Top 15 VCs for Early-Stage Startups in Asia in 2025
The venture capital landscape in Asia is rapidly evolving, with a plethora of investors eager to support early-stage startups across various sectors. For budding entrepreneurs looking for funding and guidance in 2025, the following list highlights the Top 15 VCs for Early-Stage Startups in Asia, along with their detailed profiles and insights.
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1. East Ventures
Headquarters: Indonesia (with a strong presence in Singapore)
Focus: Multi-stage investments (Seed to Growth), especially in Indonesia.
Portfolio: Over 200 companies in Southeast Asia including Tokopedia, Traveloka, and Xendit.
Data Points:
- Consistently ranked among the top-performing global VC funds (Preqin).
- Named the most active investor in Southeast Asia and Indonesia (Preqin).
- Early supporter of the Indonesian startup ecosystem.
- First investor in several Indonesian unicorns.
- Assisted over 200 startups across Southeast Asia.
- Learn more about East Ventures
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2. 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups)
Headquarters: Silicon Valley (with a strong presence in Southeast Asia)
Focus: Early-stage tech startups across various sectors.
Portfolio: Includes Grab, Bukalapak, and Carousell.
Data Points:
- A major player in the early-stage VC scene in Southeast Asia.
- Renowned for its comprehensive accelerator programs.
- Invested in over 200 startups in the SEA region.
- Key contributor to the rise of multiple unicorns in the region.
- Maintains a diverse portfolio across many tech sectors.
- Explore 500 Global
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3. Jungle Ventures
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Early to growth-stage startups in Asia.
Portfolio: Includes Kredivo, Livspace, and RedDoorz.
Data Points:
- Known for strategic investments in scalable startups.
- Focuses on seed to Series A investments.
- Strong presence across Southeast Asia with high rates of return.
- Has backed various startups that have achieved regional success.
- Discover Jungle Ventures
4. Insignia Venture Partners
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Early-stage technology startups in fintech, consumer, and marketplaces.
Portfolio: Carro, Shipper, Payfazz, and GoTo Group.
Data Points:
- Invested in over 70 emerging tech startups in SEA since 2017.
- Employs a hands-on approach to assist startups in scaling.
- Primarily focuses on the Indonesian market with a robust portfolio.
- Founded by a former Sequoia Capital partner, leveraging strong networks.
- Learn more about Insignia Venture Partners
5. Golden Gate Ventures
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Early-stage VC firm making seed to Series A investments.
Portfolio: Carousell, Ruma, and Alodokter.
Data Points:
- Invested in over 80 companies within Asia.
- Has launched four funds, accumulating $250 million in assets under management.
- Actively invests in several key nations including Singapore, Indonesia, and the Philippines.
- Aims to empower technology and innovation within Southeast Asia.
- Explore Golden Gate Ventures
6. Wavemaker Partners
Headquarters: Los Angeles and Singapore
Focus: Early-stage investments in enterprise, deep tech, and sustainability sectors.
Portfolio: Backed over 170 startups in the region, primarily in enterprise and deep tech.
Data Points:
- One of Southeast Asia's most active early-stage investors.
- Manages over US$ 300 million across four funds.
- Recorded over ten exits with a total enterprise value exceeding US$ 700 million.
- Closed its fourth fund at US$ 136 million, emphasizing tech and sustainability.
- Learn more about Wavemaker Partners
7. Openspace Ventures
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Multi-stage investment in Southeast Asian B2C and B2B sectors.
Portfolio: Invested in more than 30 startups spanning consumer, health, finance, agritech, and SaaS sectors.
Data Points:
- Focuses on Series A or B investments in disruptive tech firms.
- Provides support especially for founders in early VC stages.
- Boasts a diverse portfolio across numerous sectors.
- Discover Openspace Ventures
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8. Gobi Partners
Headquarters: Hong Kong & Malaysia
Focus: Pan-Asian venture capital firm targeting early-stage startups.
Portfolio: Includes Carsome, Orami, and TechStorm.
Data Points:
- Targets underrepresented markets and sectors throughout Asia.
- Backed a diverse array of 380 startups, enhancing growth opportunities.
- Holds a strong focus on early-stage innovations in Southeast Asia.
- Learn more about Gobi Partners
9. Monk's Hill Ventures
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Southeast Asia-focused VC firm investing in post-seed stage startups.
Data Points:
- Invests exclusively in post-seed stage startups.
- Primarily active in the Southeast Asia region.
- Explore Monk's Hill Ventures
10. Global Founders Capital
Headquarters: Singapore and Jakarta
Focus: Seed and growth stage investments across various sectors.
Portfolio: Notable companies include Canva, LinkedIn, and Revolut.
Data Points:
- Focuses on regions with pro-entrepreneur government policies.
- Investment themes include AI, Big Data, and financial technology.
- Well-known for its support of successful startups on a global scale.
- Learn more about Global Founders Capital
11. Sequoia Capital India (Surge)
Headquarters: India
Focus: Seed to Series A investments across multiple sectors.
Portfolio: Gojek, Zilingo, and One Championship.
Data Points:
- Operates an accelerator program (Surge) to aid early-stage startups.
- Strong focus on multiple sectors, emphasizing growth in India and SEA.
- Discover Sequoia Capital India
12. Alpha JWC Ventures
Headquarters: Indonesia
Focus: Seed to Series A investments emphasizing fintech and consumer sectors.
Portfolio: Features startups like Kopi Kenangan and Ajaib.
Data Points:
- Specializes in the fintech and consumer sectors for early investments.
- Recognized as one of Southeast Asia's top venture capital firms.
- Learn more about Alpha JWC Ventures
13. Lightspeed Venture Partners
Headquarters: Menlo Park, California (with offices in Singapore, India, China, and Israel)
Focus: Multi-stage VC investing in various sectors including consumer and cleantech.
Data Points:
- Operates as a global multi-stage venture capital firm.
- Implements a hands-on approach in collaborating closely with entrepreneurs.
- Its global investment strategy spans numerous industries.
- Explore Lightspeed Venture Partners
14. Vertex Ventures
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Global technology and healthcare venture fund network affiliated with Temasek Holdings.
Data Points:
- Leads the strategy for Southeast Asia and India within the network.
- Prioritizes healthcare and technology investments across Asia.
- Learn more about Vertex Ventures
15. Qualgro VC
Headquarters: Singapore
Focus: Southeast Asia and ANZ focused VC firm specializing in data, SaaS, and AI startups.
Data Points:
- Focuses on companies with international scalability in high-growth sectors.
- Invests primarily in growth-stage firms ready for global market expansion.
- Discover Qualgro VC
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FAQ
Q: Who are some of the top VCs for early-stage startups in Asia for 2025?
A: Some top VCs include East Ventures, 500 Global, and Jungle Ventures, noted for their significant investment activities in Southeast Asia. Learn more about the top VCs.
Q: What is the investment focus of East Ventures?
A: East Ventures focuses on multi-stage investments, especially in Indonesia, and has backed over 200 companies in the region. Discover East Ventures.
Q: What notable companies has 500 Global invested in?
A: 500 Global, formerly known as 500 Startups, has invested in prominent companies such as Grab, Bukalapak, and Carousell. Find out about 500 Global.
Q: Which sectors does Jungle Ventures focus on for investments?
A: Jungle Ventures invests in early to growth-stage startups across various sectors in Asia, with a strong emphasis on scalable startups. Learn more about Jungle Ventures.
Q: How many startups has Insignia Venture Partners invested in?
A: Insignia Venture Partners has invested in over 70 emerging tech startups in Southeast Asia since its founding in 2017. Explore Insignia Venture Partners.
Q: What is the asset under management (AUM) of Wavemaker Partners?
A: Wavemaker Partners manages over US$ 300 million in AUM across four funds, primarily focusing on early-stage investments in deep tech and sustainability. Discover Wavemaker Partners.
Q: What approach does Openspace Ventures take towards investments?
A: Openspace Ventures focuses on both B2C and B2B sectors, investing in Series A or B startups and supporting founders during the early VC stages. Learn more about Openspace Ventures.
Q: Which markets does Gobi Partners primarily focus on?
A: Gobi Partners is a pan-Asian venture capital firm with a significant focus on early-stage startups in underrepresented markets and sectors. Discover Gobi Partners.
Q: What is the primary focus of Global Founders Capital?
A: Global Founders Capital primarily invests in seed and growth rounds, targeting sectors like AI, fintech, and commerce, with a history of backing successful startups. Explore Global Founders Capital.
Q: What notable trend is expected in Asia's Venture Capital market by 2025?
A: The total capital raised in Asia's Venture Capital market is expected to reach US$104.70 billion, with a shift back to fundamentals and profitability in investments. Learn more about this trend.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.