KUALA LUMPUR: Global venture capital firm Antler is expanding its international footprint in Malaysia through a partnership with Khazanah Nasional Bhd.
The partnership solidifying Antler's presence across six continents including Southeast Asia, with its existing presence in Singapore, Indonesia and Vietnam.
Antler is said to be 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$3.7 billion.
Khazanah managing director Datuk Amirul Feisal Wan Zahir said the partnership marks a new chapter in Malaysia's entrepreneurial landscape, underscoring the sovereign wealth fund's commitment to introducing innovative and impactful solutions.
"This is another step forward for our Future Malaysia Programme, which aims to scale Malaysian ideas and businesses to be globally competitive.
"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.
"We are offering comprehensive support throughout the entire funding lifecycle, spanning from the pre-seed stage right up to the growth stage," he said in a joint statement today.
The partnership with Antler is the latest addition to Khazanah's Future Malaysia Programme, an initiative under its Dana Impak (Impact Fund) mandate.
The fund aims to support the local start-up ecosystem of entrepreneurs, start-ups, venture capital, and corporate venture programmes through collaborations with domestic and international partners.
Dana Impak is an RM6 billion commitment over five years and is a key pillar under Khazanah's Advancing Malaysia strategy.
The strategic alliance serves to unearth and nurture Malaysia's entrepreneurial talents and provide them access to Antler's global platform and network.
Antler managing partner Asia and co-founder Jussi Salovaara said the company is on a mission to fundamentally improve the world by backing and investing in the world's most exceptional people from Day Zero to greatness.
"Founders scale their companies faster with Antler, where 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 added.
From its new Kuala Lumpur office, Antler is aiming to invest in over 30 startups across Malaysia over the next three years.
Its inaugural Venture Generation Programme is set to begin in October 2023 and applications are currently open.