Vertex Ventures Appoints Ben Mathias as Managing Director and Head of India Operations

BANGALORE, October 9, 2015 /PRNewswire/ --

Venture Capital Arm of Temasek Holdings Seeks to Renew Focus in India, Southeast Asia and Taiwan Through This Appointment 

Vertex Ventures ("Vertex"), one of the oldest and leading venture capital firms in Asia, today announced the appointment of Ben Mathias as Managing Director and Head of India Operations. This leadership position appointment reaffirms Vertex's continued interest and commitment towards nurturing the tremendous startup potential in India.

Ben Mathias brings more than two decades of management and investment experience in his new role, which will also see him manage the current portfolio of Vertex India, which includes GreenDust, FirstCry, Yatra and Busybees. An alumnus of IIT Madras and Dartmouth College, Ben was recently a Partner at New Enterprise Associates and has been on the Board of Directors of more than 10 high growth companies.

Chua Kee Lock, Group CEO & President of Vertex Holdings, said, "We are excited to have Ben join us to head our India investments. Ben has had many years of management and Venture Capital investment experience and brings insights that are very valuable to startups. We look forward to unlocking a lot more potential in the Indian startup ecosystem under his leadership."

Ben added, "I am delighted to be a part of the Vertex team. We are aligned in our ambition to build great companies, not just in India but beyond India as well. While my key focus remains in India for now, I will be part of the Vertex team covering India, Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Through its global footprint, which includes US, Israel and China, Vertex is in a unique position to help Indian companies in their global expansion and look for partners in these regions."

Ben will work out of the Vertex office in UB City, Bangalore and will continue Vertex's strategy of investing in companies in digital consumer, enterprise software and healthcare. Vertex Ventures invests in high-growth startups seeking their first round of institutional venture capital funding. Vertex typically invests in Series-A rounds, and is open to both leading and co-investing with other value-add investors. Vertex aims to capitalize key trends characterizing South Asia include a young and energetic demographic, the emergence and growing confidence of its middle class, vast growth potential of developing markets, and rapid adoption of disruptive technologies.

About Vertex Ventures 

Vertex Ventures is the venture capital arm of Temasek Holdings, investing in emerging companies and leading venture capital funds throughout Greater Asia, Israel and the US. Since inception in 1988, Vertex has achieved substantial returns for its investors, while helping entrepreneurial companies realize their intrinsic value, through strategic listings on key capital markets in the US, Europe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan, and through key acquisitions by industry leaders. Some of the recent investments include Reebonz, GrabTaxi, FirstCry, Yatra, GreenDust, Patsnap, HappyFresh, TickledMedia, Paktor and Busybees.

For more information, please visit: http://www.vertexventures.com/southasia/

Media Contact:
Navneet Bhamrah 
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Senior Account Head
Ideosphere Consulting