The partnership with Antler is the latest addition to Khazanah’s Future Malaysia Programme. — AFP
PETALING JAYA: Global venture capital (VC) firm Antler has partnered with Khazanah Nasional Bhd to make a foray into Malaysia, extending its international presence across six continents including South-East Asia, with existing footholds in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
In a joint statement, both parties said the strategic alliance served to unearth and nurture Malaysia’s entrepreneurial talents and provide them access to Antler’s global platform and network, enabling them to establish themselves as the defining companies of tomorrow.
By drawing upon Antler’s global network of investors, founders and advisers, this partnership will infuse new opportunities into the Malaysian entrepreneurial scene, subsequently accelerating the growth trajectory of Malaysian entrepreneurs and startups and propelling them towards international expansion and success, it said.
Khazanah managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said the strategic collaboration with Antler marked a new chapter in Malaysia’s entrepreneurial landscape, underscoring the sovereign wealth fund’s unwavering commitment to introducing innovative and impactful solutions.
“Going forward, we will continue to identify potential partners with proven track records, expertise and strategic value proposition to join us in nurturing and empowering the next generation of Malaysian entrepreneurs through this programme, offering comprehensive support throughout the entire funding lifecycle, spanning from the pre-seed stage right up to the growth stage,” he said.
Meanwhile, Antler co-founder and managing partner Asia Jussi Salovaara said founders scale their companies faster with Antler, whereby they can build remarkable teams, join a global community of founders, and access capital to accelerate growth.
“We are especially thrilled about partnering with Khazanah to unlock this opportunity for entrepreneurs in Malaysia,” he said.
Antler is one of the most active early-stage investors globally and has invested in over 792 companies across 26 cities worldwide, amassing a cumulative portfolio value of US$3.7bil (RM17.04bil).
The company specialises in “Day Zero investing” and takes a distinctive approach to fostering startup success, setting it apart from other entrepreneurial programmes.
From its new office in Kuala Lumpur, Antler aims to invest in over 30 startups across Malaysia over the next three years, with the inaugural Venture Generation Programme set to begin in October 2023 and applications are currently open.
The partnership with Antler is the latest addition to Khazanah’s Future Malaysia Programme, an initiative under its Dana Impak (Impact Fund) mandate, which aims to support the local startup ecosystem of entrepreneurs, startups, VC and corporate venture programmes through collaborations with domestic and international partners.
Dana Impak is a RM6bil commitment over five years and is a key pillar under Khazanah’s Advancing Malaysia strategy. — Bernama
