Antler Singapore Reworks Founder Program, Raises Early Bet to $400,000

Shorter residencies, bigger first cheques signal tougher standards for global-minded founders

Antler Singapore has overhauled its founder residency and investment structure, offering earlier and larger capital commitments while tightening expectations around execution and readiness. Under the revised model, founders can now access up to US$400,000 from inception, starting with a US$150,000 net first cheque, as Antler sharpens its focus on software startups targeting global markets.

The changes mark a shift in how one of the world’s most active early-stage investors is positioning itself in Southeast Asia, as competition for high-quality founders intensifies and timelines from idea to traction continue to shorten.

A shorter residency, higher bar

At the centre of the revamp is a redesigned six-week, in-person residency in Singapore, replacing longer and more exploratory programs of the past. Antler says the new format is built for founders who already have a defined problem, an early MVP, and the ability to move quickly.

“Our ambition is to continue backing outlier founders with global ambition who are committed to building category leaders,” said Jussi Salovaara, co-founder and managing partner at Antler Asia. “We’re doubling down, but we’re also raising the bar—seeking founders with clear intent and exceptional execution.”

Rather than classroom-style programming, the residency emphasises hands-on work with partners, early customer engagement, and preparation for the next funding round.

How the new investment structure works

Antler’s updated capital model reflects a growing push among early-stage investors to deploy more capital earlier, while maintaining discipline around ownership and follow-on support.

Under the new structure, founders may receive:

• US$150,000 net as the initial investment
• US$100,000 for 10% equity via SAFE
• US$50,000 through an uncapped SAFE with a Most Favoured Nation (MFN) clause
• Up to US$250,000 in matching capital tied to future institutional funding

In total, founders can access up to US$400,000 from inception, with additional capital available later through Antler Elevate, the firm’s growth-stage fund, which can invest up to US$25 million at Series A and beyond.

Why Antler is changing course

Since launching in Singapore in 2018, Antler has backed more than 1,600 startups globally, including companies such as Airalo and Lovable. That scale has given the firm visibility into what works—and what doesn’t—at the earliest stages.

The firm says the revamped residency reflects lessons learned from years of founder outcomes: teams that arrive with momentum tend to extract far more value than those still searching for direction. As a result, Antler is increasingly selective about who it accepts into the program.

“Six weeks is enough time to build meaningful momentum if you come prepared,” said Rufus Sorsa, associate partner at Antler Singapore. “We focus on tangible outcomes: go-to-market traction, product progress, and the foundations for your next round.”

Global networks, fewer guardrails

Founders in the residency will continue to receive access to Antler’s global platform, including advisors, operators, and peers across more than 25 cities. The program also includes technical credits and tools from partners such as OpenAI, AWS, and NVIDIA, aimed at speeding up product development—particularly for AI-focused startups.

For companies that gain early traction, Antler Embark provides post-investment support for US market entry, reflecting growing interest among Southeast Asian startups in expanding westward earlier in their lifecycle.

Who the new program is really for

Antler is explicit that the revamped residency is not for first-time idea exploration. The program targets founders who are already building, testing assumptions, and refining products—even if those products are still early.

Applicants are expected to articulate the problem they are solving, identify a clear customer profile, and demonstrate progress or learnings to date. Teams without momentum may find the shorter timeline unforgiving

Faster capital, tougher filters

Antler Singapore’s changes highlight a broader shift in the early-stage ecosystem: more capital is available earlier, but only for founders who show speed, clarity, and ambition from day one. As markets become more crowded and investor attention more selective, programs like Antler’s are evolving from founder discovery platforms into execution accelerators.

For founders, the message is clear—less time to experiment, more pressure to deliver. For the ecosystem, Antler’s move suggests that early-stage investing in Southeast Asia is entering a more disciplined, outcome-driven phase.

Quick Takeaways

• Antler Singapore has revamped its founder residency, shortening it to six weeks and raising early capital access to up to US$400,000.
• The new structure targets founders who already have a clear problem, early MVP, and execution momentum.
• Antler is deploying more capital earlier while tightening selection standards and expectations around speed and traction.
• The program emphasises hands-on partner support, early customer validation, and readiness for the next funding round.
• The move reflects a broader shift in Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem toward faster building cycles and more outcome-driven early-stage investing.