Tuesday, 8 July 2025
28.7 C
Singapore
28.8 C
Thailand
19.1 C
Indonesia
29.1 C
Philippines

Beenext raises US$160 million in investment funds for startups in Southeast Asia, India, and Japan

Venture capital (VC) firm Beenext recently announced on their website that they have secured a total of US$160 million in two separate funds that will be used to invest in startups in the Southeast Asian region, India and Japan. According to Beenext, the investors for the new funds include major institutional investors in the US, […]

Venture capital (VC) firm Beenext recently announced on their website that they have secured a total of US$160 million in two separate funds that will be used to invest in startups in the Southeast Asian region, India and Japan.

According to Beenext, the investors for the new funds include major institutional investors in the US, Japanese corporations, global family offices, and entrepreneurs backing the next generation founders.

The Beenext Emerging Asia Fund which has US$110 million in deployable investments will be focused on supporting early-stage Southeast Asian and Indian startups and founders – half of which would be specifically allotted to startups in India. In their statement, Beenext will prioritize the Emerging Asia fund for startups in the e-commerce, fintech, health-tech, agri-tech, edu-tech and AI/data-driven scene. On the other hand, the second fund amounting to US$50 million would be exclusively directed to SaaS (software as a service) businesses in Japan.

Founded in 2015, the Singapore-based VC has since invested in a total of 180 startups, with 72 of them being Indian startups. To add, the Emerging Asia Fund marks the firm’s fourth consecutive Indian-focused fund. The startup shared in their statement that the decision to centre their funds in India is based on their confidence that the country is able to “lead innovation and growth in the post-COVID era of accelerated global digitization.”

Beenext’s Founder and Managing Partner, Teruhide Sato, commented on the development and shared that “COVID-19 has impacted every aspect of global business, but we continue to see start-up founders pushing the boundaries to not only survive but thrive in this environment. The relentless attitude of founders will mean that solutions for a post-COVID world will also come from them. Now more than ever, we feel the need to nurture the entrepreneurial ecosystem to ensure we bounce back as a strong community of founders. Beenext has always believed in building businesses together with founders and fellow local co-investors to have a lasting impact. We look forward to co-creating and growing together with more start-ups in India.”

On the matter of possible mergers or acquisitions between startups amidst the increasingly cautious approach by investors given the pandemic, Sato opined that “There is a chance for the number one company to acquire the number two company (in the same space) and become an overwhelming number one company. There is also a chance for number two firm, with a unique angle, to catch up with number one, if it’s very unique, as consumer behaviour is different (post-pandemic).”

Given Beenext and its Founder’s optimistic and astute assessment on the startup climate in the regions, early-stage enterprises and business owners can look forward to the Emerging Asia Funds in their next financing rounds.

Hot this week

Kahoot! teams up with Tour de France to deliver interactive learning experiences

Kahoot! partners with Tour de France to bring interactive cycling-themed learning to classrooms, fan parks, and homes worldwide.

Alibaba Cloud marks 10 years in Singapore with new data centres and AI innovation hub

Alibaba Cloud celebrates 10 years in Singapore with new AI centre, data centres in Southeast Asia, and global green AI initiatives.

Singapore ramps up AI investments but faces hurdles in scaling enterprise adoption

A new IBM study finds that while AI investment is growing in Singapore, few businesses have succeeded in scaling it across the organisation.

Apple hits key milestone in foldable iPhone development

Apple’s foldable iPhone has reached a key milestone with a working prototype, and the company is eyeing a potential launch in the second half of 2026.

SBF and CapitaLand Investment unite business leaders to reaffirm support for national defence on SAF Day

SBF and CapitaLand Investment host SAF Day event, reaffirming business community’s commitment to national defence and support for NSmen.

Huawei defends AI model amid claims of using third-party code

Huawei denies using third-party models to train its latest AI, despite claims from a whistleblower and rising competition in China's tech sector.

AI will make cyber defence harder unless you think like a hacker

Cyber experts warn that AI is making cyber attacks smarter, urging firms to adopt a hacker mindset and prepare through simulations.

Persona 5: The Phantom X finally arrives in Southeast Asia

Persona 5: The Phantom X launches in Southeast Asia with a fresh story, fan-favourite characters, and a special event running until July 31.

TikTok may dodge US ban with new app and ownership deal

TikTok could avoid a US ban with the launch of a new app on September 5 and a possible sale to non-Chinese investors, including Oracle.

Related Articles

Popular Categories