Investor Profile: TNB Aura — Thesis, Cheque Size & How to Apply

TNB Aura funding comes from a Singapore-based, thesis-led venture capital firm investing in "the tech champions of tomorrow" across Southeast Asia — with the stated mission of uplifting the lives of "The Next Billion". Writing cheques of $2–10 million into Series A and B startups, TNB Aura positions itself as a high-conviction, data-driven partner that works to institutionalise and professionalise its portfolio companies, not just finance them.

TNB Aura funding thesis

The firm describes itself as thesis-led and high-conviction: it uses data-driven methodologies to identify select companies "primed for the future and ready to change the very face of their categories". It is sector-agnostic but shows clear sweet spots — social commerce, direct-to-consumer, telehealth, edtech, agritech and fintech. It also publishes an annual Impact Report (the 2025 edition is titled "Institutionalising Impact"), reflecting an impact-investor orientation.

Notable portfolio and partners

Portfolio companies listed on its official site include Super (Indonesia's largest social-commerce company), Zenyum (Southeast Asia's largest D2C smile-cosmetics business), ORA (regional direct-to-patient telehealth), PRISM+ (D2C house of brands), Techcoop (Vietnam agritech), Vuihoc (Vietnam K-12 edtech), CoLearn (Indonesia edtech) and Eratani (Indonesia agritech financing). Earlier headline deals include leading the $10 million Series B of TradeGecko alongside Aura Venture Fund, plus investments in GIMO and Charge+ (which crossed 4,000 EV chargers in Singapore). Exits on record include Zipmex and TradeGecko. The firm was founded in 2018 by Charles Wong (Founding Partner) and Vicknesh R Pillay, and manages the TNB Aura Fund III VCC.

Cheque size, stages and geography

TNB Aura invests $2–10 million into Series A and B tech startups (some trackers cite $5–10 million), becoming a "true partner" beyond the cheque. Its mandate is Southeast Asia, and it has made 28 investments. Founders should note honestly: no India-based portfolio company is listed — this is a fund for teams building in or expanding across Southeast Asia.

How to get funding from TNB Aura

TNB Aura's public materials emphasise thesis fit: founders should arrive with a data-backed case in one of its conviction areas and a credible path to category leadership in Southeast Asia. The firm is visible across the regional ecosystem — its founding partner has appeared at events such as InnoEx in Vietnam — and warm introductions through the Southeast Asian founder network are the natural route in.

How to apply for funding

There is no published application form; founders are directed to the contact channels on the official site, tnbaura.vc, where the firm lists its thesis, portfolio and team.