Wavemaker Partners

Wavemaker Partners is a prominent cross-border early-stage venture capital firm, headquartered in Singapore, with a significant focus on the burgeoning tech ecosystem across Southeast Asia. While maintaining a historical presence and network in the United States, the firm has firmly established itself as a key player in the SEA region, specializing in identifying and nurturing promising technology startups from their Seed to Series A stages. Their investment thesis centers on backing founders who are building disruptive solutions, particularly within the enterprise, deep tech, SaaS, and B2B sectors, aiming to capitalize on the digital transformation sweeping through the region.

The firm is known for its hands-on approach, providing not just capital but also strategic guidance, operational support, and access to a vast network of industry experts and potential partners. Wavemaker's strategy involves building a diversified portfolio, often investing in a large number of companies at the early stages to capture a wide array of opportunities. This approach allows them to support a broad spectrum of innovative ventures, from nascent ideas to those with early traction, helping them scale and secure subsequent funding rounds.

Wavemaker Partners has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the Southeast Asian market through successive fundraises. In October 2023, the firm announced the successful close of its fifth Southeast Asia fund, Wavemaker V, at a substantial $136 million. This follows their previous fund, Wavemaker IV, which closed at $111 million in 2020, underscoring their growing capacity and influence. With Wavemaker V, the firm intends to invest in approximately 100 to 120 companies, typically writing initial checks ranging from $500,000 to $3 million, reflecting their sweet spot for early-stage capital deployment.

Having built a robust portfolio of over 180 companies across Southeast Asia, Wavemaker Partners has been instrumental in the growth of numerous regional success stories. Their investments span various industries, contributing significantly to the development of the tech landscape in countries like Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. The firm's long-term vision and strategic capital deployment continue to position it as a critical enabler for the next generation of tech innovators in one of the world's fastest-growing digital economies.