DBS, Southeast Asia’s largest bank, partners with VC giant Granite Asia to counter the region’s lack of capital

Fortune

by Angelica Ang, Andrew Staples

February 23, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

DBS, Southeast Asia’s largest bank, has joined forces with Granite Asia, a leading Asia-focused investment fund, to address the region’s capital shortage for startups. The partnership introduces a groundbreaking $110 million AI-focused IPO fund exclusively available to DBS’s high-wealth clients, targeting tech and AI startups in Southeast Asia. This initiative aims to provide much-needed funding to the region’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, which has faced significant challenges due to limited capital compared to more mature markets like the U.S. The collaboration between DBS and Granite Asia is driven by a shared vision to support early-stage growth companies and build long-term relationships with promising startups. The fund will focus on high-growth AI-driven businesses in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Europe, offering investors exclusive access to these innovative ventures. This move comes at a critical time when the region’s funding environment has been struggling due to macroeconomic challenges and mixed investment returns. DBS CEO Tan Su Shan emphasized the bank’s roots in supporting entrepreneurship since its inception in 1968 as Singapore’s Development Bank. The partnership with Granite Asia aligns with DBS’s mission to back businesses from early growth stages onward, providing a unique opportunity for wealth clients to invest in high-potential assets and generate superior returns compared to traditional investments like ETFs. Granite Asia, which manages $10 billion in assets and has supported 65 IPOs globally, brings extensive expertise in scaling tech companies. With a proven track record of backing successful ventures such as Xiaomi and Grab, Granite Asia’s involvement adds credibility and experience to the fund. The partnership is expected to create a robust ecosystem for Asian founders, fostering innovation and growth across the region. This collaboration

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Originally published on Fortune on 2/23/2026