Antler Injects $7.4M Into SEA Startups in H1 2025, Doubling Down on AI

Amid a slowdown in early-stage venture capital across Southeast Asia, Singapore-based global VC firm Antler has invested US$7.4 million in startups across the region during the first half of 2025.

Antler noted that the funding spans major innovation hubs such as Vietnam, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Singapore, with a strong emphasis on startups harnessing artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver both technological advancements and commercial impact.

A large portion of Antler’s H1 2025 investment—US$2.8 million—was directed to seven AI startups through the newly launched AI Disrupt residency. This four-week, in-person programme in Singapore targets teams with a minimum viable product (MVP) that are already serving live customers with core AI technology, making Antler the world’s most active AI investor after 74 global AI deals in 2024.

AI Disrupt is structured to accelerate startups that have gained market traction, providing both technical and commercial scaling support. Each participating startup received US$400,000 in funding, in addition to more than US$650,000 in cloud computing, infrastructure, and AI-specific tooling credits to boost execution speed.

The seven startups funded under AI Disrupt include Iris, offering autonomous no-code agents for workflow automation; Nugen, enhancing reliability in specialized AI workflows; IndustrialMind.ai, optimising manufacturing operations; Lambdai Space, using AI-driven radar imaging for climate and insurance insights; Anamaya AI, streamlining corporate travel; AppSecAI, automating application security; and 5.Y (GLUCOSE), delivering personalised customer engagement in complex sectors.

Winnie Khoo, Partner at Antler, said the programme matches the rapid pace of AI product development with dedicated support. “AI startups are moving 10x faster than just 2 years ago, and AI Disrupt is purpose-built for founders with market-validated products to move and scale much faster.,” she said.

During the residency, startups also received mentoring on go-to-market strategies, scalability, and rapid expansion, while engaging in technical deep dives with ecosystem partners. This approach aims to equip teams with the knowledge and resources to accelerate growth efficiently.

Antler’s intensified focus on AI comes amid a challenging investment climate in Southeast Asia, where seed funding fell 68% year-over-year and overall early-stage investment declined by 53% in H1 2025. Longer fundraising timelines, stricter investor scrutiny, and fewer follow-on capital options are affecting many founders in the region.

Jussi Salovaara, Co-founder and Managing Partner Asia at Antler, said the firm remains selective while providing flexible capital. “The current funding landscape demands sharper execution from founders. We back teams that demonstrate compelling use cases and the ambition to scale globally, providing early-stage capital to accelerate growth,” he said. Applications are now open for the next AI Disrupt residency, starting 21 October 2025 in Singapore, continuing its focus on technical excellence and market expansion for AI-first startups.