Global startup generator and early stage venture capital firm, Antler, has raised an additional $50m into its funds in Amsterdam, London, New York, Stockholm, Sydney, Nairobi, Oslo and Singapore.
Antler identifies and enables exceptional people to build groundbreaking tech companies – regardless of gender, socioeconomic background or ethnicity – from the ground up through its program. Antler then provides pre-seed and later-stage capital to the successful companies. In order to provide this funding, Antler has local funds in each geography.
Founded in 2017 in Singapore, by Magnus Grimeland (former co-founder of Zalora, which sold to Global Fashion Group), Antler is expanding fast. It already runs programmes in eight global locations, will soon launch in Jakarta, and launch an additional 5 new locations in 2020.
Since its launch in Singapore in 2018, Antler has invested in over 120 companies – many of which have already announced further funding from leading VCs such as Sequoia and Golden Gate Ventures. Airalo and Cognicept have both raised investment from Sequoia; Sampingan from Golden Gate Ventures; and Base from East Ventures.
Magnus Grimeland, CEO and founder of Antler, said: “The world is full of brilliant and determined people who have the potential to build world-changing business, but haven’t yet taken the leap into entrepreneurship. We are laser focused on helping great people create groundbreaking businesses. Raising funds across seven geographies means that we can spread our impact across the world.
“We are looking forward to seeing our existing portfolio of exciting startups expand; and launching further Antler programmes in 2020.”
Since its launch in Singapore in 2018, Antler has invested in over 120 companies – many of which have already announced further funding from leading VCs such as Sequoia and Golden Gate Ventures.
Mori Kosuke from Credit Saison said: “Through Antler we can be a long-term growth partner for some of the world’s most exciting start-ups, supporting their internationalisation and scaling up. We are taking these start-ups to the next level, from seed to Series A, B, and beyond.”
Facebook co-founder Eduardo Saverin added: “We need more smart people to start companies that focus on solving the world’s biggest problems. Antler is giving phenomenal individuals the chance to make this happen, at an impressive scale.”