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Singapore's Jungle Ventures Raises $175 Million

Singapore's Jungle Ventures Raises $175 Million

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Singapore’s Jungle Ventures has raised $175 million from investors including Temasek Holdings Pte for the first close of its third fund, according to people familiar with the matter.

Singapore's Jungle Ventures Raises $175 Million

The firm is likely to exceed its original target of $200 million as it finishes raising money for the fund in the next few months, said the people, asking not to be named because the matter is private. Other investors in the new fund include the family office of billionaire entrepreneur Kuok Khoon Hong who runs Wilmar International Ltd., International Finance Corp. and Cisco Investments Ltd., they said.

Since launching its first early-stage fund in 2012, Jungle Ventures has been one of the earliest VC firms to target Southeast Asia. The new fund reflects rising interest from investors who are seeking opportunities beyond the U.S. and China, the primary focus for Asia deals in recent years. Singapore is now home to more than 150 VC funds, according to Enterprise Singapore, the government agency spearheading such development.

Jungle Ventures has differentiated itself by betting on grey-haired veterans with C-suite experience, rather than starry-eyed twentysomethings. It’s cashed out of several startups and its portfolio includes online fashion retailer Pomelo, digital entertainment service iflix and RedDoorz, a budget hotel booking platform.

--With assistance from Selina Wang.

To contact the reporter on this story: Yoolim Lee in Singapore at yoolim@bloomberg.net

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Edwin Chan at echan273@bloomberg.net, Peter Elstrom, Robert Fenner

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