500 Global SEA Deal Scouts
Scout Program
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500 Global SEA Deal Scouts
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Scout Program
500 Global's Southeast Asia Deal Scouts program is a regional extension of the firm's global scout network, focused specifically on sourcing early-stage startups across six SEA markets: Malaysia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, and Indonesia. The program sits within 500 Global's dedicated Southeast Asia team, which closed $143 million across its largest regional early-stage fund to date, 500 Southeast Asia III (500 SEA III), in September 2023.
The SEA team typically invests $250,000 to $500,000 as first checks in founders based in or serving Southeast Asia, targeting pre-seed to Series A companies. The 500 SEA III fund aims to invest in approximately 100 startups across the region. Deal scouts extend this sourcing capacity by identifying promising startups in local ecosystems that may not yet be visible to the core investment team.
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The 500 Global SEA Deal Scouts program aims to identify and support early-stage startups in Southeast Asia, leveraging local scouts who have deep networks and knowledge of the regional ecosystems. This approach allows for early investments in promising companies that may not yet be on the radar of traditional investors.
The program operates on an invitation-only basis. Scouts are typically operators, founders, angel investors, and ecosystem builders with deep local networks in one or more of the six target SEA markets.
Scouts reportedly receive $50,000 to $100,000 in capital allocation to deploy on behalf of the fund, plus carried interest on deals they source.
There is no cost to participate in the program.
The program is ongoing with a rolling application process and no fixed cohorts.
The program requires a part-time commitment from scouts, allowing them to balance other professional responsibilities.
The program operates remotely, allowing scouts to work from their local markets while engaging with the broader 500 Global network.
"500 Global closes $143M fund for Southeast Asia startups" - TechCrunch, September 2023. Covers the close of 500 SEA III, the firm's largest regional early-stage fund, targeting 100 pre-seed to Series A investments across six SEA markets. Link
"500 Global Closes US$143M" - 500 Global Press Release, September 2023. Official announcement of the fund close, detailing the investment strategy, target check sizes, and geographic coverage. Link
Potential scouts should focus on building strong local networks and understanding the unique challenges and opportunities within their respective markets in Southeast Asia.
Q: How do I apply? A: The program is by invitation only, and applications are not publicly available.
Q: What is the duration of the program? A: The program is ongoing with no fixed duration.
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