MDI Ventures sharpens SEA thesis around AI, blockchain, digital asset infra

MDI Ventures, TelkomGroup's corporate venture capital arm, is narrowing its focus on Southeast Asia's investment landscape to include enterprise AI, AI infrastructure, governance software, real-world asset tokenization, institutional custody, and regulated digital asset rails. This shift reflects a transition in the region's technology cycle, moving from consumer internet and digital payments to infrastructure and software needed for AI and digital assets at enterprise scale.

MDI's strategy is closely tied to TelkomGroup's domestic reach, aiming to source more companies from Southeast Asia, begin with Singapore, and help them enter Indonesia through TelkomGroup's enterprise relationships, digital infrastructure, and strategic partners.

Shannon Lee Chaluangco, Investment Director at MDI Ventures Singapore, highlighted that Southeast Asia's next wave of technology growth will be led by companies solving real infrastructure and enterprise problems. MDI's updated thesis sits at the intersection of Singapore and Indonesia, two key players in Southeast Asia's startup ecosystem. Singapore is the leading AI funding hub, capturing 57% of the region's AI funding, while Indonesia offers a large market scale with 270 million people and a growing digital economy.

The Singapore-Indonesia corridor has long been an important startup route. MDI's strategy aims to bridge this gap by providing regional founders with Indonesia's market scale, TelkomGroup's network, and strategic resources needed to build durable companies in AI, blockchain, and digital assets.