Malaysia’s pension fund, Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (Diperbadankan) (KWAP), has unveiled its initial investments under the Dana Perintis strategy, with $21 million. The investments include two direct investments in local startups and commitments to two venture capital funds. KWAP has announced its support for two startups, Bateriku (M) Sdn Bhd and Lapasar Sdn Bhd, as part […]

Under the leadership of Economy Minister Rafizi Ramli, the Malaysian government will be hosting a startup convention soon. The primary objective of this initiative is to help local technopreneurs to grow within the country.  Rafizi emphasized that the development of startup companies holds great importance in speeding up Malaysia’s economic transition toward technology and digital-based […]

Cradle, an early-stage fund under Malaysia’s Ministry of Finance, has formed a partnership with Bursa Malaysia, the nation’s stock exchange, with the primary objective of enhancing local startup listings. This collaboration brings together the financial expertise of Bursa Malaysia and the startup support initiatives of Cradle Fund. The primary focus is to raise awareness among […]

Venture capital firm 500 Global has successfully closed its 500 Southeast Asia III fund, amassing $143 million in capital. It is the firm’s largest early-stage fund dedicated to Southeast Asia. It serves as its primary investment vehicle for startups throughout the region’s growth journey, from pre-seed stages to the cusp of initial public offerings (IPOs). […]

Singapore’s Hydroleap, a green wastewater technology company, has raised $4.4 million in its Series A funding round. The funding was led by Real Tech Holdings, a prominent Japanese Venture Capital firm, with the participation of corporate investors, including Mitsubishi Electric, Seeds Capital, Wavemaker Partners, New Keynes Investments, and the State Government of Victoria in Australia. […]

Bain & Company, a prominent global management consulting firm, has revealed its plans to acquire the Asia-Pacific division of Rainmaking, a renowned venture-building and startup development studio. The acquisition will support businesses throughout the region in enhancing their innovation capabilities and successfully launching and expanding new ventures. The specific terms and details of the deal […]

Singapore-based biofuel startup Apeiron Bioenergy has successfully raised S$50 million (US$37 million) through the issuance of a five-year senior unsecured green bond. This funding marks the first-ever bioenergy-focused SGD bond offering in Asia and has attracted substantial interest from institutional and strategic investors, leading to oversubscription. The recent funding round of Apeiron Bioenergy was led […]

Singapore-based online used car platform, Carro, has announced its strategic investment in Driven Communications, a digital content agency based in Malaysia. The financial details of the investment have not been disclosed, but the deal is expected to be finalized within two months.  Carro has emphasized that the investment will not compromise the editorial independence of […]

Solarvest Holdings Berhad, a prominent distributor of clean energy in Malaysia, has officially announced the selection of five grant recipients for the Seed Grant Round of Solarvest Innovation Lab 2023 (SIL 2023). The selected winners, Irradisol, Flumen, DespaQ, Hydrozon, and Hexacycle, were chosen from 30 applicants who have participated in the program since its launch […]

Rachel Lau is a visionary investor backing sustainable and resilient businesses across South East Asia. She sets herself apart by her out-of-the-box thinking. Ms. Lau believes in hard work and conducting detailed due diligence on a business before investing. Rachel Lau is the Managing Partner at RHL Ventures which is a Southeast Asian private investment […]