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In focus
- Antler goes all in on AI, just not the agentic kind
- Want true open-source AI models? Nvidia got you
- SG data center operator DayOne strikes major $2b funding
Hello reader,
With Manus joining Meta in a multibillion-dollar deal, AI founders in Asia face a difficult question: How do you compete with that?
For Jussi Salovaara, co-founder and managing director of Singapore-based VC firm Antler, the answer is simple: You don’t, at least not in the agentic AI space.
There are opportunities elsewhere, and Antler is keen to capture those. The firm is directing 75% of its planned US$50 million deployment across Southeast Asia and Japan this year to AI companies, as detailed in today’s Top Story.
What kind of AI companies is Antler seeking exactly? The VC firm prefers to keep an open mind, though Salovaara is particularly bullish on robotics.
“Mystery shopping” is the phrase Salovaara used to describe his AI thesis, though founders would want to make sure they’re not building the next Manus because it’s moot at this point.
Salovaara also discussed the performance of Antler’s Southeast Asia–focused funds. Its 2018-vintage SEA Fund I has returned more capital to investors than they initially committed.
Whether other Asian VCs will follow Antler’s lead or double down on agents remains anyone’s guess. Either way, it’s a clear signal about where smart money thinks the next wave of AI value creation lies.
Meanwhile, as the Consumer Electronics Show dominates tech headlines, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang discussed how his company plans to continue its AI dominance, particularly on the software side.
Another year of inevitable AI headlines is upon us.
Glenn Kaonang, journalist
Top Story
Antler’s 2026 AI push skips agents for robotics
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