The Hive Southeast Asia
The Hive Southeast Asia is a Kuala Lumpur-based early-stage venture capital fund and co-creation studio, investing RM500,000–RM5 million per company in Malaysian and Southeast Asian tech startups under the Malaysian government's Dana Penjana Nasional matching programme.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2020
- HeadquartersKuala Lumpur, Malaysia
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What The Hive Southeast Asia does
The Hive Southeast Asia (THSEA) is an early-stage venture capital fund and co-creation studio headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, operating as a tri-party collaboration between The Hive LLC (a Palo Alto-based parent that has previously launched sister funds in Brazil and India), Tuas Capital Partners (a Malaysian private equity and venture capital firm led by Managing Director Datuk Syed Haizam Jamalullail), and Sunway Group. The firm was established in June 2020 in response to the Malaysian government's Dana Penjana Nasional matching fund-of-funds programme — a RM600 million Short-term Economic Recovery Plan allocation that matches foreign investment 1:1 up to a RM1.2 billion target. THSEA invests RM500,000 to RM5 million per company at Co-Creation/Seed through Pre-Series A stages into technology and tech-adjacent Southeast Asian startups, with follow-on participation rights and active support in syndicating subsequent rounds. Beyond capital, the firm operates a co-creation studio that pairs entrepreneurs with corporate partners (including GE, Dell/EMC, eBay, and McKesson) to provide early customers, technical guidance, and go-to-market pathways, applying a Silicon Valley-origin methodology adapted for Malaysian and regional market entry.
The Hive's core "products" are the venture fund itself and the co-creation studio service, supported by three operational pillars: The Hive Think Tank (an 11,000+ member thought leadership and event platform, the largest community of AI and data innovators in the San Francisco Bay Area), the VC Talent Program (a quarterly internship pipeline enrolling three investment interns per quarter under the Dana Penjana Nasional knowledge transfer mandate), and a portfolio of 12 disclosed companies spanning fintech (Finology, Payd, Halogen Capital), creator economy (Cult Creative), mental health (ThoughtFull), agent management (Ejen2u), pre-owned motorcycle e-commerce (iMotorbike), collectibles livestreaming (Collektr), and AI (Nusantara AI). The firm has also formalised a state-level public-sector partnership via an MoU with the Smart Selangor Delivery Unit to build AI-based startups under the Selangor Smart State programme. Revenue mechanics rely on conventional early-stage VC economics — management fees on committed capital and future carried interest from exits — neither of which are publicly disclosed for THSEA as a standalone entity.
The Hive Southeast Asia firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- The Hive Southeast Asia
- Legal name
- The Hive Southeast Asia
- Website
- https://thehivesea.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2020
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- The Hive Southeast Asia is a Kuala Lumpur-based early-stage venture capital fund and co-creation studio, investing RM500,000–RM5 million per company in Malaysian and Southeast Asian tech startups under the Malaysian government's Dana Penjana Nasional matching programme.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
The Hive Southeast Asia industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Venture Capital
- NAICS
- Other Investment Pools and Funds (5259)
- SIC
- Investment Advice (6282)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed) (FSANAAAA)
Keywords
Where The Hive Southeast Asia is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Kuala Lumpur
- HQ country
- Malaysia
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices2 records
Markets served
The Hive Southeast Asia business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Investment Returns: The Hive Southeast Asia generates returns through equity investments in early-stage startups. They provide early-stage financing ranging from RM500,000 to RM5 million per company with follow-on participation and help syndicating future rounds.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Early-stage investment ticket size |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels4 records
The Hive Southeast Asia product offering
Product offeringCore offering
The Hive Southeast Asia runs an early-stage venture capital fund that invests RM500,000 to RM5 million per company from Pre-Seed/Co-Creation through Pre-Series A, with follow-on participation and round syndication support. It also operates a co-creation studio that works hands-on with entrepreneurs and corporate partners to build startups leveraging data, AI, blockchain, and deep tech for the Southeast Asian market, providing product and technical guidance plus early customer introductions. The offerings are underpinned by the Dana Penjana Nasional mandate (RM1.2 billion target allocation with 1:1 government matching) and by Silicon Valley expertise from parent The Hive LLC.
Product overview
The Hive Southeast Asia is an early-stage venture capital fund and co-creation studio operating as a collaboration between The Hive (Palo Alto), Tuas Capital Partners, and Sunway Group. The firm operates under the Dana Penjana Nasional mandate, offering two integrated offerings: a venture fund providing RM500,000 to RM5 million early-stage financing (Pre-Seed to Pre-Series A) with follow-on participation, and a co-creation studio that works with entrepreneurs and corporations to build startups leveraging data, AI, blockchain, and deep tech. Supporting these core offerings are The Hive Think Tank (thought leadership forum), the VC Talent Program (internship initiative), and a portfolio of 12 investee companies spanning fintech, e-commerce, mental health, digital assets, and creator platforms.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- The Hive Think Tank: Thought leadership forum bringing together entrepreneurs, corporations, and thought leaders focused on AI, data, enterprise, fintech, and deep technology topics. The largest community of AI and data innovators in the San Francisco Bay Area with over 11K members.
Products and services
- The Hive Southeast Asia Venture Fund Early-stage venture capital fund providing financing of RM500,000 to RM5 million per company for startups at Co-Creation/Seed to Pre-Series A stages, with follow-on participation and syndication support for future financing rounds. Targeted at Southeast Asia startups and foreign startups with a strong regional presence, primarily operating under the Malaysian government's Dana Penjana Nasional mandate.
- Co-Creation Studio Venture studio that collaborates with entrepreneurs and corporations to create and launch startups, providing product and technical guidance, early customers, and go-to-market partnerships to reduce product and technology risks and enhance product-market fit. Works with corporates such as GE, Dell/EMC, eBay, and McKesson for co-created startups.
Quantifiable outcome
- Portfolio companies generate revenue growth (e.g., ThoughtFull achieved 30x total revenue growth and 10x year-over-year growth)
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use The Hive Southeast Asia
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
The Hive Southeast Asia technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
The Hive Southeast Asia partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- Sterling EquityminorSterling Equity, led by Faris Lodin, cited The Hive Southeast Asia as an example of evolution from capital allocation to participation in the Southeast Asian venture ecosystem.
- Smart Selangor Delivery Unit (SSDU)coreMoU signed to launch collaboration for The Hive Southeast Asia to share its co-creation methodologies to develop Smart Selangor Digital initiatives. The partnership aims to create AI-based technology startups in Selangor, leveraging Silicon Valley practices through the Selangor Smart State programme.
- Tuas Capital PartnerscorePrimary local partner for The Hive Southeast Asia operations. Tuas Capital Partners, led by Managing Partner Datuk Syed Haizam Jamalullail, collaborates with The Hive to bring Silicon Valley expertise to Malaysia's venture capital ecosystem. The partnership operates under the Dana Penjana Nasional programme.
- Sunway GroupcoreOne of three founding collaborators (alongside The Hive and Tuas Capital Partners) establishing The Hive Southeast Asia. Sunway provides ecosystem access through Sunway iLabs and supports the startup ecosystem with innovation initiatives like Sunway LaunchX.
- GEminorCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
- Dell/EMCminorCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
- eBayminorCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
- McKessonminorCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
- IBMminorSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
- SAPminorSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
- MicrosoftminorSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
- ClouderaminorSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
- VisaminorSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
- Sunway iLabsminorSunway Innovation Labs partnered with Carsome to launch Malaysia's first auto ecosystem accelerator. The Hive SEA is part of the funding funnel and ecosystem for further funding and investment opportunities.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights5 records
The Hive Southeast Asia competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tuas Capital Partners: Malaysian PE/VC firm that is The Hive SEA's primary local partner under Dana Penjana Nasional. Comparable Malaysian venture investor with broader stage range but shared capital pool and overlapping investment activity in Malaysia.
- Gobi Partners: One of the largest early- to growth-stage VCs in Southeast Asia headquartered in Kuala Lumpur. Directly comparable to The Hive SEA on regional mandate, cheque size, and sector focus, and has co-invested in iMotorbike alongside The Hive SEA, making them the closest competitive peer in the Malaysia seed ecosystem.
- 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups): Global early-stage VC with active Southeast Asia presence through 500 Southeast Asia. 500 Global co-invested with The Hive SEA in Halogen Capital and is one of the most direct competitors for Malaysian pre-seed and seed opportunities.
- AC Ventures: Indonesia-focused early-stage VC with growing Malaysian exposure. AC Ventures Malaysia led the Collektr round in which The Hive SEA participated, illustrating direct head-to-head competition for Southeast Asian seed opportunities.
- Wavemaker Partners: Southeast Asia-focused early-stage VC investing at seed to Series A from a fund structure with both US and Asia LPs. Similar stage focus and active regional mandate make it a closely comparable peer, particularly in cross-border deals.
- Saison Capital: Early-stage venture arm of Credit Saison, investing in pre-seed and seed startups across Southeast Asia. Highly comparable to The Hive SEA on stage, regional focus, and emphasis on fintech-adjacent opportunities in the region.
- Openspace Ventures (formerly KK Fund): Singapore-anchored early-stage VC actively investing in Southeast Asian tech startups at seed and Series A. Comparable on geography, stage, and tech sector focus even though The Hive SEA is more Malaysia-concentrated.
Broad incumbents
- East Ventures: One of the largest and most established early-stage VCs across Southeast Asia. Operates at materially larger scale than The Hive SEA but competes for similar pre-seed/seed tech deals and serves as a comparable broad-incumbent regional venture investor.
- Jungle Ventures: Singapore-based early- to growth-stage VC focused on Southeast Asia. Larger AUM and broader stage mandate than The Hive SEA but overlaps meaningfully on the seed/Series A end of the regional pipeline.
- Creador: Southeast Asia-focused growth-stage private equity firm that participated in the Collektr round alongside The Hive SEA. Comparable as a regional investor with Malaysia presence, though typically investing at later stages than The Hive SEA.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
The Hive Southeast Asia social profiles
Digital presenceThe Hive Southeast Asia financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
The Hive Southeast Asia leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
The Hive Southeast Asia funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
The Hive Southeast Asia M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments16 records
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about The Hive Southeast Asia
What does The Hive Southeast Asia do?
The Hive Southeast Asia runs an early-stage venture capital fund that invests RM500,000 to RM5 million per company from Pre-Seed/Co-Creation through Pre-Series A, with follow-on participation and round syndication support. It also operates a co-creation studio that works hands-on with entrepreneurs and corporate partners to build startups leveraging data, AI, blockchain, and deep tech for the Southeast Asian market, providing product and technical guidance plus early customer introductions. The offerings are underpinned by the Dana Penjana Nasional mandate (RM1.2 billion target allocation with 1:1 government matching) and by Silicon Valley expertise from parent The Hive LLC.
Is The Hive Southeast Asia a public or private company?
The Hive Southeast Asia is a private company. It is classified as venture growth investor backed and is currently operating.
When was The Hive Southeast Asia founded?
The Hive Southeast Asia was founded in 2020. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is The Hive Southeast Asia based?
The Hive Southeast Asia is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in the Asia region.
How does The Hive Southeast Asia make money?
One revenue line is on record: investment Returns.
Who are The Hive Southeast Asia's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tuas Capital Partners, Gobi Partners, 500 Global (formerly 500 Startups), AC Ventures, Wavemaker Partners, Saison Capital and Openspace Ventures (formerly KK Fund). Broad incumbents are East Ventures, Jungle Ventures and Creador.
Does The Hive Southeast Asia have an API?
No public API is recorded for The Hive Southeast Asia.
What industry is The Hive Southeast Asia in?
The Hive Southeast Asia's product category is Venture Capital. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSANAAAA, Early-Stage Venture Capital (Pre-Seed/Seed). Its NAICS code is 5259 and its SIC code is 6282.