Top VCs / December 20, 2023
Asaf Fybish

As a growth marketing expert, Asaf helps startups driving scalable growth through data-driven strategies and innovative marketing techniques.

Top Asian VCs to Watch in 2024

Asia has become a massive hub for top startups and top venture capital alike in recent years and the statistics highlight this. Aggregate spending by Asian VCs in the region increased from $26 Billion in 2014 to $129 Billion in 2018. Funding has also increased over the last quarter, showing that the acceleration is still going strong. This is built on the back of a much stronger venture capital presence in Asia now compared to in the past. 


1. Wavemaker Partners 

Year Founded: 2003

HQ: Singapore

Size: 51-100

Founders: David Siemer, Eric Manlunas, Paul Santos

Screenshot of the Wavermaker Partners website.

 

Wavemaker Partners is an Asian VC firm that was founded in 2003 and is currently based in Singapore. The VC firm mainly focuses on early-stage startups and has raised more than $580 Million for funding opportunities across a number of funds.

The eight investment funds managed by the company has allowed it to make a total of 447 investments in its trading lifetime. Out of these investments, the Wakemaker Partners has exited from a total of 50.

 

2. East Ventures

Year Founded: 2010

HQ: Tokyo, Japan

Size: 11-50

Founders: Batara Eto, Taiga Matsuyama, Willson Cuaca

Screenshot of the East Ventures website.

 

East Ventures is a Venture Capital firm in Asia that was founded in 2010 and is currently headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. The company focuses its investments and support into early stage startups within the region and boasts a number of successful businesses in its portfolio. This has all been achieved in a short space of time.

The VC firm has managed a total of five investment funds since it was founded and these funds have given it the capability to make 416 investments. At the time of writing, the company has exited from a total of 40 of these investments.

 

3. Sequoia Capital China

Year Founded: 2005

HQ: Beijing, China

Size: 501-1000

Founders: Don Valentine, William Coughran

Screenshot of the Sequoia Capital China website.

 

Sequoia Capital China is a VC firm that was founded in 2005 and is currently based in the Chinese capital city. A part of the larger Sequoia Group, this VC firm invests in startups across a variety of different funding stages. These investments are focused on the fintech market.

The company has managed a massive 33 funds since it was founded less than two decades ago and these funds have resulted in 728 investments being made. The firm has successfully managed to exit from a total of 89 investments.

4. Qiming Venture Partners

Year Founded: 2006

HQ: Shanghai, China

Size: 51-100

Founders: Gary Rieschel

Screenshot of the Qiming Venture Capital website.

 

Qiming Venture Partners is an Asian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 2006 and is currently based in Shanghai. The company focuses its investment efforts on the TMT and healthcare sectors and provides funding during either the early or growth stages of the business.

The company has managed 16 investment funds in the time since it was founded and this provided the firm with the resources needed to complete 685 investments in that time. So far, the company has successfully exited from 57 of these.

5. CyberAgent Capital

Year Founded: 2006

HQ: Tokyo, Japan

Size: 11-50

Founders: Multiple

Screenshot of the Cyber Agent Capital website.

 

CyberAgent Capital is an Asian VC firm that was founded in 2006 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company provides financial backing for a variety of different businesses that operate within the internet market. The company also has a presence in many neighboring countries, bolstering its portfolio.

To date, the company has managed a total of five investment funds. These funds have given the VC firm the money to fund 227 investments since 2006. From the companies the Asian VC has invested in, it has exited from 35 of them.

6. Gobi Partners

Year Founded: 2002

HQ: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Size: 51-100

Founders: Thomas Tsao

Screenshot of the Gobi Partners website.

 

Gobi Partners is an Asian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 2002 and is based Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The company has grown since its founding to have a presence encompassing portfolio companies across the entire region. There is an investment focus on new and developing markets for these companies.

This VC firm has managed a total of 11 investment funds since it was founded. These funds have allowed Gobi Partners to make a series of 167 investments in that time. From these investments, the VC firm has successfully exited from 10 of these investments.

7. Brand Capital

Year Founded: 2005

HQ: Mumbai, India

Size: 101-250

Founders: Raj Jain

Screenshot of the Brand Capital website.

 

Brand Capital is an Indian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 2005 and is currently based in Mumbai, India. In addition to providing funding for businesses, this VC firm also provides a variety of different support types to help businesses to maximize their growth.

Since the company was founded, it has managed to make a series of 586 investments in the time that it has been trading. As a result of these investments, the company has so far managed to exit from 95 of them.

8. Shenzhen Capital Group

Year Founded: 1999

HQ: Shenzhen, China

Size: 1-10

Founders: Shenzhen Government

Screenshot of the Shenzhen Venture Capital website.

 

Shenzhen Capital Group is an Asian VC firm that was founded in 1999 and is currently based in Shenzhen, China. It is operated by the local government and seeks to develop national industries and provide a better launchpad for businesses in China to grow and enter the international stage.

The company has managed a total of 7 investment funds since it was founded and this has allowed the company to make a total of 430 investments in that time. From these investments, the VC firm has successfully exited from 80 of these.

9. ZhenFund

Year Founded: 2011

HQ: Beijing, China

Size: 51-100

Founders: Bob Xiaoping Xu, Victor Wang

Screenshot of the Zhenfund website.

 

ZhenFund is a Chinese VC firm that was founded in 2011 and is currently based in Beijing, China. The company primarily invests in TMT, healthcare, and the educational sectors but also invests in a variety of different industries. Some of these investments have gone on to trade on the NYSE and this highlights the success of the VC firm.

The VC firm has managed a total of 17 investment funds since it was founded and this has allowed it to make 727 investments in the space of a decade. From these investments, the company has exited from 51 of these investments.

10. JAFCO Japan

Year Founded: 1973

HQ: Tokyo, Japan

Size: 51-100

Founders: Tsuyoshi Ito

Screenshot of the JAFCO Japan website.

 

JAFCO Japan is obviously, a Japanese Venture Capital firm that was founded in 1973 and is currently based in Tokyo. The company currently operates by providing Venture Capital, incubation and private equity to a number of companies in Japan and further afield. They target businesses with creative ideas and strategies.

The company has managed a total of 9 investment funds since it was founded and this has allowed the company to make a total of 263 investments and a sole acquisition. From these investments, the VC firm has managed to exit from 68 of these.

11. Samsung Ventures

Year Founded: 1999

HQ: Seoul, South Korea

Size: 11-50

Founders: Samsung Electronics

Screenshot of the Samsung Ventures website.

 

Samsung Ventures is a South Korean Venture Capital firm that forms the investment arm of Samsung Electronics, it was founded in 1999 and is currently based in Seoul, South Korea. The company invests in technology startups across a wide variety of sectors and annually invests a total of $250 Million.

The VC firm has managed a total of 16 funds in the time that it has been trading and these funds have allowed the company to make 245 investments into startups. As a result of these investments, the VC firm has exited from 59 exits.

12. Matrix Partners China

Year Founded: 1977

HQ: Beijing, China

Size: 11-50

Founders: Bo Shao, David Su, David Zhang, Yee Lee

Screenshot of the Matrix Partners website.

 

Matrix Partners China is an Asian VC firm that was founded in 1977 and is currently based in Beijing, China. The company has successfully managed to fund and support more than 50 companies to an IPO and they provide investment to businesses across a variety of different industry sectors across various different funding stages.

The Chinese VC firm has managed a total of four investment funds and these funds have given the company the capability to make 592 investments into growing businesses. From these investments, the company has successfully exited from 40 of these companies.

13. GIC

Year Founded: 1981

HQ: Singapore

Size: 1001-5000

Founders: The Singapore Government

Screenshot of the GIC website.

 

GIC is a Venture Capital firm that was founded in 1981 and is currently based in Singapore. The company serves to manage the country’s foreign reserves and diversify its international presence by making long-term investments into a variety of different asset classes.

The company has made a total of 196 investments since it was founded and it has also made a pair of acquisitions. From these investments, the company has successfully exited a total of 71 of these investments.

14. Global Brain Corporation

Year Founded: 1998

HQ: Tokyo, Japan

Size: 51-100

Founders: Yasuhiko Yurimoto

Screenshot of the Global Brain Corporation website.

 

Global Brain Corporation is an Asian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 1998 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company is one of the largest VC firms in Japan and mainly invests in businesses during the early stages of their development. Global Brain Corporation has a track record of taking high-value businesses to the IPO stage.

The company has managed a total of 19 investment funds since it was founded in 1998 and these funds have allowed it to make a series of 350 investments in that time. From these investments, the company has successfully exited from 62 of these investments.

15. Mitsubishi UFJ Capital

Year Founded: 1974

HQ: Tokyo, Japan

Size: 51-100

Founders: Mitsubishi Financial Group

Screenshot of the Mitsubishi Capital website.

 

Mitsubishi UFJ Capital is an Asian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 1974 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company mainly focuses its investment efforts on companies in the life sciences, ICT and other technology companies.

The company has managed a total of eight funds since it was founded and this has allowed the company to make 406 investments into growing businesses. From these investments, the company has successfully managed to exit from 63 of these.

16. Chiratae Ventures

Year Founded: 2000

HQ: Bangalore, India

Size: 11-50

Founders: Sudhir Sethi, TC Meenakshisundaram

Screenshot of the Chiratae Ventures website.

 

Chiratae Ventures is an Indian Venture Capital Firm that was founded in 2000 and is currently based in Bangalore, India. The company provides a focus on helping Indian businesses to grow through a variety of funding and support options. The company has assets managed to a value of over $6 Billion.

The company has managed a total of 6 investment funds since it was founded two decades ago and these funds have allowed it to make a series of 183 investments. As a result of these investments, the Indian VC firm has exited from 19 investments.

17. Incubate Fund

Year Founded: 2010

HQ: Tokyo, Japan

Size: 11-50

Founders: Kazuki Notsu

Screenshot of the Incubate Fund website.

 

Incubate Fund is an Asian VC firm that was founded in 2010 and is currently based in Tokyo, Japan. The company is an independent firm and focuses on providing early stage investment to technology companies in an effort to help them to reach the next level of their development.

The Japanese VC firm has managed a total of 10 investment funds in the decade it has been trading and these funds have provided the backing for the company to invest in 235 startups. Directly following from these investments, the company has exited from 36 of these so far.

18. Kalaari Capital

Year Founded: 2011

HQ: Bangalore, India

Size: 11-50

Founders: Vani Kola

Screenshot of the Kalaari Ventures website.

 

Kalaari Capital is an Indian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 2011 and is currently based in Bangalore, India. The company provides funding at a variety of different stages in businesses life and focuses on technology companies in its own country.

The Indian VC firm has managed a total of three investment funds since it was founded a decade ago and these funds have given it the capability to make 186 investments. From these investments, the company has managed to exit from 23 of these companies.

19. China Growth Capital

Year Founded: 2006

HQ: Beijing, China

Size: 11-50

Founders: Haiyan Wu, Ning Tang

Screenshot of the China Growth Capital Website.

China Growth Capital is an Asian Venture Capital firm that was founded in 2006 and is currently based in Beijing, China. The company predominantly focuses on startups that work within the enterprise, technology and marketplace sectors. As it stands, the company has more than $1 Billion in assets under its management.

The company has managed to drum up funding to make a total of 194 investments in the time that it has been trading. Out of these investments, the Venture Capital firm has exited from 14 of its investments so far.

20. Insignia Venture Partners

Year Founded: 2017

HQ: Singapore

Size: 11-50

Founders: Yinglan Tan

Screenshot of the Insignia Venture Capital website.

 

Insignia Venture Partners is a Singaporean Venture Capital firm that was founded in 2017 and true to form, is currently based in Singapore. The company provides funding for a variety of different startups and has seen a lot of success in the short amount of time that it has been trading.

The company has managed a total of three investment funds since it was founded four years ago and it has already managed to make a series of 69 investments. From these investments, the company has only exited from a single one so far.

21. SGInnovate

Year Founded: 2016

HQ: Singapore

Size: 51-100

Founders: Steve Leonard

Screenshot of the SGInnovate website.

 

SGInnovate is an Asian Venture Capital firm that was founded five years ago and is currently based in Singapore. The company specializes in helping scientists with entrepreneurial ambitions to build their businesses, find support and also secure funding to help propel their idea from an idea to a reality.

Since it was founded in 2016, the company has successfully made a series of 72 investments into new businesses. As it stands, the company has only exited from a single investment at this stage.


FAQs

Which Countries Have The Best Startup Ecosystems In Asia?

This list would not be complete without mentioning the massive industrial power and manpower of China. Not to be forgotten however, India also has a bustling startup ecosystem. Outside of these two powerhouses, you can also consider Japan, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Which Industries Are Strongest In Asia?

The strongest industries in Asia in terms of investment potential and overall success are Fintech, E-commerce, Gaming, Biotechnology and AgriTech. Despite these industries being among the best, there are many other industries in Asia that are rapidly growing and succeeding going into the new year.

How Much VC Funding Comes Through Asia?

As of October 2021, Asia has seen a very impressive amount of VC funding. The total came to a figure of $106.1 Billion in funding. This figure has already beaten the amount raised in 2019 and is likely to defeat the figures generated during 2020.

Top Asian VCs to Watch...
Asaf Fybish

As a growth marketing expert, Asaf helps startups driving scalable growth through data-driven strategies and innovative marketing techniques.