Straits Interactive has emerged as one of the three winners in Meta’s inaugural Llama Incubator Programme, a pioneering initiative in the Asia-Pacific region. The programme, launched in collaboration with the Singapore Government and e27, saw Straits Interactive outshine 25 other organisations in the start-up category. The accolade highlights the company’s leadership in integrating open-weight AI models with robust governance on its Capabara platform.
The Llama Incubator Programme invited start-ups, SMEs, and public-sector teams to develop AI solutions using Meta’s Llama models. Over six months, participants received mentorship and technical resources, with a focus on governance. From over 100 applicants, 40 organisations advanced to the incubation phase, culminating in three winners recognised for their innovative and safe AI solutions.
Straits Interactive’s CEO, Kevin Shepherdson, emphasised the company’s mission to make Generative AI accessible to non-technical professionals, ensuring safe and responsible use. The company developed a Tool Builder Wizard on Meta’s Llama Maverick model, enabling users to convert domain knowledge into AI applications. This innovation, coupled with the AI Lifecycle Optimiser, promotes transparency and accountability in AI development.
The integration of Llama models has significantly reduced the cost of running Generative AI applications on Capabara, enhancing data sovereignty and accuracy. Straits Interactive’s Reasoning-Aware AI technology further boosts model accuracy and transparency, fostering trust in AI systems.
This achievement builds on Straits Interactive’s reputation as a leader in responsible AI, following accolades such as the 2025 Singapore Business Review Technology Excellence Awards and recognition at the UK AI Pathfinder Award 2024.
