As Southeast Asia’s deep tech and artificial intelligence (AI) ecosystem continues to accelerate, Sunway iLabs, the innovation and corporate venture capital (CVC) arm of Sunway Group, today announced a partnership with Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Perennial, a global wealth management platform dedicated to backing generational companies and sustainable innovation.
This collaboration marks a pivotal step in Sunway Group’s innovation journey, anchored in cross-border collaboration, technological foresight, and a commitment to empowering future generations. As the region experiences unprecedented digital growth, this partnership reflects Sunway’s ambition to remain at the forefront of change by embracing new technologies and creating the conditions for them to thrive responsibly and inclusively.
Through this partnership, Sunway iLabs will work closely with a16z Perennial to identify and support breakthrough innovations in AI, enterprise software, health tech, education tech, climate tech, and more. The partnership combines a16z Perennial’s global innovation network with Sunway’s regional leadership and ecosystem depth to co-establish a conducive environment for cross-border technology adoption and scalability.
“We are excited to partner with a16z Perennial, a platform built on one of the world’s most respected venture capital firms, renowned for its deep expertise in backing transformative technologies,” said Matt van Leeuwen, CEO of Sunway iLabs and Chief Innovation Officer of Sunway Group.
“Being based in the heart of Silicon Valley, a16z offers unparalleled access to the world’s most advanced innovations and a powerful global network. This partnership enables us to bridge these frontier technologies with Southeast Asia’s growing digital economy, accelerating responsible and impactful innovation across borders.”
Established in 1974, Sunway Group has evolved from a modest tin-mining company into one of the leading conglomerates in Southeast Asia with 13 business divisions and a staff strength of more than 20,000 across 50 locations worldwide. Its flagship integrated township, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, has become a global model for sustainable urban development and a testbed for innovation. Meanwhile, Sunway iLabs has actively made direct investments in startups and participated in four other venture capital funds since its inception: Orbit Malaysia, The Hive Southeast Asia, Gobi Partners, and DeepTech Labs (in partnership with ARM and the University of Cambridge). Collectively, Sunway iLabs’ portfolio comprises nearly 100 companies across various sectors.
With a rapidly rising middle class, a tech-savvy population and powerful demographic tailwinds, Southeast Asia has become one of the most compelling frontiers for innovation globally. By combining a16z Perennial’s network with Sunway’s deep-rooted regional knowledge, infrastructure and institutional credibility, the collaboration creates a powerful bridge between global innovation and Southeast Asian opportunity.
In an age where the lines between technology, society and sustainability are increasingly intertwined, Sunway’s collaboration with a16z Perennial affirms its forward-thinking leadership, not just as a business but as an ecosystem builder and catalyst of regional transformation. “This is Sunway’s call to the next generation of innovators,” added Matt van Leeuwen. “Let’s build, not just the future we want, but the future we need, together, across borders.”