As we move through the first quarter, we hope 2026 has been off to a strong and productive start across your organizations.
Altara Ventures' portfolio maintained strong momentum this quarter, announcing the closing of three follow-on rounds led by new investors in which we participated with pro-rata or greater support.
Saturdays closed US$7M in a new Series B funding round led by Openspace Capital in January to fuel its retail footprint expansion across Indonesia and to finance regional expansion. Altara Ventures participated in the round to support Saturdays' growth as a leading Southeast Asia lifestyle brand.
Staffinc raised US$8.1M in the first close of its Series C funding to accelerate the company's M&A strategy and regional growth. The round was led by AppWorks, with participation from Altara and several other existing institutional investors. Staffinc also successfully completed and fully consolidated their third acquisition in Indonesia.
Buy&Ship completed the first tranche of a US$12.6M Series C fundraising. Buy&Ship has seen strong growth in Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia in the past year, and will double down on additional market expansion and AI technology.
KYAN Technologies' Singapore laboratory has received a well-earned CLIA Certification from the United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), which allows KYAN's Singapore lab to function as an offshore U.S. lab, integrate its operations into the U.S. regulatory framework, and directly serve clinical partners and patients across North America.
Allra Fintech launched REVN, a revenue-based financing platform for SMEs in Korea, a new and complementary product line, leveraging the company's expertise in credit underwriting from their core products in ecommerce merchant financing.
General Partner Gavin Teo has been invited to serve as a mentor in the IHH Catalyst global incubator program launched by IHH Healthcare and Fortis Healthcare, a three-month platform designed to accelerate hospital-ready health-tech and med-tech startups in India.
Altara Ventures recently hosted our portfolio, Limited Partners, distinguished guests and friends to celebrate the Lunar New Year in Singapore.
Middle East Crisis and its Impact on Southeast Asia
The recent escalation of military activity in Iran has sent shockwaves far beyond the Persian Gulf. While Southeast Asia has traditionally remained a neutral observer, the Iran crisis is a stark catalyst for our region to recalibrate its energy security, capital markets exposure, and digital sovereignty.
Energy Chokepoint: The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has paralyzed approximately 20% of the world's liquefied natural gas (LNG) and oil flow, driving Brent crude prices peaking near US$120 per barrel, almost 2x the price from year-end 2025. With around 70% of their oil sourced from the Persian Gulf, many ASEAN economies face surging industrial costs.
Premium on Neutrality: As the war in Ukraine persists and tensions in the Middle East heighten, global capital is actively migrating toward stable markets. Southeast Asia's diplomatic detachment and physical distance from these flashpoints have transformed the region into a premium destination.
Digital Sovereignty: The recent strikes on data infrastructure in the UAE and Bahrain have shattered the illusion of the "stateless cloud." For Asian policymakers, the message is clear: digital infrastructure is national security. We are witnessing a seismic shift toward sovereign cloud mandates.
Despite the global turbulence, Southeast Asia's relative stability and pragmatic diplomacy are well placed to attract capital and generate returns. Altara Ventures remains focused on navigating these global signals to help our portfolio capitalize on the unique value and exit opportunities emerging from this transition.
