Nathaniel Fetalvero · · 2 min readDeep Dive: Is Jay-Z’s investment fund just another one in the sea of funds in Southeast Asia?
Arrive, an investment fund linked to American hip hop mogul Jay-Z through his entertainment label Roc Nation, has been making moves in Southeast Asia. Since 2017, Arrive has invested in five startups in Singapore and Indonesia, and aims to double its portfolio of Southeast Asian companies by the end of 2020, with plans to enter the Philippines and Vietnam.
Photo credit: Mikamote / Wikimedia Commons
What does this mean for Southeast Asia’s investment landscape? And what does Arrive have to offer startups that other investors don’t? Tech in Asia reporter Jack Ellis answers these questions and more.
Timecodes:
00:00 – Intro music
00:45 – This week’s topic: An investment fund linked to Jay-Z
01:13 – How Jack Ellis found this story
02:12 – Why Roc Nation, an entertainment agency, launched Arrive
03:02 – Jay-Z’s no stranger to investments
04:04 – The kind of companies Arrive invests in
04:57 – Why there’s a growing trend of US investors entering Southeast Asia
06:30 – When Arrive saw Southeast Asia’s potential
07:37 – Who is Neil Sirni and how did he come to lead Arrive?
08:26 – How successful of an investor is Arrive?
09:00 – Why Arrive doesn’t take the lead in investments
10:12 – Does the maturity of a startup matter to Arrive?
11:54 – The Southeast Asian startups that Arrive has invested in so far
14:01 – Is Arrive going to look beyond Singapore and Indonesia?
16:51 – Is Arrive here for the long haul?
18:00 – Arrive’s impact on Southeast Asia’s investment landscape
19:27 – Is Arrive just another investor?
20:24 – Arrive’s emphasis on sustainability
Download the full transcript here.
Featured reporter:
- Jack Ellis, a Tech in Asia reporter based in Singapore
Essential reading:
- Jay-Z, Serena Williams’ funds invest in Sequoia-backed Kopi Kenangan
- Jay-Z’s startup fund is quietly investing in Southeast Asia
- Jay-Z’s VC firm invests in Indonesian social commerce app
- Why Jay-Z’s venture fund is rapping on Southeast Asia’s door
Subscribe to Startup Snapshot wherever you listen to podcasts.
Editing by Eileen C. Ang
(And yes, we’re serious about ethics and transparency. More information here.)
Stay updated on the go with our mobile app.
Get latest insights with smoother, more personalized experience through TIA mobile app.
