Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India
Overview
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India (VVSEAI) is a venture capital firm primarily focused on early-stage investments in high-growth start-ups across Southeast Asia and India. Based in Singapore, VVSEAI is part of a global network of venture capital funds facilitated by Vertex Holdings, a subsidiary of Temasek Holdings. Formed in 2010, VVSEAI is renowned for supporting several unicorns, including Grab and FirstCry. The firm has raised significant capital over the years, with its previous fund, Fund V, closing at $541 million in 2023.
Recent Developments
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2025: Vertex Ventures continues its disciplined approach to investing by maintaining a focus on early-stage start-ups and valuations, hence reinforcing founder relationships. This strategy is aimed at aligning with the projected growth trends within the digital economy in Southeast Asia.
- On August 19, 2025, Vertex Ventures led a $24 million funding round in fintech startup Kiwi to enhance its product offerings in India’s rapidly growing Unified Payments Interface (UPI) sector.
- Anticipating the resurgence of public markets, Vertex plans to support its portfolio companies' readiness for IPOs in suitable market conditions.
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2024: The firm's partnership with Temasek-backed initiatives reflects its strong inclination towards the Indian market, pivoting on sectors showing potential in the consumer and tech landscapes.
- Vertex Ventures extensively invested in India, constituting two-thirds of its investments, and positioned itself to harness India's growing entrepreneurial landscape.
- With a $541 million Fund V final close, significantly larger than its predecessor, VVSEAI continues to strengthen its strategic investments for transformative technologies like AI and sustainable solutions.
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2023: Vertex Ventures announced the final close of its fifth fund at $541 million, surpassing its target, demonstrating confidence from limited partners such as sovereign wealth funds and global financial entities.
- A renewed emphasis on investments that cater to digital health, sustainability, and new mobility is part of VVSEAI’s broader strategy to enhance its diverse portfolio.
- The fund actively supports gender diversity, earmarking investments specifically for women-led ventures, reinforcing inclusive growth as a cornerstone of its investment philosophy.
Company Information
| Attribute | Information |
|---|---|
| Founding Date | 2010 |
| Headquarters | Singapore |
| Founders | - |
| Revenue | - |
| Profits | - |
| Key Investors | Temasek Holdings, various global institutional and sovereign investors |
| Industry | Venture Capital and Private Equity |
| Number of Employees | 51-200 |
Early History
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India was established in 2010 as one of the key regional engines of the Vertex Global Network. Initially, it operated with a concentrated strategy focused on early-stage investments in nascent yet promising tech sectors across Southeast Asia and India. With Singapore as its strategic base and a presence in key regional markets like India and Indonesia, VVSEAI quickly became synonymous with smart capital, facilitating its portfolio companies' growth from early-stage innovators to industry leaders. The firm enjoyed early successes by backing pioneering companies such as Grab, which effervesced its reputation within the competitive VC landscape.
Company Profile and Achievements
Vertex Ventures has distinguished itself as a significant player in the Southeast Asian and Indian start-up ecosystems. Its investment strategy supports companies at the nascent phases of their lifecycle, often spearheading funding rounds and providing strategic oversight that extends beyond financial backing.
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Business Model: Vertex Ventures operates on an "investor-operator" model. This approach involves not just conventional funding but also contributing operational expertise, strategic networking, and market expansion initiatives that provide its portfolio companies with the platform to scale rapidly and efficiently.
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Achievements:
- Has been instrumental in transforming companies such as Grab into regional champions through significant early investments.
- It has built a prolific portfolio encompassing diverse sectors such as fintech, health tech, and consumer internet, fostering new market leaders like FirstCry, XpressBees, and Nium.
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Milestones:
- In 2018, Vertex Ventures hit a peak investment activity year with several notable company exits, showcasing a powerful track record in generating returns.
- In 2023, Fund V's historic closing at $541 million underscored a broadened investor base and strategic market confidence.
Current Operations and Market Position
Currently, Vertex Ventures is focused on fortifying its role as a leader in venture capital within the burgeoning markets of Southeast Asia and India. With a robust portfolio and substantial backing from renowned global financial partners, VVSEAI distinguishes itself by leveraging the broader Vertex Global Network's resources for transformational growth in its investees.
- Market Position: Vertex Ventures remains pivotal in shaping tech innovations in the region, often setting benchmarks in valuation discipline while continuing its founder-first approach.
- Strategic Initiatives: The firm is adamant about maintaining its stake in potential game-changers across sectors like digital health, sustainability, and AI-tech, which are anticipated to spearhead new avenues of growth.
- Competitive Advantages: By maintaining a local presence across key Asian markets, VVSEAI has cultivated a unique market adaptation capability, leading to successful entries and expansions into emerging domains with strategic insight and agility.
Conclusion
Vertex Ventures Southeast Asia & India maintains a critical influence in the venture capital domain, leveraging a rich history of impactful investments and a thorough understanding of the evolving tech ecosystems in Southeast Asia and India. Continuing to prioritize innovations that drive societal change, VVSEAI is poised to maintain its leadership in nurturing transformational businesses. Its consistent capital backing, inclusive investment themes, and strategic foresight position it favorably as a continued beacon of robust start-up support, navigating the ever-expanding horizons of technological advancement and economic transformation within its operational territories.