The Lightspeed Southeast Asia team
Lightspeed Venture Partners has announced the launch of its Southeast Asia operations with an office in Singapore.
In the region, the early-stage VC firm will actively engage with ventures in sectors — such as e-commerce, fintech, edutech and SaaS — mainly in Singapore and Indonesia. It will deploy capital from its global funds.
In April this year, Lightspeed raised US$4 billion for is three global funds.
The firm’s Southeast Asia team includes Akshay Bhushan (Partner), Bejul Somaia (Partner), Pinn Lawjindakul (Vice President) and Marsha Sugana ( Senior Investment Associate).
Also Read: The future of Southeast Asia’s big tech in the Next Normal
“Southeast Asia is one of the world’s fastest-growing economies and startup ecosystems, and this is due in no small part to the region’s extraordinary entrepreneurial talent. We believe the startup ecosystem will continue its significant expansion and are excited to partner with entrepreneurs as they build and scale disruptive companies,” said Bhushan.
In Southeast Asia, Lightspeed has already invested in companies, including Grab, social commerce platform Chilibeli, B2B marketplace app Ula, enterprise AI firm NextBillion.ai, and fulfilment and shipping gateway company Shipper.
Additionally, many of its portfolio companies are scaling up business in Southeast Asia and have regional headquarters in Singapore, including Snap, OYO Rooms, Yellow Messenger and Darwinbox.
“With a large, tech-savvy and young population, Southeast Asia is leading the charge in technology-driven innovation. We have a strong belief in the opportunities here and the capabilities that founders of this region have demonstrated,” said Bejul Somaia, Partner, Lightspeed.
“Our global footprint, combined with the local team’s expertise, will enable the region’s founders to better leverage global opportunities,” added Somaia.
Also Read: 5 survival strategies for startups in a post-COVID-19 world
Since 2000, Lightspeed has backed hundreds of entrepreneurs and helped build more than 300 companies globally, including Snap (US), Nutanix (US), Pinduoduo (China), Man Bang group (China), Grab (Asia), OYO Rooms (India), Udaan (India) and Byju’s (India).
More than 70 per cent of its investments have been in firms at early stages, often being the first institutional capital partner.
“Our mission at Lightspeed has stayed the same, even as our global presence has expanded from Silicon Valley, Israel and China to India, Europe and now Southeast Asia: to support the bold entrepreneurs who are building tomorrow’s companies today,” said Mhatre, Founder and Managing Director, Lightspeed.
—
Image Credit: Lightspeed Venture Partners
The post Lightspeed opens Singapore office to ramp up investments in SEA appeared first on e27.