NUS Enterprise, the entrepreneurial arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS) — flagship comprehensive research university in Singapore, is committing S$150 million ($116 million) to launch the NUS VC Program to boost growth of deep tech start-ups.
The firm said in a statement on Tuesday that the initiative aims to enhance support for early-stage tech innovation by focusing on high-potential ventures within the NUS ecosystem, including start-ups from the National Graduate Research Innovation Program (National GRIP).
According to the statement, Asia is grappling with a prolonged funding winter, with venture capital investments falling sharply to a ten-year low of S$85 billion ($66 billion).
With a five percent decline from 2023, early-stage funding totaled less than S$38 billion ($29 billion) in 2024. Thus, the program aims to address the critical funding and mentorship gaps faced by tech start-ups.
It is noted that National GRIP empowers innovators to transform lab-based research discoveries into globally competitive, market-ready ventures.
“As the region faces a sharp pullback in venture capital activity, we see the new NUS VC Program — the first of its kind initiative by a university in Asia — as a critical enabler,
“Research-based start-ups face distinct challenges, including research and development (R&D) cycles that are much longer than traditional start-ups, making them especially vulnerable in today’s cautious investment environment,” said Professor Tan Eng Chye, NUS President.
According to him, this program brings together capital, strategic partnerships, and specialized venture expertise to create a more resilient path from lab to market.
The program comprises two key components. First, NUS will commit S$50 million (US$39 million) over the next three years in selected venture capital firms with strong track records in early-stage deep tech investments.
These firms will provide structured, hands-on support to start-ups, including time, expertise, and access to their networks to help them scale effectively.
The first two venture capital partners are Granite Asia, a multi-asset investment platform with a 25-year track record of backing breakthrough technology ventures globally, and 4BIO Capital, a specialist life sciences investor focused on advanced therapeutics.
Second, NUS will set aside S$100 million ($78 million) for co-investments alongside these venture capital partners.
These co-investments will be targeted at NUS-affiliated start-ups.
According to the statement, many National GRIP start-ups are still in the early stages of technological readiness and require continued, strategic support to advance from lab to market.
Thus, the NUS VC Program complements the National GRIP framework by addressing this need for downstream venture development.
While GRIP currently provides up to S$250,000 ($194,000) in seed funding per start-up, the venture capital program focuses on accelerating post-seed growth and preparing ventures for external capital.
What sets this effort apart is the direct engagement with leading venture capital firms selected not only for their track records, but also for their market access in global innovation hubs, said the statement.
It noted by combining capital with deep venture expertise, the program offers structured support including mentorship, investor feedback, market entry, fundraising networks, and operational guidance.
“National GRIP is an important first step in helping deep tech start-ups take root. The venture capital program builds on this by pairing promising ventures with globally connected investors, enabling a more complete pathway to scale and commercial success,
”This is essential given that most start-ups struggle to move beyond early-stage innovation toward impactful, real-world deployment,” said Dr Tan Sian Wee, NUS Senior Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise).