NUS Enterprise, the innovation arm of the National University of Singapore (NUS), has rolled out two co-investment partnerships with SG Growth Capital and the investment arm of a family office linked to Khetan Group, one of Nepal’s oldest conglomerates.
As part of the initiative, SG Growth Capital, the investment platform of the Economic Development Board, and Enterprise Singapore (ESG), will co-invest in deep tech startups and selected venture capital funds, according to a Tuesday statement. SG Growth Capital’s participation will determine the final ticket size for each fund investment.
In parallel, NUS Enterprise signed a S$20 million ($16 million) co-investment agreement with Khetan Group-linked Lotus One Investment to support NUS spin-offs and VC funds. Returns from these collaborations will be channelled back to strengthen NUS Enterprise’s entrepreneurship programmes, the statement said.
The initiative follows the S$150 million ($116 million) NUS VC Programme launched in July 2025, further boosting resources for deep tech ventures linked to the university.
NUS said at the time that it would invest S$50 million ($39 million) in selected VC firms with strong track records in early-stage deep tech investments, among which Granite Asia and 4BIO Capital are the first two. The programme is also setting aside S$100 million ($78 million) into an autonomous fund to invest in NUS-affiliated startups with an option for co-investments.
The initiative seeks to focus on high-potential ventures within the NUS ecosystem, including startups from the National Graduate Research Innovation Programme (National GRIP). The idea is to transform lab-based research discoveries into globally competitive, market-ready ventures.
Deputy Prime Minister and Trade and Industry Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Tuesday that Singapore must continue nurturing entrepreneurs prepared to turn prototypes into products and ideas into businesses — a challenging task, especially amid a slowdown in venture capital funding.
“NUS’s recent launch of the new Venture Capital Programme is therefore a timely initiative to fill this funding gap, especially for start-ups who need support to move beyond proof of concept to commercial markets.”
Separately, NUS Enterprise announced a S$2 million ($1.5 million) pilot programme with Stanford University, supported by a donation from the Khetan Foundation. The NUS-Stanford Khetan Foundation Launch Pad will allow students from NUS’ College of Design and Engineering to collaborate with international peers and industry partners such as Meta and Venture Corporation on real-world challenges.
“NUS is committed to creating stronger pathways for deep tech start-ups to succeed,” said NUS President Tan Eng Chye. “These partnerships give our ventures greater access to capital, networks, and expertise.”
Through new partnerships announced today, including S$20 million ($16 million) in donor funding, the NUS VC programme’s total commitment will reach over S$170 million ($132 million).
