Agora x 5Y Capital: "Supersonic Program" Startup Partnership Recruitment Now Open! | Exploring New Real-Time Interaction Scenarios

五源资本五源资本·July 16, 2021

Growing alongside founders in the real-time interactive space.

As cloud-native architectures, the metaverse, telepresence, and other emerging technologies take shape, entrepreneurs from every industry are piling into real-time interaction — using it to reshape how we connect with each other and the world around us.

As a pioneer and enabler of global real-time engagement cloud services, Agora's SDK already powers more than ten sectors, including social livestreaming, online education, gaming and esports, IoT, AR/VR, finance, insurance, healthcare, and enterprise collaboration. As one of Agora's early investors, 5Y Capital has been a driving force behind the company. Discovering more innovative companies and making the industry flourish is a shared goal for both Agora and 5Y Capital.

On the front of supporting founders, Agora has kept pushing forward. Last year, the Real-Time Internet Startup Challenge and workshop that Agora co-hosted with 5Y Capital drew strong reviews from entrepreneurs and investors alike, along with broad interest from the real-time interaction startup community.

This year, Agora is once again teaming up with 5Y Capital to launch a new accelerator program — Supersonic — and it's now open for startup fellows to apply!

Supersonic is designed to help real-time interaction startups accelerate their growth, jointly define and expand the real-time interaction category, and build a top-tier founder community in the space. Through the program, Agora will work with 5Y Capital and tap into the broader Agora ecosystem — including leading investment firms, multinational corporate venture arms, and cloud marketplace partners — to provide founders with entrepreneurship courses and cohort-based programming, free product packages, technical support, investment advisory, and other resources. Using scene-level innovation and long-term value assessment as its criteria, and leveraging interactive community events and startup competitions, Supersonic empowers developers to innovate and build at lower cost and higher efficiency.

This year's program will culminate in October at STARTUP DAY during RTE2021, the Real-Time Internet Conference, giving founders vertical industry exposure and face time with top-tier VCs.

First, let's look back at highlights from the 2020 Real-Time Internet Startup Challenge Workshop and RTE2020 Conference!

RTE2020 Real-Time Internet Startup Challenge Workshop — experts in conversation with participating teams

RTE2020 Real-Time Internet Startup Challenge Workshop

RTE2020 Conference Real-Time Internet Startup Challenge

RTE2020 Conference Real-Time Internet Startup Challenge Demo Room

Supersonic will run on a regular cadence, with each cycle lasting three months. This recruitment round is the Fall 2021 inaugural cohort.

July 2021

Application & Selection

Apply online through the Supersonic page on Agora's website or by emailing startup@agora.io with your company overview and product introduction (demo/app/Mini Program) to join Supersonic.

Agora will conduct offline conversations with applicant teams, request supplementary information, and carry out interviews and cross-evaluation. Ultimately, 20 selected startup teams will sign agreements and receive free real-time audio and video calling resources.

August 7, 2021 – mid-October

Cohort Programming

The 20 startup founders and core teams join the startup fellows cohort for shared growth, participating in 6–8 offline and online events with corresponding resources and opportunities.

The 6–8 sessions include but are not limited to: leading entrepreneurship and management courses, face time with Agora's founding team, product/technical peer sessions, VC office hours, team-building activities, and more (course and mentor details to be released progressively).

October 23, 2021

RTE STARTUP DAY Pitch

Eight startups selected during the cohort program will pitch live at RTE STARTUP DAY, getting direct face time with VCs.

How to Apply

Subject line: "[Supersonic] Project Name + Company Name"

Body: Company overview, product introduction (demo/app/Mini Program), and other relevant materials; contact person and contact details

  • Application deadline: August 6, 2021
  • Questions: startup@agora.io, please mark subject line with "[Inquiry]"

  • Agora Startup Fellows Welcome Package (all 20 teams entering the accelerator receive)

    • Supersonic Special Package

      • 1 million free minutes of real-time audio and video calling;

      • Free access to 50+ partner offerings;

      • Close engagement opportunities with Agora experts and the startup community;

      • Agora startup ecosystem's exclusive pathway system — referrals to top accelerator programs, fast-track green channel opportunities to Google, Microsoft, and AWS startup programs.

    • Investment opportunities from Agora CVC and other funds; at least one one-on-one VC advisory session per team;

    • Pitch opportunity at the 20-to-8 RTE STARTUP DAY;

    • Expo booth exposure at the RTE Conference;

    • Lifetime Agora Startup Fellows alumni benefits, including ongoing technical consultation and support, community perks and events, talent development, referral rewards, and industry updates.

  • RTE STARTUP DAY Pitch (final 8 selected teams)

    • Compete for multiple awards established by Agora, 5Y Capital, GGV, Chaoyang District, and Yangpu District; top three teams have the opportunity to receive million-dollar investments from 5Y Capital;

    • Direct access to 8+ top-tier VCs, government incubation and landing opportunities, and more;

    • Full-channel exposure at the RTE Conference;

    • Promotion opportunities on Agora Marketplace 3.0.

*Some government accelerator benefits subject to policy eligibility requirements

  • S. Startup teams exploring innovative technologies and applications for new scenarios in real-time interaction;
  • P. Products at an early stage requiring further business model validation, or in need of real-time audio/video technology and product support for iterative refinement;
  • E. Relatively well-formed early-stage startup teams, or new scenario/product teams incubated within large enterprises;
  • R. Teams that believe in real-time interaction and demonstrate high-growth potential; that value long-term thinking and recognize the enduring value of real-time interaction scenarios;
  • T. Teams with a culture of openness, equality, continuous learning, and relentless innovation — and the entrepreneurial spirit to match.

Q: Does Supersonic charge any fees?

A: Supersonic charges no fees and takes no equity. There are no hard business requirements. Teams only need to cover their own travel and personal expenses for offline events. We provide free venue space, meals, refreshments, and all program benefits. Some events are open not just to founders but also to core team members in product, technology, and other functions.

Q: What is the format of the startup fellows cohort activities?

A: Kickoff day and select courses and cohort activities will be held offline. One-on-one startup coaching will be arranged flexibly online or offline based on mentor and team schedules. Some partner-hosted support courses may take place at partner exhibition spaces.

Q: How is Supersonic different from the Startup Support Program? Can teams that participated in the Startup Support Program also apply to Supersonic?

A: The Startup Support Program was the pre-upgrade version of Supersonic. Teams that previously applied to the Startup Support Program may apply to Supersonic during this open application window.

Q: How will I know the results after submitting my application?

A: We will notify selected teams as soon as the cohort list is finalized. Please watch your inbox for admission results. After confirmation, we will publish the cohort list publicly.

Co-hosted by:

Fund Partners:

Government Partners:

How to Participate

Subject line: "[Supersonic] Project Name + Company Name"

Body: Company overview, product introduction (demo/app/Mini Program), and other relevant materials; contact person and contact details

  • Application deadline: August 6, 2021
  • Questions: startup@agora.io, please mark subject line with "[Inquiry]"

Agora and 5Y Capital hope to work alongside high-potential startups to jointly define and expand the category, creating value together in new real-time interaction scenarios. We look forward to having you with us!

5Y Capital (formerly Morningside Venture Capital) currently manages approximately $5 billion across USD and RMB dual-currency funds. We believe that if the crazy you in others' eyes starts to be believed in, the world becomes a better place.

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