Since 2012, 500 Global has been investing across Southeast Asia (SEA), building a portfolio of 300+ regionally headquartered companies through our funds. Recognized as a leading investor backing “unicorns” early in SEA’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, we’re a trusted partner to founders and investors driving the region's next wave of innovation.
We made our first SEA investment in 2012 and began deploying our first dedicated regional fund in 2014. Today, we have 300+ regionally headquartered companies across 9 countries, including 4 companies valued over $1 billion and 10 valued over $100 million.
500 Global is more than a venture investor in Southeast Asia — we are a long-term partner to the founders, institutions, and public-sector leaders shaping one of the world’s most dynamic and rapidly evolving technology ecosystems. As one of leading global investors in the region, we have supported companies from idea to IPO, helping build some of the earliest high-growth success stories in the market.
Through our funds, accelerator programs, venture education, advisory support, and the 500 Social House in Kuala Lumpur—our innovation hub situated alongside Malaysia’s central bank and national stock exchange—we help bridge institutional leadership with frontier technology. Our AI Residency and AI TAKEOVER activations strengthen the region’s technical talent base, while partnerships with visionary governments and ecosystem leaders support the development of future-ready innovation systems. Together, these initiatives reflect our commitment to building an AI-enabled, globally competitive Southeast Asian ecosystem.
500 Global’s first investment in SEA from Global Fund.
Launched 500’s first regional fund to invest in SEA startups. First 50 investments include Grab, Carsome, Carousell, FinAccel, Bukalapak.
Launched 500’s first fund in Thailand.
The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup, excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.
By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion.
500’s first SEA portfolio company valued over $1 billion - Grab.
Launched 500’s second regional fund to invest in SEA startups.
Launched our first fund in Vietnam.
Launched ImpactAim Indonesia with UNDP.
500 partners with Petronas for PETRONAS FutureTech.
The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup, excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.
By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion.
Launched 500’s third and largest regional fund to invest in SEA startups.
500’s SEA portfolio company is Indonesia’s largest IPO in history - Bukalapak.
500’s SEA portfolio company is NASDAQ’s largest foreign SPAC - Grab.
Launched 500’s first growth stage fund in SEA to invest in Malaysia companies
Launched Angkor 500 Ignition Program in Cambodia for founders.
The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup, excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.
By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion.
Established 500 Social House in Kuala Lumpur.
Launched Angkor 500 Accelerator, Growth, Globalisation Program in Cambodia for founders, as well as the Mentor Training for business leaders.
Launched the AI Residency at the Social House in Kuala Lumpur.
Launched KL AI TAKEOVER alongside ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025.
The program Fee for Phase 1 is $35,000 per startup, excluding travel expenses. This fee covers the comprehensive support, mentorship, and resources provided throughout Phase 1.
By completing Phase 1, startups is expected to gain valuable insights, refine their strategies, and make informed decisions for successful market expansion.
As one of Southeast Asia’s most active early-stage investors, 500 Global helps founders scale faster and compete globally. By bridging regional talent with global networks, capital, and AI expertise, we support startups transforming industries across Southeast Asia and beyond.
Regionally based portfolio companies.
Portfolio companies valued over $100M.
Our AI Residency is a experimental program accelerating Southeast Asia’s next generation of technical builders. Based at the 500 Social House in Malaysia, it offers founders, engineers, and hackers a collaborative environment to level up their skills and ship products.
Residents gain access to a dedicated co-working space, a community that builds and iterates daily, and a culture of experimentation, peer learning, and open collaboration. By sharing wins, debugging together, and creating in public, participants strengthen the region’s AI talent pipeline and push the boundaries of what’s possible.
We’re looking for AI-native creators, technical founders, and fast-moving hackers ready to shape Southeast Asia’s AI future.
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The 500 Social House in Kuala Lumpur is our dedicated innovation hub that brings together Southeast Asia’s tech ecosystem. Located within the Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers—steps from Bank Negara Malaysia and Bursa Malaysia Berhad—it reflects 500 Global’s role in linking major institutions with cutting-edge technology.
The Social House hosts community events, founder workshops, and our AI Residency, giving builders a collaborative space to experiment and scale new ideas. With direct connectivity to Malaysia’s NAIO Lab, it serves as a central destination for founders, investors, and innovators navigating Southeast Asia’s next big technology transitions, including the rapid rise of artificial intelligence.
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We launched KL AI Takeover alongside the ASEAN AI Malaysia Summit 2025, hosted by Malaysia’s Ministry of Digital, to strengthen Southeast Asia’s AI talent pipeline—uniting physical spaces, community-driven programming, and access to leading voices across technology, policy, and industry.
The inaugural KL AI Takeover took place from 8–14 August 2025, where we welcomed 400+ attendees across nine events, creating a powerful week of connectivity, collaboration, and momentum for the region’s emerging AI ecosystem.
Tech in Asia 60/40: Crabs in a Tub
In a no-holds-barred convo with 500 Global’s Khailee Ng, we unpack the emotional, economic, and ecosystem-wide challenges currently plaguing Southeast Asia’s startup scene.
Khailee throws down an open challenge to us all: want out? Stack your leverage, play smarter kung fu, and stop being a crab in the tub.
Sit down with Vishal Harnal, Managing Partner of 500 Global, to find out what it's like being a venture capitalist, why he still invests in companies with only 1% chance of making it big, and the importance of enjoying what you do.
Watch Tulika Raj, co-founder of Singapore startup SunGreenH2, deliver a smooth pitch to 500 Global’s Vishal Harnal about her mission to decarbonise polluting industries using green hydrogen.
We celebrate our three-year collaboration with Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA). Together, we have worked toward a shared goal: strengthening Egypt’s innovation ecosystem in ways that advance national priorities around digital transformation, while creating commercially investable opportunities with global potential.
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