Antler Leads $5.1M Pre-Seed Funding for 37 Startups in SEA; Targets Investments in Verticalized AI and Industry 4.0

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Antler, the global early-stage venture capital firm based in Singapore, today announced its largest pre-seed investment round to date, committing $5.1 million to 37 startups across Southeast Asia. This round also marks the highest number of pre-seed deals completed in a single round in the region, demonstrating Antler’s commitment to backing the next generation of SEA tech entrepreneurs.

The diverse portfolio of startups spans 19 sectors ranging from AI and B2B SaaS to fintech and healthcare to address specific regional challenges. The investment also marks Antler’s initial commitment and footprint in Malaysia as part of its strategic partnership with sovereign wealth fund Khazanah.

Jussi Salovaara, Co-founder and Managing Partner Asia, of Antler, said, “As a multi-stage investor, we recognize the immense potential of early-stage startups in Southeast Asia. In this dynamic and challenging climate, we are especially drawn to pre-seed investments, particularly in verticalized AI and industry 4.0 startups that address deep-seated pain points and revolutionize how models and data translate into tangible products. At this pivotal moment, we are laser-focused on helping founders establish a robust foundation for sustainable business models and fostering long-term innovation within the broader global tech ecosystem.”

Antler’s position as the earliest backer of startups uniquely enables them to identify and drive emerging tech trends. Antler’s investments in this round underscore conviction in the following trends:?

• Shift to verticalized AI – A second wave of AI startups is expected to emerge in 2024 as AI matures and solutions are tailored to specific industries. We will see a greater shift towards building durable businesses in verticalized AI, notably in media, customer lifecycle management, and LLM integration. 34% of startups in this round are in verticalized AI. These include CapGo, a platform to deploy AI agents for fast and autonomous data acquisition to ZOLO, an AI-powered assistant for food suppliers to streamline order management.?
• Rise of Industry 4.0 in SEA – While Industry 3.0 was initially driven by the manufacturing sector, Industry 4.0 technologies now have the transformative potential to drive all industry verticals. Its core principles of interconnectedness, data-driven decision-making, and automation are increasingly being applied to traditionally non-digital sectors, including construction, transportation, and healthcare. 34% of the startups invested are in Industry 4.0. These include COEX, a platform designed to maximize capital and operational efficiency in the construction industry to Seafoody, an AI-enabled seafood supply chain operator.
• SEA startups building hyperlocal solutions with global scalability – With the global digital economy expected to reach $17.5 trillion 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. We currently see opportunities in e-commerce, fintech, productivity, and travel, capitalizing on the region’s diverse and rapidly growing market landscape, developing solutions that address specific local pain points, and incorporating scalable technologies for a global audience.Examples include BorderDollar, which provides accessible cross-border trade finance for SMEs, and Finna, an end-to-end platform for solopreneurs, simplifying the workflow from managing customers and creating proposals to processing payments.

“Indonesia’s unique market dynamics present immense opportunities for startups, which is why we are committed to bringing together the best Indonesian talents to build great things here. We work with founders who are not just driven by capital but also the ambition to be part of a community of like-minded innovators and achievers that will make a real difference, both locally and on the global stage,” said Agung Bezharie, Partner at Antler.

With a record number of over 5,000 applications in this round, Antler has consistently backed over 1,000 startups worldwide, since its launch in 2018.

Here is the full list of invested startups for more details.