Nikkei-backed DealStreetAsia embarks on second decade, welcomes new investor

By Team DealStreetAsia

September 12, 2025

DealStreetAsia, a Nikkei Group-backed, Singapore-headquartered media company that covers the private capital industry and the business of startups across Asia, announced that it has agreed to bring in global media investment firm North Base Media (NBM) as a partner and shareholder.

The announcement was made at the 10th edition of DealStreetAsia’s annual, flagship Asia PE-VC Summit, which was held in Singapore on September 10 &11.

NBM, which is led by former Wall Street Journal editor Marcus Brauchli and former Media Development Investment Fund CEO Sasa Vucinic, was one of DealStreetAsia’s original backers. 

“We are delighted to welcome NBM back into DealStreetAsia,” said Tsuyoshi Hasebe, President & CEO of Nikkei. “They bring great experience in both Asian media and business information.”

With its return to DealStreetAsia’s cap table, NBM will take a leadership role alongside Japan’s Nikkei Inc., a global business media leader, which has been a majority shareholder in DealStreetAsia since acquiring the company’s earlier investors in 2019. 

“As an early backer, NBM has closely watched our journey and saw the potential of what DealStreetAsia could become and will help us get there. We are excited to renew our association with NBM as we chart the next chapter of DealStreetAsia’s growth,” DealStreetAsia’s founder, CEO, and editor-in-chief, Joji Thomas Philip, said. 

NBM has been an early investor in several Asian digital-media companies, including Indonesia’s IDN Media, Rappler in the Philippines, Vietcetera in Vietnam and Tokyo-based TNL Mediagene.

“We see great potential in media brands that understand their audiences and bring them essential information in formats and timeframes that they value,” NBM co-founder Marcus Brauchli said.

Financial terms of the deal remain undisclosed. 

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW

Singapore Reporter/s

In Singapore, we are looking to double our reporting team by this year-end to comprehensively cover the fast-moving world of funded startups and VC, PE & M&A deals. We want reporters who can tell our readers what is really happening in these sectors and why it matters to markets, companies and consumers. The ability to write precisely and urgently is crucial for these roles. Ideal candidates must have to ability to work in a collaborative, dynamic, and fast-changing environment. We want our new hires to be digitally savvy and ready to experiment with new forms of storytelling. Most importantly, we are looking for hard-hitting reporters who work well in a team. Collaboration and collegiality are a must.

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).

Following vacancies can be applied for (only in Singapore).   

  • A reporter to track companies/startups that have raised private capital, and have the potential to become unicorns. SEA currently has over 40 companies with a valuation of over $100 million and under $1 billion.
  • A reporter who can get behind the scenes and reveal how funding rounds are put together, or why they’ve failed to materialise. She/he in this role will largely focus on long-format stories. 
  • A journalist to track special situations funds, distressed debt and private credit (from the PE angle) across Asia.
APPLY NOW