Singapore’s $150M Bet on Deep Tech: What Europe Can Learn from the Lab-to-Market Revolution
Executive Summary
As global VC fundraising contracts, Singapore is moving in the opposite direction—deploying hundreds of millions in university-led venture initiatives. With R&D-heavy startups typically struggling to find capital in cautious markets, the National University of Singapore (NUS) has stepped up with a bold $116M+ commitment to early-stage deep tech. Europe, where university capital is still largely passive, should take note.
What’s Happening Now?
NUS announced S$150M (~$116M) to support early-stage innovation, including:
S$50M for VC firm partnerships (Granite Asia, 4BIO Capital)
S$100M for an autonomous co-investment fund for NUS-affiliated startups
This move comes as Asian VC fundraising plunged:
Q1–Q3 2025: $7.6B
Q1–Q3 2024: $24.3B
Q1–Q3 2023: $53.2B ([Preqin])
Additional deals include:
S$20M co-investment with Lotus One Investment (family office)
University partnerships with SG Growth Capital, Walden International, and more
The trend: universities aren’t just educating entrepreneurs—they're backing them with real capital.
What This Means for Investors
This is more than just higher ed philanthropy.
Universities are becoming power brokers in the venture ecosystem:
✅ Providing non-dilutive capital early on (before most VCs dare to act)
✅ Reducing risk for LPs and institutional investors
✅ Catalyzing deep tech breakthroughs with long R&D cycles
US endowments have done this for years (Harvard, Stanford, MIT). Now Singapore is setting the gold standard in Asia. Europe still lags behind—despite having some of the world’s best research institutions.
At Jasmine Blue Capital, we believe aviation, energy, and deep tech can’t rely on short-term capital. They require patient capital with strategic acceleration, exactly what NUS is offering.
What’s Next?
In a world of falling VC checks and short attention spans, the winners will be:
Institutions that provide capital + competence + credibility
Startups with defensible IP and long-term market demand
Ecosystems that move from idea to infrastructure—not just pitch decks
We see this shift in aviation as well: from PowerPoint promises to tangible platforms, fleets, and safety protocols.
It’s time to rethink venture capital from the ground up.
Our Doors Are Open
We’re building a similar ecosystem—starting with real aircraft, real training capacity, and real revenue streams.
If you want to:
✈️ Invest in real-economy, deep-tech innovation
🧠 Back pilots, platforms, and profitable IP
🌍 Create measurable impact with patient, protected capital
📩 Request access to our dealroom. We’re curating aviation ventures for investors who want more than hype.