The Hive Southeast Asia

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.

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

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

• Venture capital fund
• Co-creation studio
• Early-stage investing
• Startup incubation
• Deep tech investment

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers12 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Sterling EquityminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 January 2026Sterling 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)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 16 May 2022MoU 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 PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2020Primary 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 GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 11 June 2020One 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.
• GEminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
• Dell/EMCminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
• eBayminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
• McKessonminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCorporation that The Hive has collaborated with to co-create startups. Part of The Hive's corporate co-creation network.
• IBMminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
• SAPminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
• MicrosoftminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
• ClouderaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
• VisaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of The Hive Think Tank thought leadership forum. Part of the corporate ecosystem supporting The Hive's events and community.
• Sunway iLabsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSunway 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hivedatasea

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&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