SEA funding rebounds in March

Startup funding in Southeast Asia climbed to about $582.2 million in March 2026, up from roughly $128.7 million in February. (dealstreetasia.com) The February drop came after January’s total was inflated by a single $2 billion Series C round for DayOne Data Centers. DealStreetAsia said startups in the region raised $2.18 billion across 25 equity deals in January, but only about $182.6 million without that one transaction. (dealstreetasia.com) That makes March less a return to the January peak than a rebound from a weak February base. DealStreetAsia’s February barometer said the month’s 94% fall reflected the absence of big transactions, even though deal count edged up to 27. (dealstreetasia.com) The backdrop is still selective, not broad-based. Tech in Asia wrote on April 7 that Southeast Asia’s startup slump looked more like a reset than a crisis, with investors concentrating capital in fewer companies and demanding clearer paths to revenue. (techinasia.com) New fund launches show money is still being raised even as startup dealmaking stays uneven. On March 13, Singtel Innov8 said it launched a $250 million artificial intelligence growth fund to back high-growth artificial intelligence startups globally. (singtel.com) Singtel said the new vehicle will target growth-stage companies in areas tied to its own business, including network operations, cybersecurity and information technology automation. The firm said the launch doubled Innov8’s total funds under management to more than $500 million. (singtel.com) Outside the region, other managers also added fresh capital aimed at artificial intelligence in March. Sands Capital said on March 17 that it closed Global Innovation Fund III at $1.1 billion, with a mandate spanning artificial intelligence, industrial technology and intelligent infrastructure. (finance.yahoo.com) Founders Fund is also raising a new growth vehicle with artificial intelligence among its priorities. VCWire reported on March 23 that the firm was closing a $6 billion fourth growth fund focused on artificial intelligence, defense technology and late-stage portfolio companies. (vcwire.tech) March’s funding total does not erase the volatility in Southeast Asia’s market, where monthly numbers have swung from about $405.1 million in December 2025 to $2.18 billion in January, then $128.7 million in February and $582.2 million in March. It does show investors are still writing checks while new venture capital pools keep forming around artificial intelligence. (dealstreetasia.com)