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Antler leads funding for 37 startups in SEA
The early-stage venture capital firm Antler, headquartered in Singapore, unveiled its dedication to the burgeoning tech scene of Southeast Asia with an impressive pre-seed funding round. Antler has committed a substantial $5.1M to a diverse array of 37 startups, showcasing an unparalleled number of pre-seed deals in a single gesture, and highlighting its support for rapidly evolving SEA tech entrepreneurs.
Investment Move: The remarkable investment round not only marks the firm's largest pre-seed initiative but also establishes Antler's presence in Malaysia. This marks Antler's first investment into Malaysia with seven startups, as part of its partnership with sovereign wealth fund Khazanah.
Diverse Startup Ecosystem: Embracing innovation across 19 sectors that range from AI and B2B SaaS to fintech and healthcare, Antler's investment is strategically positioned to tackle the unique challenges of the Southeast Asian market.
Emerging Trends: Antler's unique position as the earliest investor in startups allows them to drive and identify emerging tech trends. In this round of investments, Antler shows conviction in the following trends:
Shift to verticalized AI: Antler sees increased investment opportunities in verticalized AI and Industry 4.0. 68% of startups funded are in verticalized AI or industry 4.0. The convergence towards specialized AI solutions is tailored specifically to critical sectors such as media and customer management.
Rise of Industry 4.0 in SEA: Industry 4.0 technologies, characterized by interconnectedness, data-driven decision-making, and automation, are no longer limited to the manufacturing sector. They are now transforming industries such as construction, transportation, and healthcare. Around 34% of the startups invested in are in Industry 4.0.
Investing in SEA startups building hyperlocal solutions with global scalability: With the global digital economy expected to reach $17.5T by 2025, a new wave of startups is emerging that are developing products that cater to hyperlocal needs in Southeast Asia while maintaining the potential for global expansion.
Antler's commitment to empowering over 1,000 startups since its 2018 inception, with this funding round drawing an eye-opening 5,000+ applications, serves as a testament to its strategic vision and enduring impact on the global startup landscape.