Singapore Management University has established the $10 million Urban SustaInnovator Fund (USI Fund) to back startups in the urban sustainability sector.
The fund reserves its backing for startups in SMU’s 12-month accelerator programme, Urban SustaInnovator, which launched in September 2025 and admitted its first seven cohort members from 1,500+ applicants in February.
The university plans its first investment from this group by year-end and will make co-investments alongside established venture capital firms.
The USI Fund, according to the Singapore Management University, is the first of its kind in Southeast Asia with a focus on urban sustainability. It will seek out opportunities in areas such as decarbonisation, mobility, and the built environment.
“Urban sustainability innovation often fails not for lack of ideas, but for lack of capital that understands early‑stage risk and long deployment cycles. The USI Fund addresses this pain point by co‑investing with leading venture capital partners and backing deep-tech startups from SMU’s robust global pipeline, providing targeted early‑stage capital to help founders scale proven solutions into Asian urban markets.”
Prof Sun Sun Lim, vice president of partnerships and engagement
The USI Fund also works with students to provide real-world investment experiences, ranging from startup evaluation and due diligence to portfolio support.
