Singapore-based cybersecurity startup watchTowr has announced its Series A round, confirming a DealStreetAsia report, while early-stage investor Antler has reportedly closed its second Australian vehicle.
watchTowr bags $19m in Series A round
Singapore-based cybersecurity company watchTowr on Thursday announced a $19-million Series A funding round led by Peak XV Partners, formerly known as Sequoia India & Southeast Asia. Existing backers Prosus Ventures and Cercano Management also participated in the financing.
The announcement confirms DealStreetAsia’s report earlier this week on the company’s fundraising. Regulatory filings showed that watchTowr secured $20 million in its Series A round, including $1 million from Prosus Ventures to buy back shares from founder Benjamin Harris.
In its release, the company said it will use the funds to capture market share and accelerate global growth by expanding its go-to-market, research and engineering teams. The latest investment brings its total funding raised to $29 million.
The company has also added former Cloudflare chief revenue officer Chris Merritt to its board.
Antler closes second Australia fund at $77m: Report
Global venture capital (VC) firm Antler, known to incubate nascent startups from day zero, has closed its second Australian fund at $77 million, exceeding its target of $60 million, AFR reported.
Antler is expected to invest in nearly 100 startups in Australia from the second vehicle. The VC firm closed its first Australia-focused vehicle at $46 million back in 2019.
In Australia, Antler has an active portfolio of over 100 companies across different sectors, including enterprise SaaS, healthcare platforms, deep tech, fintech, and waste management.
Founded in 2017, Antler manages more than eight funds and has made more than 1,140 investments globally. In August, it announced the final close of its second Southeast Asia fund at $72 million. It has invested in over 300 Southeast Asian startups since its launch in Singapore in 2018.
