<article>Global investment firm Catcha Group, which boasts of a strong track record of investing in startups in this region, has launched a venture fund to support companies in the new media, technology and mobile space in South East Asia.</article>

Global investment firm Catcha Group, which boasts of a strong track record of investing in startups in this region, has launched a venture fund to support companies in the new media, technology and mobile space in South East Asia.
The new VC division, called Catcha Ventures will invest between $50 million and $100 million in selected companies over the next three to five years, and will focus on financing businesses that have matured from a start-up and entered the growth phase, the company said.
Deviating from its traditional strategy, where the group picks up majority stakes in the companies it invests, Catcha Ventures will target minority investments, as it aims to address the funding gap for companies that have moved from start-up to the growth stage.
Its logic: Venture capital and angel investments in start-up companies have increased throughout the region but growth-stage funding has been largely overlooked.
Over the last 15 years, Catcha Group has taken four of its portfolio companies, which it still controls &#8211; iProperty, iCarAsia, (Singapore-headquartered) iBuy and Rev Asia  &#8211; from startup stage through to initial public offering.
Australia-listed iProperty Group, recently attracted a $100 million investment from Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation in return for a 17% stake.
Patrick Grove, group CEO of Catcha Group said: “We have enjoyed enormous benefits from knowledge sharing between our companies and will deploy the exact mentorship and investee community management model across our Catcha Ventures portfolio companies.”
Currently, Temasek&#8217;s Vertex Venture Holdings and Beverly Hills-based Velos Partners, offer growth stage funding to companies based in Singapore and in also in the region.
Catcha Ventures will deploy a unique mentorship program, underpinned by its network of seasoned digital CEOs and executives, allowing entrepreneurs to leverage off and learn from Catcha Group’s management leaders, the investment firm said, while adding that it would pair each investee company with a senior mentor and advisor from within the group to help these companies navigate challenges as their business grows.
“Chances are, for any digital business encountering growth related issues in Southeast Asia, a company within our network has already successfully resolved that same challenge. Funding is one thing, but this experience and access to our network of executives and advisors is both invaluable and unique,&#8221; Grove added.

Catcha's VC arm to invest up to $100m in SEA

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief

Catcha's VC arm to invest up to $100m in SEA

Start your deal-making journey now!

Bring stories like this into your inbox every day.

Sign up for our newsletter - The Daily Brief