Singapore’s Vertex Venture Holdings Raises Over $900M in First Round

Singapore’s state-owned investment firm, Temasek Holdings, has announced that its venture capital arm, Vertex Venture Holdings, has successfully raised more than $900 million in the initial round of fundraising for its latest fund, Nikkei Asia reported.  

The company, headquartered in Singapore, manages a total of six funds, including five early-stage funds that target investments in Southeast Asia and India, China, the United States, Israel, and healthcare companies. Additionally, Vertex has a growth-stage fund to support companies in later stages of development.

The latest fund follows the footsteps of its predecessor, which raised $730 million in 2019. 

In June this year, the company concluded its first round. Vertex CEO Chua Kee Lock has stated that the fund’s overall $1 billion target is expected to be achieved in the coming months.

Vertex Venture Holdings, focuses on investing in promising startups and innovative technologies across various sectors. The venture capital arm of Temasek Holdings, operates a global network of more specialized funds that focus on specific regions or industries. 

According to Vertex CEO Chua Kee Lock, the company has been consistently investing in approximately twelve startups per year in the region and intends to maintain this steady investment pace. 

In the recent fundraising round, Vertex Venture Holdings secured a total of $80 million from four Japanese investors. Marubeni, the Development Bank of Japan, Risa Partners (an investment firm owned by NEC Capital Solutions), and an institutional investor all contributed to the funding. 

Since entering the Japanese market in 2020, Vertex Venture Holdings has made notable strides in expanding its presence. Last year, the company’s growth capital fund made its first investment in Alt, an AI startup based in Tokyo. 

This marked Vertex’s entry into the Japanese market and laid the foundation for future opportunities in the country. Vertex CEO Chua Kee Lock expressed optimism about the prospects in Japan, highlighting the potential for further investments and collaborations. Language remains a challenge, but Vertex is actively exploring Japanese opportunities and expects to expand its portfolio in the country.

The involvement of Japanese investors in Vertex’s fund opens up new possibilities for collaboration. According to industry experts, by connecting with Vertex’s portfolio companies, Japanese investors have the opportunity to forge strategic partnerships in core business areas, creating synergies and fostering growth. 

This collaboration not only benefits the investors but also presents additional avenues for the growth and development of Vertex’s portfolio companies in the Japanese market.