and AIPath, which is the world’s first AI-native Strategy CRM, transforming product-market fit into an executable, data-driven system for teams and VCs complete the ten.

All ten startups will leverage HP’s engineering expertise, business insights, and go-to-market support, enabling them to scale their impact globally. The startups will have access to collaborative workspaces located within HP’s Singapore campus as well. This will enable them to test, refine, and scale their innovations. Beyond physical space, the platform offers direct access to HP’s experts across business and technology functions.

Antler, a global early-stage venture capital firm, as well as a network of ecosystem partners have partnered with HP to co-develop Garage 2.0. As part of the collaboration, Antler will establish a presence within HP’s Singapore campus, creating a dynamic hub for innovation and collaboration. Through this partnership, startups will gain access to Antler’s extensive ecosystem for ongoing capital support, access to a global network of investors and hands-on mentorship from experienced operators.

Supported by the Economic Development Board (EDB) of Singapore, the HP Garage 2.0 program will also see collaboration with the broader tech and business ecosystem, consisting leading tech firms NVIDIA, Intel, AMD and Qualcomm as well as government agencies including Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Enterprise Singapore and SGInnovate. The Generative Beings, a growing network for AI founders, builders and experts across Asia will also lend experts to drive innovation and provide the cohort with expert insights.