Top 3 tech, startup and sustainability stories of the week, 3rd - 7th March, 2025

This week's stories are about tech, startup and sustainability, coming from USA, Korea and France

1-South Korea’s $34 billion fund to support tech

South Korea plans to establish a $34 billion policy fund to support companies in key technological industries such as semiconductors and automobiles amid rising global competition and protectionism, the government announced.

I read this story at Reuters News Agency and to bolster this initiative, the government introduced new policies aimed at attracting skilled professionals from around the world in cutting-edge industries.

"Competitiveness in advanced strategic industries has become central to national economic security, especially amid growing external uncertainties under the new U.S. administration," the government stated, describing the situation as a "war without gun smoke."

The Korea Development Bank, a state-run institution, will allocate 50 trillion won ($34.37 billion) over the next five years, offering low-interest loans and other financial support to companies in designated national strategic industries, according to the story.

In response to increasing global competition and supply chain disruptions, South Korea has identified 12 industries as "national strategic technologies," ensuring targeted financial assistance and protections. These industries include semiconductors, future mobility, rechargeable batteries, biopharmaceuticals, aerospace, and artificial intelligence.

Additionally, a financial support package created last year specifically for the semiconductor sector will now be integrated into this fund, as the story put it.

Separately, the government announced plans to offer "top-tier" visas and permanent residency to highly skilled foreign professionals with experience in global firms, making it easier for them to work in South Korea’s advanced industries.

2-Venus Williams invests in WeWard, a French startup of ?reward users for walking

Tennis legend and Grand Slam champion Venus Williams has become an investor and ambassador for WeWard, a French startup. WeWard is a free mobile app designed to reward users for walking. By tracking steps, the app allows users to earn points—called "Wards"—which can be redeemed for gift cards, discounts, or charitable donations. The platform aims to promote physical activity by turning daily movement into a rewarding experience.

I read this story at TNW and Williams has invested an undisclosed amount in WeWard and will represent the brand as an ambassador. In return, the company has pledged to donate $25,000 to her charity, CARE.

Her portfolio also includes the French social investing app Shares and Pelago, a British startup offering virtual clinics for substance abuse treatment.

Beyond physical incentives, WeWard offers virtual collectibles called "WeCards," which are scattered across mapped locations, similar to Pokémon Go. Users can collect these cards, compete with friends, join virtual leagues, and track their progress on leaderboards, earning medals based on their activity.

The concept has proven successful, with approximately 20 million users collecting around 6.5 million WeCards daily, according to the company.

The company was founded in 2019 by CEO Yves Benchimol, along with Nicolas Hardy and Tanguy de la Villegeorges. The startup has operated primarily through bootstrapping, aside from a few hundred thousand euros in seed funding raised in 2020. So far, WeWard claims to have paid out $20 million in cash rewards and donated $1 million to charity partners.

The company generates revenue through partnerships with retailers, advertising, and features like "Playtime," where users can earn extra rewards by engaging with third-party mobile games.

3-Microsoft’s renewable energy investment for disadvantaged communities

微软 has entered into an agreement with carbon solutions company Clearloop to develop up to 100 megawatts of renewable energy projects, aiming to bring clean power to underprivileged areas.

I read this at ESG Today and over the next three years, these projects will enhance access to renewable energy and promote economic growth in around 20 U.S. communities with high-carbon electricity grids, Clearloop stated. This initiative will also support Microsoft in achieving its carbon reduction targets.

The projects will generate solar power for communities in Arkansas and Louisiana, increasing energy diversity in both states and preventing over 5 million metric tons of carbon emissions over the next 40 years, according to Clearloop. Currently, solar energy comprises only 1.3% of Arkansas’s energy mix and 0.3% of Louisiana’s—both significantly below the national average of 4.0%, industry analysts report.

Clearloop focuses on helping organizations reduce carbon emissions and speed up the deployment of solar power in U.S. regions where economic and environmental improvements can have the greatest impact. In collaboration with environmental technology nonprofit WattTime, the Nashville-based company pioneered the use of emissions data to pinpoint grid locations where new solar installations can maximize decarbonization and promote equitable access to clean energy.

The first four solar projects under this agreement will break ground in the coming months and are expected to be operational by the end of the year. These projects will be among the first large-scale solar developments to connect to local distribution grids in Poinsett County, Cross County, and Desha County in Arkansas, as well as Bienville Parish in Louisiana.

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