We embed alongside founders before they raise. We help shape what becomes investible, not just judge it from a distance. And we work across that messy middle from paper to product.

I joined Singapore's Infocommunications Development Authority (IDA) in 2000, right at the height of the dot-com boom — or hype, depending on how you saw it. At the time, countless startups were seeking funding to build "internet applications." Amid the noise, one stood out.

A Singapore startup proposed building a cyber watch centre that would use AI to sift through massive volumes of internet traffic, identifying potential cyber threats so human analysts could focus on the real risks. Back then, AI was not a popular term, and the idea of a cyber command centre was still novel.

What caught my attention was their strength across all three dimensions: solid Technology (T), a compelling an Application (A) that addresses a real need, and an impressive team of People (P). I decided to give them my support — and the company took off. A few years later, it was acquired by a global company — a huge success story.

Deep tech doesn’t need more cheerleaders. It needs partners who stay when the lights aren’t bright yet.