The National University of Singapore (NUS) is launching a S$150 million Venture Capital (VC) Programme through its entrepreneurial arm, NUS Enterprise. The program aims to support early-stage tech ventures in Asia and bridge the critical funding gap they face. Venture capital funding in Asia has dropped to a 10-year low of S$85 billion, with early-stage investments falling by 5% from 2023 to S$38 billion in 2024.
Tech startups, especially those born from intensive research and development cycles, face significant challenges in this cautious investment environment. Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President, said, “Research-based startups face distinct challenges, including R&D cycles that are much longer than traditional startups, making them especially vulnerable in today’s cautious investment environment. The new NUS Venture Capital Programme brings together capital, strategic partnerships, and specialised venture expertise to create a more resilient path from lab to market.”
The NUS VC Programme is the first of its kind by a university in Asia.
It focuses on high-potential ventures within the NUS ecosystem, including startups from the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP). While GRIP provides up to S$250,000 in seed funding per startup, many require continued support to move beyond proof of concept and into commercial markets. The program has two key components.
NUS launches significant VC initiative
First, NUS will commit S$50 million over the next three years to selected venture capital firms with strong track records in early-stage deep tech investments. These firms will provide structured, hands-on support to startups.
The first two VC partners are Granite Asia and 4BIO Capital. Second, NUS will commit S$100 million to an autonomous investment fund focused on NUS-affiliated startups, with the flexibility to invest alongside selected VC partners. Ms Jenny Lee and Mr Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partners at Granite Asia, said, “NUS has built one of the most ambitious deep tech pipelines in Asia — a launchpad for breakthrough ideas with global relevance.
This partnership sets a new model for how deep tech can scale: pairing world-class research with long-term capital.”
Dr Dima Kuzmin, Managing Partner at 4BIO Capital, added, “The NUS VC Programme marks a significant step forward for early-stage tech innovation in Asia. By pairing investment with expert-led support, we are accelerating the growth of promising startups and strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem.”
Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), said the program is designed to plug a critical gap in the innovation ecosystem. “National GRIP is an important first step in helping deep tech startups take root,” he said.
“The VC Programme builds on this by pairing promising ventures with globally connected investors, enabling a more complete pathway to scale and commercial success.”
By strengthening the bridge between research and the market, NUS aims to boost the resilience and scalability of its tech startups, keeping the innovation engine running despite a tough investment climate.
