MarketX to launch $150m fund to invest in pre-IPO tech companies

Cathryn Chen, CEO and founder of MarketX

By Kristie Neo

May 5, 2019

MarketX, a private investment platform in China, the US and Singapore, is launching a $150-million fund to invest in pre-IPO tech opportunities.

According to an e27 report, the MX50 fund is in “advanced talks” with around 30 Asian family offices and expects to reach a final close by October this year. It aims to invest in five to eight companies, with ticket sizes ranging between $1 million and $100 million. These companies will be expected to see a 2-5x surge in their valuation before their IPO.

The report adds that MarketX recently “soft launched” in Singapore, and has applied for the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) license to operate in the country. It currently has offices in San Francisco, Shanghai and Beijing.

If successful, MarketX will join a small but growing number of private platforms offering similar opportunities to private investors in Asia. This includes names like Singapore-based Fundnel and CapBridge’s 1exchange (1x), both of which list international companies on their platforms.

According to MarketX’s website, it offers access to pre-IPO opportunities via direct investments and thematic portfolios. It works with over 8500 family offices, funds and high net-worth individuals (HNWIs). It has over 30 asset partners with combined assets of over $5 billion globally.

Founded in 2015 by Cathryn Chen, MarketX is backed by $1.6 million in seed funding from entrepreneurs and investors such as Boquan He, Lei Jun, Cai WenSheng and other Chinese angel investors.

Also Read:

SG’s CapBridge seeks to double deals on offer to $2b by 2019-end

CapBridge granted private exchange license by Singapore’s MAS

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