PRESS RELEASE
22 JULY 2025 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
First-of-its-kind Venture Capital Programme in Asia launches as NUS commits S$150 million to boost growth of deep tech start-ups
- NUS will invest S$50 million (US$39 million) in selected venture capital (VC) firms to provide structured support for NUS tech start-ups.
- S$100 million (US$78 million) will be committed to an autonomous investment fund focused on NUS-affiliated start-ups, with the flexibility to invest alongside selected VC partners.
Singapore, 22 July 2025 - Asia is grappling with a prolonged funding winter, with venture capital investments falling sharply to a 10-year low of S$85 billion (US$66 billion). With a five per cent decline from 2023, early-stage funding totalled less than S$38 billion (US$29 billion) in 20241. To address the critical funding and mentorship gaps faced by tech start-ups, NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS) — flagship comprehensive research university in Singapore, is committing S$150 million (US$116 million) to launch the NUS VC Programme.
The initiative aims to enhance support for early-stage tech innovation by focusing on high-potential ventures within the NUS ecosystem, including start-ups from the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP). National GRIP empowers innovators to transform lab-based research discoveries into globally competitive, market-ready ventures.
“As the region faces a sharp pullback in venture capital activity, we see the new NUS VC Programme — the first of its kind initiative by a university in Asia — as a critical enabler. Research-based start-ups face distinct challenges, including R&D cycles that are much longer than traditional start-ups, making them especially vulnerable in today’s cautious investment environment. This programme brings together capital, strategic partnerships, and specialised venture expertise to create a more resilient path from lab to market,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President.
Beyond capital: Money and expertise
The programme comprises two key components.
First, NUS will commit S$50 million (US$39 million) over the next three years in selected venture capital firms with strong track records in early-stage deep tech investments. These firms will provide structured, hands-on support to start-ups, including time, expertise, and access to their networks to help them scale effectively.
The first two VC partners are Granite Asia, a leading multi-asset investment platform with a 25-year track record of backing breakthrough technology ventures globally, and 4BIO Capital, a specialist life sciences investor focused on advanced therapeutics. (Refer to Annexe A for details on the structured initiatives developed by NUS in collaboration with these partners.)
Second, NUS will set aside S$100 million (US$78 million) for co-investments alongside these VC partners. These co-investments will be targeted at NUS-affiliated start-ups.
Complementing National GRIP with expert VC support for NUS start-ups
Many National GRIP start-ups are still in the early stages of technological readiness and require continued, strategic support to advance from lab to market. The NUS VC Programme complements the National GRIP framework by addressing this need for downstream venture development. While GRIP currently provides up to S$250,000 (US$194,000) in seed funding per start-up, the VC Programme focuses on accelerating post-seed growth and preparing ventures for external capital.
What sets this effort apart is the direct engagement with leading venture capital firms selected not only for their track records, but also for their market access in global innovation hubs. By combining capital with deep venture expertise, the programme offers structured support including mentorship, investor feedback, market entry, fundraising networks, and operational guidance.
“National GRIP is an important first step in helping deep tech start-ups take root,” said Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise). “The VC Programme builds on this by pairing promising ventures with globally connected investors, enabling a more complete pathway to scale and commercial success. This is essential given that most start-ups struggle to move beyond early-stage innovation toward impactful, real-world deployment.”
1https://news.crunchbase.com/venture/asia-startup-funding-tanks-eoy-2024/
Annexe A – Structured initiatives developed by NUS with VC firms including Granite Asia and 4BIO Capital
| Area of Support |
Scope |
Objective |
| Programme design and development |
Jointly shape the design, structure, and thematic focus of NUS’ venture support programmes. |
Equip start-ups with the skills and platforms needed to reach product-market fit and attract institutional funding. |
| Access to VC network |
Connect start-ups to the VC firms’ investment ecosystem, including co-investors, portfolio founders, industry partners, and potential customers. |
Accelerate start-ups’ market access and business development by unlocking high-value industry and investor connections. |
| Knowledge and insight sharing |
Share market intelligence, domain expertise, and investment insights across deep tech, therapeutics, and emerging sectors. |
Strengthen founders’ strategic decision-making and fundraising readiness through learning from industry experts. |
| Mentorship |
Provide dedicated guidance and advice from experienced investment professionals on key aspects of venture building. |
Support start-ups in validating their business models, refining products, and executing go-to-market strategies. |
| Support towards Series A |
Guide founders in preparing for fundraising, including pitch refinement, round structuring, and investor introductions. |
Increase the likelihood of successful institutional funding for start-ups. |
Annexe B – Quotes from participating VCs
“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, deep operational support, and Granite Asia’s global network. Together, we aim to accelerate the next generation of transformative technologies from Singapore to the world.”
Ms Jenny Lee and Mr Jixun Foo, Senior Managing Partners, Granite Asia
“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 start-ups and strengthening the region’s innovation ecosystem. At 4BIO Capital, we look forward to partnering with NUS on this exciting initiative and learning from each other as we build and grow the companies developing the treatments of tomorrow.”
Dr Dima Kuzmin, Managing Partner, 4BIO Capital
