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Singapore's New Friend in the Block Redefines Venture Capital
New Friend in the Block: An Evolution of Venture Capital for the AI Age
Valven Studio is a Singapore‑based venture studio redefining VC. Instead of making many bets, it invests in a few high‑conviction startups and embeds its partners in the team. A rigorous three‑stage diligence and scorecard choose founders; then playbooks for product or distribution guide growth. Matthew Chew, Michel Padrón and Juan Roldán provide hands‑on product, growth and tech expertise to help founders go from 0.5 to 1.
Singapore - 13 August, 2025 - Valven Studio, a venture studio headquartered in Singapore, announces its arrival as a new alternative to venture capital. Born from the frustrations of the traditional VC model—where more than 75 % of VC‑backed startups never return capital and founders are often left without operational support (1) — Valven offers a founder‑friendly partnership that blends capital with hands‑on execution.
'We're not here to spray and pray; we're here to build,' said Matthew Chew, General Partner and Product Visionary. 'Our approach embeds experienced operators directly into the startup team to turn data into decisive action and tackle overlooked problems.'
Beyond VC: How the Model Works
Valven's model starts with a structured diligence process to evaluate potential partners. The three stages include:
Findings from the diligence process feed into the Valven Scorecard, which quantifies factors such as founder excellence, business model maturity, distribution readiness and technical foundation (3). Opportunities with strong scores move forward into one of two operational playbooks:
Unlike typical VCs that make dozens of bets and hope a few hit, Valven invests in fewer ventures and commits deeply. Venture studios worldwide show that studio‑backed companies have about 30 % higher success rates than typical VC‑backed startups, with average IRRs of 53–60 % versus 21–22 % for traditional funds. Valven's approach aims to replicate these outcomes in Southeast Asia.
Hands‑On Partners, Not Just Investors
Valven's general partners bring complementary expertise honed through building and scaling ventures:
From 0 to 0.5 Is Easy – Valven Takes You from 0.5 to 1
Many accelerators and incubators help founders build a minimum viable product. Valven focuses on the messy 0.5–to–1 phase—where companies have an MVP and initial customers and need to scale quickly (4). By embedding its partners directly into the team, Valven provides technical leadership, go‑to‑market strategy and funding architecture, giving founders a co‑builder rather than just a cheque. The firm's resource deployment model emphasises deep integration and shared accountability: Valven team members work alongside founder teams, sharing both the risk and the upside.
Structured Yet Flexible Engagement
After a playbook is selected, Valven helps founders secure the capital necessary for execution. Playbook A typically requires US$50K–US$250K for marketing, growth hiring and infrastructure; Playbook B needs US$100K–US$400K to hire engineers and build a robust product (5). Funding may come from existing company capital, a bridge investment from Valven's partners or an orchestrated angel round. Before fully engaging, a five‑stage engagement sequence ensures both sides are ready—covering diligence and vote, funding plan, letter of intent, capital confirmation and definitive agreements. This sequencing protects resources, validates readiness and aligns expectations.
A Catalyst for Singapore's Startup Ecosystem
Singapore has long been a hub for venture capital and innovation, yet many founders remain underserved by traditional investors. Valven Studio aims to bridge the gap between early traction and scalable success, bringing an AI‑enabled venture studio model that prioritizes diversity, founder empowerment and operational excellence. By investing in fewer, higher‑conviction bets and providing hands‑on operators, Valven offers investors a more thorough due‑diligence process and founders a partner who will build alongside them. The team invites ambitious founders and forward‑thinking investors to learn more and explore detailed insights in Valven's Diligence Process, Partnership Evaluation and Playbook Execution series.
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Company Name: Valven Studio
Contact Person: Michel Padrón
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Country: Singapore
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