Thomas Daniels
Aptos Foundation has announced a strategic partnership with Ignition AI Accelerator, an Nvidia-backed initiative designed to accelerate the growth of artificial intelligence (AI) startups across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region. This collaboration is set to leverage Aptos’ blockchain technology and drive innovation within the APAC AI landscape.
The partnership unites the resources of the Aptos Foundation and the AI Ignition Accelerator, which is supported by NVIDIA, Tribe, and Digital Industry Singapore. Together, they aim to push the next phase of AI development, focusing on startups in APAC.
Focus on APAC AI Startups
In an announcement shared on X (formerly Twitter), the Aptos Foundation revealed that the initiative would provide both blockchain infrastructure and financial backing for startups accepted into the accelerator program. The Foundation also plans to harness Microsoft’s OpenAI Service to eliminate barriers to AI adoption, enabling smoother integration for entrepreneurs in the ecosystem.
Ng Yi Ming, director at Ignition AI Accelerator, highlighted the broader potential of the collaboration. He emphasized that it would not only drive AI growth but also foster global synergies by merging resources and expertise to support emerging talent in the field.
Expanding Aptos’ Blockchain Ecosystem
The Aptos blockchain ecosystem continues to grow, supporting various sectors, including decentralized finance (DeFi), gaming, stablecoins, and AI-focused projects. The platform also enables innovations such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs), decentralized physical infrastructure networks, and blockchain bridges.
In June 2024, Aptos entered into a long-term collaboration with NBCUniversal, integrating its blockchain for gaming and fan engagement purposes. This followed an initial partnership between the two companies in September 2023. Additionally, the blockchain platform has been active in other ventures, including a July 2024 partnership with event ticketing platform KYD Labs and a collaboration with streaming service myco to introduce Web3-based entertainment.
Ignition AI Accelerator: A Boost for APAC Startups
Ignition AI Accelerator, launched in May 2024, is a Singapore-based initiative backed by government accelerator Tribe and chipmaker NVIDIA. The program is designed to foster AI innovation by offering resources, mentorship, and funding to startups in APAC. The recent partnership with Aptos further strengthens its position, combining blockchain technology with cutting-edge AI to help entrepreneurs thrive.
