For the first time ever, equity crowdfunding (ECF) investors in Malaysia were given the exclusive chance to invest in a venture capital (VC) fund, made possible on Fundnel Malaysia’s ECF platform.
Emissary set aside an allocation in Emissary Capital Growth Fund I’s total fund size of US$47.6 million (MYR200 million) to offer this micro fund investment opportunity to ECF sophisticated and angel investors through Fundnel Malaysia specifically with the purpose of providing access to venture capital funds.
“We are thrilled to have completed such a successful campaign thanks to our fundraising facilitators, Fundnel. With this success, we are proud to create history as the first PE/VC fund in the region to raise capital via a crowdfunding platform.
We hope that we can continue to further democratise the PE/VC investment landscape in Asia by giving every investor, big or small, equal access to the best private investment deals as institutional investors have.” -Juhn Teo, Managing, Partner at Emissary.
This unique microfund structure has enabled sophisticated and angel investors to access a portfolio of deals instead of individual start-ups. This investment could dilute the risks that the ECF investors face. Since Emissary invests in late-stage start-ups, the risks that its ECF investors face could be lower than those who invest in earlier-stage start-ups through ECF platforms in their own capacity.
Karen Puah, country manager of Fundnel Malaysia, said venture capital is one of the most exciting asset classes to invest in right now.
“With the success of Emissary Capital’s ECF Campaign, Fundnel plans to continue bringing more microfund investment opportunities to ECF investors in the hope that Malaysians can help contribute directly to the economic growth of the Malaysian startup scene, and reinvigorate our economy” -Karen Puah, Country Head of Fundnel Malaysia
Fundnel Malaysia has exciting ECF deals in its pipeline with similar business functions as Emissary to open up investment opportunities for the ECF investors to invest in VC funds.
