TNB Aura
TNB Aura is a Singapore-headquartered, sector-agnostic venture capital firm making thesis-led Series A/B investments in technology companies across Southeast Asia (Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, plus Korea coverage), with ~18 staff, a Scout pre-seed extension, and a Next-Billion impact framework.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersSingapore, Singapore
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TNB Aura does
TNB Aura is a sector-agnostic, Southeast Asia-focused venture capital firm headquartered in Singapore (138 Cecil Street, Cecil Court) that makes thesis-led, high-conviction Series A and Series B investments in technology companies across five core geographies: Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, and Malaysia, with additional Korea coverage via a venture partner. The firm operates a core Series A/B fund complemented by two named extensions: the TNB Aura Scout pre-seed initiative (launched 2024) for earlier-stage opportunities in less mature SEA markets, and a TNB Aura Impact Framework delivered through annual Impact Reports (2024 and 2025 editions) targeting "the Next Billion" through access and innovation outcomes.
The firm's product surface rests on its proprietary "Uncommon Chemistry" investment methodology, organized around three pillars (The Smarts for research-driven sourcing, The Hustle for execution support, and The Heart for impact orientation), combined with a regional footprint of two Co-Founders/Managing Partners (Vicknesh R Pillay, Charles Wong), two further Managing Partners heading Indonesia (Glen Ramersan) and the Philippines (David Bonifacio), a Partner (Joe Zhang), and Venture Partners in Malaysia, Vietnam, and Korea. The active portfolio spans at least 40 companies across AgriTech (TechCoop, Eratani, AgriAku), FinTech (GIMO, Finhay, PEXX, Salmon, Invesko, PowerCred), EdTech (Vuihoc, CoLearn), D2C consumer (Zenyum, PRISM+, Horizon, Gush, RockMedical), TeleHealth (ORA), EV charging and motorbikes (Charge+, ION Mobility-exited), MarTech (Ematic Solutions), PropTech (Zuzu Hospitality), advanced materials (Niber Technologies), and SaaS (TradeGecko-exited).
TNB Aura's revenue mechanics follow standard VC fund economics: management fees on committed/deployed capital across its fund vehicles (a successor fund referenced as "TNBAF2") plus carried interest on realizations above a hurdle, supplemented in value (though not in revenue) by strategic value creation support to portfolio companies. Distribution is sales-led, built on direct outreach by Managing Partners and Partners, inbound via the website ([email protected]), the Scout pre-seed channel, and ecosystem partnerships such as the November 2025 BINUS Startup Wars Grand Final. Capital is sourced from institutional LPs including Development Bank of Japan Inc., MAVCAP, Orient Growth Ventures, and Norfund, with the firm employing ~18 people in total.
TNB Aura firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TNB Aura
- Legal name
- TNB Aura
- Website
- https://tnbaura.vc
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TNB Aura is a Singapore-headquartered, sector-agnostic venture capital firm making thesis-led Series A/B investments in technology companies across Southeast Asia (Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, Philippines, Malaysia, plus Korea coverage), with ~18 staff, a Scout pre-seed extension, and a Next-Billion impact framework.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
TNB Aura industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (523940), Portfolio Management and Investment Advice (52394), All Other Financial Investment Activities (52399)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity (FSANACAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate) (FSANAHAI), Corporate Strategic Partnership & Ecosystem Investment Arms (FSANAHAF)
Keywords
Where TNB Aura is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Singapore
- HQ country
- Singapore
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices5 records
Markets served
TNB Aura business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Venture Capital Fund Management: As a sector-agnostic Southeast Asia-focused venture capital firm making Series A/B investments, TNB Aura generates revenue through standard VC fund economics: management fees on committed/deployed capital and carried interest on fund returns above a hurdle
- Strategic Value Creation Services: TNB Aura provides ongoing strategic value creation support to portfolio companies beyond capital, leveraging institutionalisation, improvement, and innovation framework with dedicated regional heads to support portfolio growth and impact
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels7 records
TNB Aura product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TNB Aura is a sector-agnostic, Singapore-headquartered venture capital firm that makes thesis-led, high-conviction Series A/B investments in tech companies across Southeast Asia, applying an "Uncommon Chemistry" framework built on The Smarts (research-driven sourcing), The Hustle (execution support) and The Heart (impact focus). The firm operates a core Series A/B fund, a pre-seed "Scout" initiative covering less mature SEA markets, and a Next Billion impact framework published through annual Impact Reports, providing portfolio companies with both capital and ongoing strategic value creation support.
Product overview
TNB Aura is a single, unified venture capital firm rather than a multi-product technology platform: its core offering is a sector-agnostic, Southeast Asia-focused Series A/B investment fund headquartered in Singapore, accompanied by two named extensions — the TNB Aura Scout pre-seed initiative (for earlier-stage opportunities in less mature SEA markets) and the TNB Aura Impact Framework (delivered through annual Impact Reports such as the 2024 and 2025 editions, focused on 'uplifting the lives of the Next Billion'). The firm's 'products' from an LP perspective are therefore the Series A/B fund, the Scout programme, the impact platform, and the active and exited portfolio of investee companies that together form the firm's investment offering. Active portfolio holdings span social commerce (Super), D2C consumer brands (Zenyum, PRISM+, Horizon, Gush, RockMedical), TeleHealth (ORA), AgriTech (Techcoop, Eratani, AgriAku), EduTech (Vuihoc, CoLearn), EV charging (Charge+) and EV motorbikes (ION Mobility, exited), FinTech (GIMO, Finhay, PEXX, Salmon, Invesko), PropTech (Zuzu Hospitality), MarTech (Ematic Solutions), advanced manufacturing materials (Niber Technologies), B2B e-commerce (Ralali), logistics (T&C, ODN), and Software/SaaS (LUNA, TradeGecko-exited). Exits and M&A outcomes include Avanseus, Ai Health, ION Mobility, TradeGecko (acquired by Intuit, August 2020), Teko-VN Shop, Tjufoo, and T&C, with Propzy and Zipmex as closed positions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- TNB Aura Scout: Pre-seed scouting programme for high-potential business models and founders in less mature Southeast Asia markets, sitting alongside TNB Aura's core Series A/B strategy.
Products and services
- TNB Aura Core Series A/B Venture Capital Fund Sector-agnostic Southeast Asia-focused Series A/B venture capital fund headquartered in Singapore that invests in tech companies with thesis-led, high-conviction, larger-bet/fewer-investments positioning; provides capital plus ongoing strategic value creation support to portfolio companies across Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore, with Korea coverage via a Venture Partner.
- TNB Aura Scout Pre-seed scout initiative that identifies and invests in high-potential business models and founders in less mature Southeast Asian markets (including AcadArena, CarNow, Finhay, Invesko, LUNA, NuuN, ODN, PEXX, PowerCred, Révi, RockMedical, Salmon) ahead of a potential core Series A/B investment by the firm.
Quantifiable outcome
- 2,920,562 beneficiaries with first time access across portfolio
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use TNB Aura
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
TNB Aura technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
TNB Aura partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- BINUSecosystem partner for founder engagementTNB Aura Partners with BINUS to Host the Grand Final of Startup Wars 2025, an ecosystem competition engaging early-stage founders across SEA; BINUS GROUP also co-led CoLearn's Series A follow-on alongside TNB Aura and KTB Network.
Scale indicators18 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
TNB Aura competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 500 Global (500 Startups): Global early-stage venture capital firm and accelerator with significant Southeast Asia presence (500 Durians) including Singapore, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Comparable to TNB Aura in SEA footprint, but operates as a much larger global platform with a broader portfolio mandate.
Direct peers
- Golden Gate Ventures: Singapore-based early-stage venture capital firm investing across Southeast Asia in seed and Series A technology companies. Comparable to TNB Aura in pan-SEA geographic focus and sector-agnostic technology investing.
- Wavemaker Partners: SEA- and US-focused early-to-growth venture capital firm that invests across sectors including fintech, consumer, and enterprise software. Comparable to TNB Aura in early-stage conviction, sector-agnostic thesis approach, and dual SEA/US coverage with offices across the region.
- Monk's Hill Ventures: Singapore-based early-to-Series A venture capital firm focused on Southeast Asia technology companies. Directly comparable to TNB Aura as a SEA-focused Series A lead investor (co-invested alongside TNB Aura in ION Mobility's $3.3M seed round) and serves similar founder segments in Singapore and Indonesia.
- Openspace Ventures: SEA-focused venture capital firm headquartered in Singapore making Series A/B investments across fintech, consumer, and digital economy verticals. Comparable to TNB Aura in stage focus, regional coverage, and thesis-led investment style.
- Alpha JWC Ventures: Indonesia-focused early-to-Series A venture capital firm backing technology companies across verticals. Comparable to TNB Aura as a SEA-focused Series A investor with a strong Indonesia footprint and similar sector-agnostic thesis approach.
- East Ventures: Indonesia- and SEA-focused early-stage venture capital firm that invests across sectors including fintech, agritech, and edtech. A direct comparable to TNB Aura in regional focus, sector-agnostic mandate, and emphasis on serving the 'next billion' consumers in Indonesia and Vietnam.
- AC Ventures: Indonesia-focused early-stage venture capital firm investing across sectors including agritech, fintech, and consumer. Comparable to TNB Aura in Indonesia depth, sector-agnostic approach, and Series A/B lead investing across Indonesian champions.
- Vertex Ventures: Singapore-based venture capital network with a dedicated SEA fund investing from seed through Series B in technology companies. Direct comparable to TNB Aura across stage, region, and sector-agnostic technology focus.
- Jungle Ventures: Singapore-headquartered Series A-focused venture capital firm investing across Southeast Asia with concentrated bets on category leaders. Direct comparable to TNB Aura's Series A/B thesis-led, high-conviction approach and pan-SEA geographic mandate.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TNB Aura social profiles
Digital presenceTNB Aura financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TNB Aura leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles8 records
TNB Aura funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TNB Aura M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments43 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TNB Aura
What does TNB Aura do?
TNB Aura is a sector-agnostic, Singapore-headquartered venture capital firm that makes thesis-led, high-conviction Series A/B investments in tech companies across Southeast Asia, applying an "Uncommon Chemistry" framework built on The Smarts (research-driven sourcing), The Hustle (execution support) and The Heart (impact focus). The firm operates a core Series A/B fund, a pre-seed "Scout" initiative covering less mature SEA markets, and a Next Billion impact framework published through annual Impact Reports, providing portfolio companies with both capital and ongoing strategic value creation support.
Is TNB Aura a public or private company?
TNB Aura is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was TNB Aura founded?
TNB Aura was founded in 2020. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TNB Aura based?
TNB Aura is headquartered in Singapore, Singapore, in the Asia region.
How does TNB Aura make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Venture Capital Fund Management is the primary driver. The others are strategic Value Creation Services.
Who are TNB Aura's main competitors?
500 Global (500 Startups) is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Golden Gate Ventures, Wavemaker Partners, Monk's Hill Ventures, Openspace Ventures, Alpha JWC Ventures, East Ventures, AC Ventures, Vertex Ventures and Jungle Ventures.
Does TNB Aura have an API?
No public API is recorded for TNB Aura.
What industry is TNB Aura in?
TNB Aura's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANACAD, Business Services (B2B) Growth Equity, with a secondary code of FSANAHAI, Corporate Innovation & Technology Scouting Units (with investment mandate). Its NAICS code is 523940 and its SIC code is 6282.