Key Takeaways
- • Singapore-based startups captured 91% of Southeast Asia's venture funding in the first nine months of 2026, according to data from Founders Forum Group and Dealroom, as regional startup funding tripled to US$10.7 billion.
- • Singapore's share of regional venture funding has risen from 62% in 2019, underscoring its consolidation as the main base for founders and investors operating across Southeast Asia.
- • DayOne, a Singapore data centre operator, raised US$4.5 billion, the largest round in Southeast Asia this year, with US investor Coatue participating alongside Hillhouse.
- • US investors have held a steady 20% to 30% share of investors in Singapore venture rounds since 2020, while their participation in Chinese rounds has fallen to 2% to 3% annually since 2023.
- • Across Asia, startups raised US$129.6 billion between January and September 2026, up from US$60.0 billion a year earlier, with China accounting for US$88.5 billion of the total.
Summary
Singapore-based startups captured 91% of Southeast Asia's venture funding in the first nine months of 2026, according to data from Founders Forum Group and Dealroom. Regional startup funding tripled to US$10.7 billion over the period. The city-state's share was 62% in 2019, and the figures reinforce its position as the principal base for founders and investors operating across the region.
Across Asia, startups raised US$129.6 billion between January and September, up from US$60.0 billion a year earlier and already 57% above the full-year 2025 total. China accounted for most of the increase, with Chinese startups raising US$88.5 billion. Rounds of US$250 million or more reached US$66.5 billion, compared with US$9.5 billion in the same period a year earlier. Singapore data centre operator DayOne raised US$4.5 billion, the largest regional round this year, with participation from US investor Coatue alongside Hillhouse. Manus AI, which moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2025, raised US$500 million this year, and robotics company Sharpa raised US$619 million from backers including Alibaba.
Artificial intelligence accounted for a growing share of regional activity. AI companies made up 34% of Asian rounds worth US$1 million or more, up from 12% in 2023, and took 62% of the dollars raised. Chinese AI companies were prominent, with fundraising led by groups including DeepSeek, MoonshotAI, Kling AI and StepFun. Globally, OpenAI raised US$122 billion this year and Anthropic raised US$95 billion across two rounds. Asia's share of global venture funding held at 18%, while its share of total deal count rose from 27% in 2019 to 32%.
US investors have maintained a relatively stable presence in Singapore venture rounds, representing 20% to 30% of investors in those deals each year since 2020. By contrast, US participation in Chinese rounds fell from 11% of investors in 2020 to 2% to 3% annually since 2023. Singapore, Hong Kong and the UAE have kept US participation between 20% and 30%. Carolyn Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Founders Forum Group, said consistent investor participation had reinforced Singapore's role in regional markets, adding that Singapore has made itself an innovation hub for AI and deep tech founders and a bridge between Asia and Europe. Dawson also said founder decisions on location and investor mix are becoming more closely linked as geopolitical considerations shape capital flows.
The data also highlighted Singapore's function as a conduit for outbound capital. Singapore investors GIC and Temasek backed Supabase and Mobvista respectively.
Across Asia, startups raised US$129.6 billion between January and September, up from US$60.0 billion a year earlier and already 57% above the full-year 2025 total. China accounted for most of the increase, with Chinese startups raising US$88.5 billion. Rounds of US$250 million or more reached US$66.5 billion, compared with US$9.5 billion in the same period a year earlier. Singapore data centre operator DayOne raised US$4.5 billion, the largest regional round this year, with participation from US investor Coatue alongside Hillhouse. Manus AI, which moved its headquarters to Singapore in 2025, raised US$500 million this year, and robotics company Sharpa raised US$619 million from backers including Alibaba.
Artificial intelligence accounted for a growing share of regional activity. AI companies made up 34% of Asian rounds worth US$1 million or more, up from 12% in 2023, and took 62% of the dollars raised. Chinese AI companies were prominent, with fundraising led by groups including DeepSeek, MoonshotAI, Kling AI and StepFun. Globally, OpenAI raised US$122 billion this year and Anthropic raised US$95 billion across two rounds. Asia's share of global venture funding held at 18%, while its share of total deal count rose from 27% in 2019 to 32%.
US investors have maintained a relatively stable presence in Singapore venture rounds, representing 20% to 30% of investors in those deals each year since 2020. By contrast, US participation in Chinese rounds fell from 11% of investors in 2020 to 2% to 3% annually since 2023. Singapore, Hong Kong and the UAE have kept US participation between 20% and 30%. Carolyn Dawson, Chief Executive Officer of Founders Forum Group, said consistent investor participation had reinforced Singapore's role in regional markets, adding that Singapore has made itself an innovation hub for AI and deep tech founders and a bridge between Asia and Europe. Dawson also said founder decisions on location and investor mix are becoming more closely linked as geopolitical considerations shape capital flows.
The data also highlighted Singapore's function as a conduit for outbound capital. Singapore investors GIC and Temasek backed Supabase and Mobvista respectively.
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