Top Venture Capitalists in Asia (2025): Leading the AI Revolution with China Asserting Dominance in Technological Innovation
In the vast world of venture capital, Asia has been lighting up the scene, particularly China, despite a slowdown in deal-making due to economic decoupling with the U.S and a sluggish domestic economy. The shine returns, thanks to the unexpected rise of AI startup DeepSeek, reigniting investor interest and casting a new spotlight on the country's tech sector.
The resurgence is evident in the 2025 Forbes Midas List, where an astonishing 15 investors hail from Asia. Despite being the only non-Chinese investor on the list, Jenny Lee of Granite Asia, based in Singapore, holds her ground among the Chinese powerhouses.
Leading the charge once again is Neil Shen, the billionaire founding partner of HongShan Capital Group (HSG), who claims the No. 4 spot on the 2025 Midas List. Shen's strategic bets on ByteDance, the Chinese parent of TikTok, have once more proven profitable, pushing his net worth to new heights. HSG has been a significant part of ByteDance's journey since leading its Series C in 2014 and has reaped the benefits as the company's valuation stands at an estimated $300 billion.
Other notable companies in HSG's portfolio have also made their mark. Chinese autonomous-driving chip developer Horizon Robotics, for instance, saw its shares surge more than 80% since its debut on the Hong Kong stock exchange in October 2024. The list also includes Chinese robotaxi operator Pony AI, which went public on the Nasdaq in November, and AI drug discovery startup Xtalpi, which started trading in Hong Kong last June.
Richard Liu, the second-highest ranked venture capitalist from Asia on the 2025 Midas List, comes from 5Y Capital. The firm, associated with significant investments in Chinese tech companies, also backed Horizon Robotics, Pony AI, and Xtalpi, among others.
Granite Asia, with two senior managing partners on the 2025 Midas List, is another firm that has earned recognition for its strategic investments, particularly in Southeast Asia's Grab and China's Xiaomi.
The 2025 Midas List welcomes two newcomers from Asia - Xi Cao, a former Sequoia China partner who co-founded Monolith in 2021, and Meng Lian, a partner at IDG Capital. Cao's investments in China's most promising AI startups, like Moonshot AI and Unitree, have been instrumental in his success. Lian, on the other hand, broke into the list thanks to his early investment in the Chinese fast-fashion giant, Shein, which is reportedly working towards a Hong Kong IPO.
In conclusion, while challenges persist, Asia proves its influence in the tech industry through visionary investors and groundbreaking startups. The Forbes Midas List stands as a testament to the region's potential and growing global impact.
Investing in venture capital, particularly in Asia, has been a lucrative endeavor, as demonstrated by the 15 investors from Asia who made the 2025 Forbes Midas List. Neil Shen, the founding partner of HongShan Capital Group, led the charge, claiming the No. 4 spot due to his strategic bets on ByteDance and other successful technology-focused ventures.
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