NUS Private Equity Club

Role of Venture Capital in Indonesia On October 30, 2024, the NUS Private Equity Club had the distinct pleasure of hosting Helen Pei-Hua Wong, Managing Partner at AC Ventures, for an exclusive session on the dynamics of venture capital in Southeast Asia, with a specific focus on Indonesia’s rapidly evolving startup ecosystem. Helen provided insightful perspectives on Southeast Asia’s growth trajectory, spotlighting Indonesia and Vietnam as key markets for tech-enabled investments. She discussed the factors fueling Indonesia’s appeal, from its large, digitally engaged population to its expanding middle class. Despite challenges like the post-COVID funding crunch, SEA remains a compelling region for investors. The session also addressed critical social challenges, such as Indonesia’s education and talent gaps, and the impact of these issues on the country’s entrepreneurial landscape. Helen emphasized the role of human capital in driving successful ventures and how founders are finding innovative solutions to talent shortages. A highlight of the discussion was AC Ventures’ commitment to advancing gender inclusivity. With 50% of its senior leadership and 41% of its portfolio companies led by women, AC Ventures champions female-driven growth in Indonesia. Helen underscored the financial and social returns of investing in women-led businesses, an often untapped $470 billion opportunity. We extend our gratitude to Helen and AC Ventures for this enriching session and to our partners NUS Women in Business, NUS Alumni Ventures, NUS MBA Entrepreneurship Club, and Perhimpunan Indonesia NUS for their support. Together, we are fostering a deeper understanding of Southeast Asia’s investment potential and driving conversations on impactful, inclusive growth. #venturecapital #ACVentures #SoutheastAsia #NUSPEC #IndonesiaStartups #PrivateEquity

Adroit Investments X NUSPEC: Breaking into PE, IB and VC On October 28, 2024, the NUS Private Equity Club had the privilege of hosting Cheng Liang Han and Leon Oh, the co-founders of Adroit Investment Technologies, for an exclusive session on career pathways in private equity, investment banking, and venture capital in Singapore. Our esteemed speakers provided candid insights into the daily realities of roles in high finance and outlined strategic approaches for navigating the sector’s competitive landscape. They shed light on pivotal challenges startups encounter, notably the 'Technological and Commercialisation Valleys of Death,' and discussed the critical role various financial institutions play in supporting a company's developmental stages. Additionally, the session offered insights into leveraged buyouts, detailing why such strategies are more prevalent in developed markets than Singapore, and the methods Singaporean firms employ to overcome challenges associated with smaller deal sizes, through strategic partnerships and selective deal-making. Highlighting the importance of precise career planning, the discussion also introduced Entreveu, a platform that enhances candidate prospects by using advanced AI technology to provide personalised interview preparation. This tool is designed to even the playing field, equipping our members with the necessary tools to excel in these prestigious industries. We are profoundly grateful to Adroit Investments for their invaluable expertise and contributions, which have significantly enriched our learning community. #privateequity #adroitinvestments #venturecapital #investmentbanking

Openspace X NUSPEC: Insightful Connections Exploring Venture Capital On 21 October 2024, NUS Private Equity Club hosted an exclusive networking event in collaboration with Openspace Ventures, offering our members an in-depth look into the dynamic world of venture capital. Held at Openspace’s office, the event featured interactive roundtable discussions led by the Openspace team, with dedicated sessions on Investments, ESG, and IR. The engaging small-group format allowed students to explore various facets of the VC industry, from the intricacies of investment strategy to the growing importance of ESG in decision-making. Throughout the event, we had the opportunity to connect with key Openspace professionals, Kelvin Leung, Jonathan Kevin Chandra, Ayu T., Dennis Le, Emma Payne, CIPD, Pareen Chaudhari, Giulia Pulvirenti, Alessia Soh, Yi-Wei Lin, and Derek Goh. Their expert advice and real-world experience offered a clearer understanding of what it takes to thrive in venture capital and sparked meaningful discussions among attendees. We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to the Openspace team for their invaluable contributions and for hosting such an insightful session. The event gave our members a deeper appreciation for the complexities of venture capital and highlighted Openspace’s innovative approach to investment. We’re excited to see what the future holds for these bright minds and are grateful to Openspace for helping us explore the transformative world of VC. #NUSPEC #openspace #venturecapital

We had the pleasure of hosting 30 students from the NUS Private Equity Club for an exclusive networking event yesterday at our office. The session was all about giving them an insider’s look at the venture capital world featuring fun and interactive small-group discussions with our amazing teams in Investments, ESG, and IR. The roundtable format really let the students dive into different aspects of venture capital, and we’re thrilled to hear it sparked their interest in the VC industry. We’re excited about the bright future talent we met and can’t wait to help them grow in their careers. Openspace will be launching the Internship program for 2025 soon and welcome applicants for Investments and non-investment internship opportunities. Stay tuned! #activeintelligence #internship

TNB Aura Fireside Chat: Navigating Venture Capital in Southeast Asia On 14 October 2024, NUSPEC hosted a fireside chat with Vicknesh R Pillay R. Pillay and Joe Zhang from TNB AURA, providing an in-depth look into venture capital in Southeast Asia. The session, which was also attended by NUS MBA students from the NUS MBA Entrepreneurship Club, offered valuable insights on navigating the region’s dynamic startup landscape. Vicknesh and Joe provided a detailed walkthrough of the term sheet structure, offering valuable insights into how TNB Aura ensures alignment with founders while safeguarding investor interests. Their explanation gave us a clearer understanding of the key elements involved in early-stage investment deals. They also shared their perspectives on the venture capital landscape, focusing on the importance of tailored investment strategies for Southeast Asia’s diverse markets. They discussed TNB Aura’s comprehensive due diligence approach, emphasising the need for thorough financial, legal, and ESG evaluations that are adapted to local contexts. Their research-driven process enables them to identify high-potential startups and provide meaningful support from an early stage. The conversation also touched on fundraising dynamics, with a focus on how venture capital firms must navigate market fluctuations while keeping a long-term perspective. Joe and Viknesh highlighted the importance of flexible exit strategies, ensuring that investments align with both the firm’s goals and the evolving needs of the startup ecosystem. Throughout the session, there was a continued emphasis placed on partnership—TNB Aura’s philosophy of working closely with founders to guide startups through growth and scale. Their long-term, hands-on involvement ensures that startups have the support they need to succeed in a competitive environment. We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Vicknesh, Joe, and the TNB Aura team for their insightful contributions. We'd also like to thank Hailey Lau for the introductions and making this event possible. The event provided attendees with a deeper understanding of the venture capital landscape and the key strategies for success in Southeast Asia. #venturecapital #privateequity #startups

Driving Change Through Impact Investing On 7 October 2024, NUSPEC had the privilege of hosting a thought-provoking session with Russ Neu, Venture Partner for Impact Initiatives at Quest Ventures. Mr. Neu delivered a comprehensive overview of impact investing, emphasising the importance of balancing financial returns with measurable social outcomes—a principle known as the double bottom line. This approach challenges ventures to not only prioritise profitability but also generate meaningful societal impact. Mr. Neu shared about how Quest Ventures evaluates and partners with startups, focusing on those where social impact has been fundamentally embedded into the company’s core values and operations. He emphasised that this integration is a critical factor in identifying high-potential, mission-driven enterprises. He further addressed the challenges of measuring impact, referencing industry-standard frameworks such as GIIRS and IRIS+, which enable investors to evaluate both financial performance and sustainable social and environmental outcomes. We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to Mr. Neu for his insightful contributions on how startups can drive sustainable impact while achieving financial success. We look forward to future collaborations and continued learning. #venturecapital #privateequity #startups

Data Science in Private Equity On 16 September 2024, NUSPEC had the pleasure of hosting a session with Rafael Nicolas Fermin Cota, an expert with over 15 years of experience in investment, AI, and technology. As co-founder of MetaLearner and a leader in private equity, Professor Rafael shared how AI can transform data management and enhance decision-making. He explained how AI tools, like MetaLearner, have the potential to help firms make faster, data-driven decisions by efficiently collecting, cleaning, and structuring vast amounts of data. Using material from his Tidyverse Principles and Tidymodels course, Professor Rafael shared insights on how data techniques can be applied to prepare information for analysis, ultimately driving better investment outcomes. He also highlighted how technology and data science are reshaping private equity, drawing from his experience with his NVIDIA valuation to demonstrate how firms can evaluate financial scenarios with greater accuracy and speed. We would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Professor Rafael for an insightful session. We look forward to future collaborations! #privateequity #datascience #venturecapital

Early-stage Investing: Where it matters, Why it matters? On 2 September 2024, NUSPEC had the privilege of engaging in a fireside chat at the Antler Singapore office. The session featured insights from Eugene Teo and Jay Teo from Antler's investments team. Eugene shared his journey from Product Lead roles at BCG and Wagely to venture capital, reflecting on the skills and experiences that shaped his transition. Jay offered a look into the day-to-day responsibilities of an Investment Analyst, covering deal sourcing, residency management, and portfolio support. The session also covered key metrics Antler uses to evaluate startups, the distinct traits they look for in founders, and how early-stage investing drives innovation and economic growth. Both Eugene and Jay provided valuable lessons on how aspiring analysts can break into VC and thrive in the industry. A big thank you to Eugene, Jay, and the Antler team for their time and insights. We look forward to future collaborations and continued learning. #venturecapital #privateequity #startups

Monk’s Hill Ventures x NUS Private Equity Club Mixer On 26 August 2024, NUSPEC had the pleasure of hosting a fireside chat with Monk's Hill Ventures, featuring insights from Winnie Wang and Kim Hock Tan. Kim Hock shared his journey from entrepreneurship to venture capital, offering a deep dive into how Monk's Hill Ventures supports its portfolio companies, the challenges and rewards of transitioning to VC, and the unique dynamics of the Southeast Asian startup ecosystem. He also provided valuable advice on the skills needed in VC and how to critically evaluate startup business models. The session concluded with engaging discussions over refreshments. A big thank you to Winnie and Kim Hock and Monk's Hill Ventures for their time and insights. We look forward to more collaborations ahead! #venturecapital #startups #privateequity

[NUSPEC Analyst Programme AY24/25] A warm welcome to our AY24/25 NUSPEC analysts! On August 24th, 2024, NUSPEC had the privilege of kicking off the AY24/25 with an engaging orientation session for our new analysts. It was an exciting opportunity to introduce them to the vibrant world of Venture Capital and the thriving ecosystem in Southeast Asia. Throughout the session, we delved into the fundamentals of VC, discussed the nuances of the VC landscape, and connected with passionate individuals eager to make their mark in this dynamic field. The enthusiasm and energy in the room were truly inspiring, and we’re confident that this marks the beginning of a remarkable journey for our analysts. A special thanks to everyone involved in making this orientation a success. We’re looking forward to seeing the growth and contributions that our analysts will bring to the NUS Private Equity Club this year. #venturecapital #privateequity