A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE
CREATING VENTURE RETURNS WITH LESS RISK
Capital Efficiency
Over 50% of VC-backed B2B exits in the US have raised less than $US10m of total financing at the point of exit.
Positive Unit Economics
Enterprise tech startups tend to have high gross profits allowing them to achieve positive cashflow [with high predictability].
Ignored and Underserved
US$9b in the past 10 years all went to B2C startups in Southeast Asia, according to Preqin’s data.
‘Sticky Customers’
Recurring cashflow is embedded into operations.
Focused on B2B startups with South-east Asia as the key growth market
To create venture returns with less risk, we have set very stringent criteria:
1
Focus on a proven
asset class
(enterprise tech)
2
Apply a disciplined private
equity approach
3
Take a stress-tested approach to projecting investment returns
CREATING VENTURE RETURNS WITH LESS RISK
Ignored and Underserved
US$9b in the past 10 years all went to B2C startups in Southeast Asia, according to Preqin’s data.
Capital Efficiency
Over 50% of VC-backed B2B exits in the US have raised less than $US10m of total financing at the point of exit.
Positive Unit Economics
Enterprise tech startups tend to have high gross profits allowing them to achieve positive cashflow [with high predictability].
‘Sticky Customers’
Recurring cashflow is embedded into operations.
Focused on B2B startups with South-East Asia as the key growth market
To create venture returns with less risk, we have set very stringent criteria:
*Source: CB Insights : https://www.cbinsights.com/research/venture-capital-funnel-2/
Sectors We Invest In
From Smart Cities to Retail Enablement
FOR FOUNDERS
There are a few things that can make or break a startup, so we go the extra mile to help founders in these key areas.
REVENUE TRACTION
Early revenue traction is vital to a startup. Where necessary, we co-pitch with our portfolio to help them acquire their first marquee customers, including taking them abroad to expand to SEA markets.
TALENT BUILDING
Finding the right fit — the rare talent — to accelerate your fast-growing business is a common challenge every startup faces, and this is where we aim to make a difference.
FUNDRAISING
We are committed to leading and helping our portfolio’s founders to syndicate the entire fundraising for their future rounds.
Made Possible By
Tin Men’s Extensive Network of Partners
FOUNDERS’ TESTIMONIALS
We sought out Tin Men to help us accelerate our market penetration across Asia.
– Chan Chee Chong (CEO) and Chan Chee Kong (COO), GlobalTix
We see synergies between RateIt’s and Tin Men’s other portfolio companies, as well as immediate potential with their go-to-market partners across SEA.
– (L-R): Michael Momsen (CEO) RateIt
Tin Men has been an integral part of Brazn’s growth and their network and mentorship has brought the business to a whole new level.
– Adrian Lee (CEO), Brazn
Our traction outside of Singapore is all due to Ben of Tin Men.
– Aston Chia, Overdrive’s CEO
We chose Tin Men as they were already deeply familiar with the opportunity in construction, and quickly recognised what we had built. We also knew that we would have access to the scaling expertise of all three Tin Men co-founders, which is important as we now plan to scale across Southeast Asia.
– Lin Shijing (CEO), Hubble
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What do you invest in?
In which regions do you invest?
Do you invest in firms outside of South-East Asia?
At what stage of growth does Tin Men invest in startups?
Will Tin Men only invest if you can lead the round?
What’s the typical size of your first cheque? Do you do follow-on investments?
I’m at the idea stage and am raising my first round of funding. Should I contact you?
Besides funding, what other value does Tin Men provide?
I’m raising a large growth round. Should I contact you?
What do you invest in?
We invest exclusively in B2B or enterprise technology startups. We are keen to meet founders whose businesses share these qualities:
-
Addressing opportunities in any of these sectors: supply chain & logistics, smart cities & real estate, construction, offline/online retail enablement (including travel), agriculture, manufacturing and enterprise productivity
-
Are generating revenue
-
Have South-East Asia (SEA) as their primary market of interest
In which regions do you invest?
Do you invest in firms outside of South-East Asia?
We only invest in companies for whom South-East Asia is the primary market of interest at the time of our investment (i.e., they may become regional or global companies in the long run). If you run a company headquartered outside SEA but find yourself – independent of our investment criteria – focusing the majority of your efforts on this region, then it would be natural for you to realign your HQ to somewhere in SEA (often Singapore), as it would be unrealistic to be based outside your primary market of interest.
At what stage of growth does Tin Men invest in startups?
The earliest stage at which we may partner with you is when you are generating some meaningful revenue. At the other end of the spectrum are founders who have figured out their go-to-market strategy in depth and would like to partner with us to scale this out.
Will Tin Men only invest if you can lead the round?
Yes. We are completely open to other investors collaborating with us on a financing round when they can bring value to the company.
What’s the typical size of your first cheque? Do you do follow-on investments?
Our first cheque ranges from a few hundred thousand dollars for early-stage businesses to several million dollars for more advanced ones. We are always the lead investor in our first cheque and commit to leading future rounds too.
I’m at the idea stage and am raising my first round of funding. Should I contact you?
We only invest in companies that have revenue so you would be better off approaching others who invest at this early stage. The best situation for you is to be funded by revenue – building a successful business doesn’t always need venture capital!
Besides funding, what other value does Tin Men provide?
We get involved in the key areas that can make or break a startup in their early stages, namely revenue trANH VBUaction, talent and organizational capabilities. We do this via our extensive network of partners.
I’m raising a large growth round. Should I contact you?
Kudos to you. We are not the most appropriate partner for you at this stage.
