The Top Angel Investors in Singapore: Who to Watch For

Singapore has recently become one of the most promising tech hubs in Southeast Asia.

Known for its favorable business environment and strong government support, Singapore has attracted many early stage startups and businesses, making it the place to be for innovation. However, like any other business venture, startups need funding. That's where angel investors and venture capitalists come in.

In this blog, we will talk about the top angel investors in Singapore, who to watch for, and how they can help your business. We'll also show you how to use folk to keep up with the numerous conversations you'll be having with each investor, so that you don't lose track of who you've spoken to and what about, and how you can get started with our ultimate list of angel investors in Singapore we've put together for you.

Use folk to keep track of venture capitalists and angel investors you approach

Whether you're keen to talk to experienced angel investors or venture capital firms, the important thing is to make sure you're aware of who you've approached, and who you still need to share those business ideas with.

Angel investors, also known as business angels, are private individuals who invest in startups, providing capital in exchange for ownership equity or convertible debt. Some also contribute their business expertise and resources to early stage companies.

On the other hand, venture capitalists is a form of private equity financing provided by venture capitalist firms to businesses such as early stage tech startups.

folk is a CRM that's easy to use and helps you stay organized. To get you started, we've put together this list of angel investors and venture capital firms in Singapore you can start using right away.

Below, we've highlighted profiles of the nine top angel investors Singapore has to offer to help you on your quest for angel investing. We've also highlighted their portfolio companies so you know if it's a good fit for your business.

Soo Boon Koh

Soo Boon Koh is the Founder of iGlobe Partners, Singapore's first female-founded venture capital firm established in 1999. She set up iGlobe Partners after being approached by Singapore's government to set up and manage the operations of a corporate venture in the United States and Europe. In 2009, she headquartered the company in Singapore leading the way as Singapore's first female-led VC firm. Their portfolio includes listed businesses such as 3Par (acquired by Hewlett Packard Enterprise), Nerdwallet, and private businesses such as InfinityQ, Five Sigma and Matterworks.

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Eduardo Saverin

Famous for being the Co-Founder of Facebook, Eduardo Saverin launched his venture capitalist firm B Capital Group in 2014. They have a particular focus on emerging companies in industries such as FinTech, Healthcare, Enterprise and Opportunistic. Their portfolio includes businesses such as 6Sense, MediTrust Health, and Yubi. Eduardo is both an investor and mentor, interested in working closely with companies that have a passion for cross-platform and people-centric innovation.

Kelvin Teo

Kelvin Teo is the Co-Founder of Funding Societies, which is backed by Softbank Ventures Asia and Sequoia India. Funding Societies is a peer-to-peer lending platform that connects businesses with investors. Kelvin works closely with his Co-Founder, Reynold Wijaya. As successful entrepreneurs and investors themselves, they understands what it takes to start and run a business, making them valuable angel investors. They invest in fintech, healthcare, and consumer tech startups, providing not only capital but also mentorship and networking opportunities.

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Darius Cheung

Darius Cheung is the Founder and CEO of 99.co, a real estate platform that makes it easy for renters and buyers to find a home. He is also a prolific angel investor, having invested in more than 30 startups, including Carousell, ShopBack, and Zilingo. As an entrepreneur who has been through the ups and downs of building a business, Darius is known for his empathy and willingness to help fellow entrepreneurs. He invests in startups that solve real problems, using technology to make a difference in people's lives.

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Virginia Tan

Virginia Tan is the Founding Partner and CEO of Teja Ventures. Virginia is one of Asia's leading thought leaders on gender and technology. Prior to Teja Ventures, she founded She Loves Tech, the world's largest startup competition for women and technology and is also the founder of Lean in China, which promotes a culture of mentorship, leadership and mutual support. She has a background in law as a finance lawyer dealing with investments in emerging markets. Teja Ventures' portfolio of businesses include Green Rebel, Wonder Technology and Siklus. They're currently on a quest looking for the next generation of technology leaders in the consumer space, investing heavily in the future of food, retail and wellness as well as the creator and circular economies.

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Peng T. Ong

Peng T. Ong is a serial entrepreneur and investor with a track record of success.  He is currently a Managing Partner of Monk's Hill Ventures, a venture capital firm that invests in startups in Southeast Asia. Their portfolio includes businesses such as CoderSchool, Flex by Finaxar and Escapex. They have a particular passion and interest in investing in companies that are using technology to solve important problems, such as healthcare, education, and financial inclusion. He is the co-founder of Match.com and Interwoven, two successful startups that went public and is known for his strategic thinking and ability to spot promising startups.

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Paul Santos

Paul Santos is a Managing Partner at Wavemaker Partners, a venture capital firm that has invested in some of the most successful startups in Southeast Asia, including Grab, Zilingo, and Carousell. Paul has a wealth of experience in entrepreneurship and venture capital, having founded his own venture capital firm and worked for companies such as Yahoo and McKinsey. As an angel investor, he invests in startups that have the potential for hyper growth, using his network and expertise to help them scale and succeed.

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Yuji Horiguchi

Yuji Horiguchi is the CEO and Managing Partner of Spiral Ventures (formerly known as IMJ investment partners). Their portfolio includes businesses such as Bunzz, Secai Marche and Instapay. Yuji joined Spiral Ventures as a corporate officer in 2005 and was promoted to CFO in 2008. He founded IMJ Investment Partners in 2012 as an investment branch of the IMJ group and began investment activities in Japan and Silicon Valley. They established headquarters in Singapore in 2013 and he now leads investment activities.

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Vinnie Lauria

Vinnie Lauria is a founding partner at Golden Gate Ventures, a venture capital firm that has invested in more than 40 startups in Southeast Asia. Their portfolio includes businesses such as 99.co, Stripe and Semantics3. Vinnie is a serial entrepreneur himself, having founded and sold two startups in the US. He invests in startups that are building disruptive technologies, such as artificial intelligence and blockchain, and has a strong focus on early-stage investments. He's known for his hands-on approach to investing, providing not only capital but also guidance and support to entrepreneurs.

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Paul Ng

Paul Ng is the CEO of EDBI Pte Ltd where he was appointed as CEO as of 1 February 2023, succeeding former CEO, Chu Swee Yeok. Before being appointed as CEO, Paul led investments in the areas of information and communication technology including investments in US and Europe and held other leadership roles in special projects and corporate planning. Their portfolio includes notable businesses such as DocuSign (who has exited), Voyager, and Nextgen. Paul has a background in investment from his time at the Government of Singapore Investment Corporation (GIC).

Conclusion

Angel investors play a crucial role in the success of startups so getting the right angel investor is key. Without a doubt, it goes without saying that the right angel investor for one company, might be the wrong one for another.

Before you pitch to them make sure you understand whether the angel investors on your radar are looking to provide funding only, or can support you with mentorship, guidance and networking opportunities.

Fortunately, you're not short of options. Singapore has some of the most successful angel investors in the region. All you have to do is make sure you keep track of who you've spoken to already and folk is here to help you save time and stay organised so that you can focus your efforts on your pitch as you raise your next round.

Useful links

• folk CRM
• Ultimate list of Angel Investors in Singapore
• Ultimate list of global VCs

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