Headline Asia Closes $145M Fund V to Back Cross-Border Startups in Asia-Pacific

Headline Asia has completed the final close of its fifth and largest fund, securing US$145 million for Fund V. While global venture capital faces a downturn, the firm continues to focus on supporting startups across the Asia-Pacific, especially in areas such as artificial intelligence, fintech, e-commerce, logistics, and IP-related technologies.

The fund’s close comes amid a tough macro environment marked by high interest rates and cautious investor sentiment. Headline Asia’s partner, Akio Tanaka, described it as a “cyclical winter” for venture capital, yet emphasized that Asia continues to lead in digital innovation. 

Headline Asia Fund V has already backed 17 startups, targeting seed to Series A stages with investments between US$1 million and US$5 million. Early recipients include Newmo, a Japan-based ride-hailing platform; Jenfi, a Singaporean fintech offering revenue-based financing; and Pi-xcels, which enables digital receipts through NFC technology across Japan and Southeast Asia.

The fund is designed to support startups focused on digital transformation and regional expansion, particularly in Japan, Taiwan, and Southeast Asia, with select investments in South Korea. Headline Asia’s investment thesis centers on emerging technologies in AI, e-commerce, logistics, fintech, and intellectual property—sectors where the firm sees long-term potential for global scale.

Headline’s leadership believes that early-stage startups still offer strong return potential while later-stage investments have seen valuation pressure. Partner Akio Tanaka emphasized the growing appetite among founders to go beyond local markets, noting a shift in Japan’s startup landscape where companies are increasingly aiming for global expansion rather than early IPOs.

With active teams in Singapore, Taipei, and Tokyo, Headline Asia offers a blend of regional insight and global connectivity. As a member of the broader Headline VC network—managing more than US$4 billion worldwide—the firm supports its portfolio with cross-border expertise and hands-on operational guidance, helping founders grow from early stage to successful exit.

Headline Asia belongs to the global Headline network, which operates regional offices across Europe, Latin America, and the U.S. and manages approximately US$4 billion in assets. Since its launch in 2008, Headline Asia has backed more than 100 startups and now manages around US$420 million across five funds, supported by a 10-member investment team spread across Singapore, Taipei, and Tokyo.

The launch of Headline Asia Fund V follows a wave of significant Asia-focused VC fundraises, including Antlers’ $72 million Southeast Asia fund, MindWorks Capital’s $220 million Pan-Asia fund, and Indonesia’s Intudo raising $125 million for investments in sectors like natural resources and renewable energy. For startups targeting regional or global growth, Fund V offers a strong partner combining local expertise with global reach, demonstrating readiness to back emerging leaders in Asia’s fastest-growing industries.