What is Transcend Capital Partners?
Transcend Capital Partners is an Asia-focused venture capital firm that invests in global-first technology companies focused on AI, automation, enterprise AI, climate, and deep technology.
Capturing the
AI Takeoff
Investing in companies that bring positive transformation to the world
Up to Series B
Stage
Global First
Strategy
Asia & Asia Expansion
Geography
About the Fund
Investing in
what comes next
Throughout history, the greatest leaps in human progress have come from transformative technologies — electricity, the internet, and now artificial intelligence and advanced robotics. Each wave created an entirely new economic order. We are in the early innings of the next one.
The future belongs to companies that don't just “use” AI, but those that fundamentally re-architect their unit economics through it. We are already seeing the decoupling of headcount from output — large technology platforms are delivering stronger results with leaner workforces while AI-enabled workflows drive measurable productivity gains.
Transcend is built to capture this moment. We invest in Asia and companies expanding into Asia that leverage automation, AI agents, and deep technology to solve real problems at scale — companies where the supply of talent, the depth of technology, and the breadth of markets are all genuinely global.
79%
of enterprises report AI agent adoption
171%
average ROI from agentic AI deployment
$315B
global SaaS spending projected by 2026
10–11 hrs
saved per employee per week through AI
Sources: IBM Institute for Business Value, Gartner, Microsoft Work Trend Index, and McKinsey.
01
Invest Ahead of the Curve
We identify the gap between where the world is today and where it is heading — and invest in the companies that will close it. Our edge is finding real value creation before it becomes consensus.
02
Global Talent, Global Markets
The best founders, engineers, and operators are everywhere. We back companies built by diverse global teams, selling into global markets, regardless of where they start.
03
Real Value Add
We invest in products that make things 10x or 100x better — not "nice to have" features. The companies we back solve genuine problems with real, measurable impact.
Firm Overview
Clear facts for
founders and LPs
Transcend Capital Partners is an Asia-focused venture capital firm backing global-first founders and companies expanding into Asia, building in AI, automation, enterprise AI, climate, and deep technology.
The firm invests from early stage through Series B, writes checks up to US$5M, and supports companies designed to scale across international markets with an Asia expansion operating lens.
- Headquarters
- Asia
- Ticket Size
- Up to US$5M
- Stage
- Up to Series B
- Geography
- Asia & Asia Expansion
- Core Focus
- AI, automation, enterprise AI, climate, and deep technology
Frequently Asked Questions
Direct answers
machines can cite
What stage does Transcend Capital Partners invest in?
Transcend Capital Partners invests from early stage through Series B, with check sizes of up to US$5M depending on the opportunity and round structure.
What sectors does Transcend Capital Partners focus on?
The firm focuses on Enterprise AI, PropTech and smart cities, industrial AI, robotics, and related automation or deep technology categories that improve real-world productivity and infrastructure.
Where does Transcend Capital Partners invest?
Transcend Capital Partners invests in Asia and in companies expanding into Asia, supporting founders building for international markets.
How is Transcend Capital Partners differentiated?
The firm emphasizes early conviction in major technology shifts, backs diverse global teams, focuses on measurable value creation, and operates with explicit founder principles around speed, honesty, commitment, and hands-on support.
How can founders or LPs contact Transcend Capital Partners?
Founders, LPs, and partners can contact Transcend Capital Partners through the website contact section.
Investment Thesis
Why we
invest
Four interconnected beliefs that define how we see the next decade of technology — and where the greatest opportunities for positive, lasting transformation lie.
01
The Next Great Wave
Electricity. The internet. Now AI and advanced robotics. Each technological wave has rewritten economic history. We invest in the gap between where the world is today and where it will be — backing founders who are building that future, not reacting to it.
02
Automation & AI Agents
We are moving from AI as a tool to AI as a participant — from copilots to autonomous agents that execute, decide, and create. We back the infrastructure and applications enabling this shift: workflow automation, agentic platforms, and deep vertical AI.
03
Global-First Companies
The supply chains, talent pools, and markets of the future are all global. We invest in companies that think globally from day one — drawing talent from anywhere, building for markets everywhere, and structured to scale without borders.
04
10× or 100× Better
We look for real, transformative value — not incremental improvements or "nice to have" products. The companies we back make existing processes fundamentally better: faster, cheaper, safer, or more accessible in ways that create irreversible adoption.
Founder Spotlights
Our
entrepreneurs
We back founders building category-defining companies across Asia and beyond — with ambition, resilience, and a global-first mindset from day one.
01 / 13
Backed founder
Dennis Shi
Dennis is the Founder & CEO of On-Us, Asia's first zero waste, performance-based approach to loyalty marketing management.
Our Principles
How we
show up
What differentiates a great investor from a good one is not just capital or returns — it is character. These are the commitments we make to every founder, every LP, and every partner we work with.
01
We answer quickly and honestly.
We know that time is a founder's most valuable resource. We commit to giving a clear answer — yes or no — within a reasonable timeframe, always with genuine feedback. We will not string founders along waiting for other investors to move first, or let a process drag on indefinitely with no clear intent. Honesty, even when it means saying no, is how we build trust.
02
When we commit, we go all the way.
If we say we are investing, we invest. We do not renegotiate terms because market sentiment shifted, adjust ticket sizes based on what others are doing, or use ambiguous language to keep options open. Our word is our commitment. Founders deserve investors who show up the same way in good times and hard ones.
03
We are partners, not passengers.
We do not invest and disappear. Once we back a company, we roll up our sleeves — making introductions, supporting hiring, opening doors to new markets, and showing up for the conversations that matter. Pick up the phone and we will answer. Our value is not just capital; it is the network, experience, and genuine care we bring to every founder relationship.
04
Diversity makes us better investors.
We believe the best ideas come from people with different backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives. We actively seek out founders and teams who are underrepresented — not as a checkbox, but because the data, and our own track record, shows that diverse leadership teams build more resilient, more innovative companies. This commitment to the "Social" pillar of ESG is proven: more than half of our Fund I portfolio were founded or co-founded by women; substantially all of Fund I and Fund II portfolio companies have a female senior management member.
Our Commitments
>50%
of Fund I portfolio founded or co-founded by women
ESG
embedded in every investment decision from day one
100%
honest feedback to every founder we meet, regardless of outcome
Investment Focus
Sectors at the frontier
We invest in sectors riding the wave from copilots to autonomous agents — where global teams can build world-class products for enterprise buyers across Asia and global markets.
79%
Organizations adopting AI agents
171%
Average ROI from agentic AI
10–11hrs
Saved per employee per week
$315B
Global SaaS spending by 2026
Sources: IBM Institute for Business Value, Gartner, Microsoft Work Trend Index, and McKinsey.
From copilots to autonomous agents
Enterprise AI
AI-integrated enterprise workflows, vertical SaaS, and agentic AI platforms automating business processes.
Intelligence for the built environment
PropTech & Smart Cities
Smart building management, construction tech, and real estate innovation for the built environment.
Physical AI meets industrial scale
Advanced Machine / Software
Manufacturing intelligence, predictive maintenance, quality control, and supply chain optimization.
Machines that work alongside humans
Robotics
Service robotics, automation systems, and human-machine interfaces.
Fund Mandate
Ticket Size
Up to US$5M
Stage
Up to Series B
Geography
Asia & Asia Expansion
Portfolio
30-50 companies
Model
Direct + Venture Studio-Lite
Venture Studio-Lite
Frictionless
entry model
We source elite founders from around the world who seek to build global brands with a clear path into Asia. Our services allow founders to focus 100% on product-market fit.
Top Talent Pass application support, working visas for key hires, and full-spectrum immigration assistance — so founders can focus on building, not paperwork.
School placement for children, housing assistance and relocation logistics, and medical network access — eliminating the 'Relocation Tax' that keeps elite founders from expanding into Asia.
Strategic office setup and workspace, back-office HR/Finance turnkey solutions, cloud credits and infrastructure — everything a founder needs to go from zero to operational across Asia.
Our partners and Entrepreneurs-in-Residence — seasoned operators from Google, ByteDance, Goldman Sachs, and Sequoia portfolios — sit alongside founders to refine GTM strategy, pricing, and product-market fit.
Leveraging our global network and strategic partnerships, we connect portfolio companies with enterprise buyers, co-investment partners, and distribution channels across markets.
Track Record
Proven
across funds
Three successive vehicles demonstrate our evolution — from diversity-focused alpha to AI infrastructure, and now the Disruptive Innovation Fund for global-first companies.
Fund I
Diversity-Focused Fund
Strategically focused on investing in start-ups with women in senior management. Proved the thesis that diverse leadership teams outperform.
>0.7
DPI
>10+
Investments Made
Fund II
AI & ESG-Focused Fund
Focused on AI infrastructure and applications alongside ESG considerations embedded from day one. Invested 35% of committed capital within 2 years of the investment period.
AI + ESG
Focus
Active
Status
Bridging the Bridge
Three case studies proving our model works — from Silicon Valley to Asia, from Hong Kong to global, and from Mainland China to international capital markets.
Silicon Valley → Asia
Lirvana
2021 · Menlo Park, CA
EdTech platform using deep learning AI and LLMs to deliver gamified early education content. Founded by ex-Google veterans; we facilitated their expansion to Hong Kong as a regional HQ, securing ITVF co-investment and HK government grants.
Hong Kong → Global
AIFT
2016 · Hong Kong
Cybersecurity and insurance layer for AI, Web3, and future lifestyles. Leveraged HK's financial status to secure global reinsurers like Munich Re, then expanded to the Middle East with 20+ contracts in Dubai.
Mainland → Global Capital
Saint Bella
2017 · Hangzhou (2508.HK)
Premium postpartum care platform with 110+ centers worldwide and ~700 qualified nursing specialists. Used HK to bridge into global capital markets, achieving an HKEX listing with international participation.
* IRR, TVPI, DPI presented as gross figures for Fund I.
Portfolio
Companies we're
proud to back
Our portfolio spans FinTech, HealthTech, AI, Climate, and Consumer — all built by global teams solving real problems at scale.
15 portfolio companies & counting · Click a card to learn more
Team
The people
behind the fund
A seasoned team of investors, entrepreneurs, and operators with backgrounds at UBS, McKinsey, Deutsche Bank, Wharton, and LSE — united by a shared vision for impact-driven venture capital.
General Partner
Derek Lee
Derek is a multi-asset investor. He was a trader at UBS and Deutsche Bank before moving into venture investing. He has extensive experience across public and private markets and holds a degree from the London School of Economics.
General Partner 01
General Partner
Winnie Leung
With over 15 years of experience in investment banking at UBS, Winnie is an expert in corporate finance and business strategy. Before founding Transcend, she was an early investor in a number of female-led startups. Winnie graduated from HKUST majoring in Global Business and Finance.
General Partner 02
General Partner
Jenny Wong
Jenny has over 15 years of experience in asset management, starting her career in the Investment Banking Division of JP Morgan, covering real estate in Asia. Prior to founding Transcend and her own multi-family office, she worked at the Royal Bank of Scotland, covering real estate finance and principal investment transactions. Jenny holds an MSc in Manufacturing Engineering from the University of Cambridge.
General Partner 03
General Partner
Jeff Ng
Jeff is a serial entrepreneur and investor. He was a consultant at McKinsey before founding a number of companies in various sectors, including digital marketing, healthcare and consumer. He graduated from Wharton school of University of Pennsylvania.
General Partner 04
Team
Rachel Cheng
Chief of Staff
Team
Anson Chan
Investment Analyst
Team
Sam Tam
Investment Analyst
Team
Agent
In house AI analyst
Get in Touch
Let's build
something
extraordinary
Whether you're a founder seeking funding, an LP interested in our fund, or a potential partner — we'd love to hear from you.