HSBC Opens Singapore Hub For High-Growth Companies and Investors
British lender HSBC has launched its Institutional Venture Banking business in Singapore, underscoring the city-state’s role as one of the world’s leading start-up and innovation hubs.
Through its Institutional Venture Banking (IVB), HSBC aims to bridge the financing gap between early-stage start-ups and established corporates by offering tailored banking solutions that combine global reach with local expertise.
The bank will provide a full suite of services – from venture debt and working-capital finance to treasury and foreign-exchange management – for companies moving from Series A funding through to IPO or acquisition.
Partner of Choice
Neil Falconer has been appointed Head of Innovation Banking in Singapore and will lead a dedicated Innovation coverage team to support existing clients as well as drive new client acquisition in Singapore, the bank also announced on Wednesday.
«With Institutional Venture Banking, we are positioning HSBC to be the partner of choice for founders and investors who are scaling the next generation of leading companies,» said Kee Joo Wong, CEO of HSBC Singapore.
Strategic Commitment to Southeast Asia
The launch builds on HSBC’s regional strategy to capture opportunities arising from Asia’s fast-developing technology and venture-capital landscape. According to Enterprise Singapore, the country ranks fourth globally as a start-up ecosystem, ahead of many traditional financial centres.
IVB Singapore will act as a gateway for both local and international clients seeking cross-border expansion across ASEAN, Greater China, India, and beyond. The bank said it intends to leverage its strong global network to facilitate fundraising, growth financing, and strategic exits for companies in technology, healthcare, fintech, and sustainability sectors.
Early Partnerships and Market Momentum
HSBC’s Institutional Venture Banking has already built relationships with prominent venture-backed firms including Atome Financial, G Life, and The Parenting Company – all of which are part of the region’s rapidly expanding digital-economy landscape.
«Venture-backed firms need more than capital – they need partners who understand their speed, structure, and growth trajectory,» said Andrew Low, Managing Director and Head of Institutional Venture Banking, HSBC Singapore. «We are here to provide that partnership and to help connect them with investors and markets globally.»
Strengthening Singapore’s Financial Hub
By launching IVB in Singapore, HSBC joins a select group of global banks directly serving the institutional venture segment – a move that complements the government’s long-term vision of deepening the country’s innovation-finance ecosystem.
«The innovation economy is a key growth driver for Asia,» said Betty Fong, Head of Commercial Banking for Innovation, HSBC Singapore. «Our new platform reinforces Singapore’s standing as a gateway for venture capital and technology financing across the region.»
New Chapter for Venture Banking
HSBC’s Institutional Venture Banking business represents a strategic expansion of its global commercial-banking franchise. With venture investment in Asia projected to rebound in 2026, the timing of the launch highlights the bank’s ambition to support the full lifecycle of innovation – from idea to global scale-up.
As Singapore continues to attract start-ups, funds, and family offices, HSBC’s IVB initiative signals that the world’s major banks are taking the innovation economy more seriously than ever – and are ready to compete for its most promising clients.
