Sunway iLabs, the innovation and corporate venture arm of Malaysia’s Sunway Group, announced on Tuesday that it has partnered with Andreessen Horowitz (a16z) Perennial, a global wealth management platform. The goal of this partnership is to speed up technology innovation across countries, as Southeast Asia’s AI and deep tech sector continues to grow.
Sunway said in a statement that 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.
With the region’s rapid digital growth, Sunway says this partnership shows its commitment to staying ahead by adopting new technologies and helping them grow in a responsible and inclusive way.
Under the partnership, Sunway iLabs and a16z Perennial will collaborate to identify and support significant innovations in key areas, including AI, business software, health tech, education tech, climate tech, and more.
By combining a16z Perennial’s global network with Sunway’s strong presence and experience in the region, they aim to create the right environment for technology to expand and be adopted across borders.
“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, Chief Executive Officer 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,” he added.
Founded in 1974, Sunway Group has grown from a small tin-mining company into one of Southeast Asia’s top business groups, with 13 divisions and over 20,000 employees in 50 locations worldwide.
Its main project, Sunway City Kuala Lumpur, is now seen as a global example of sustainable city development and a place to test innovations.
Since it began, Sunway iLabs has invested directly in startups and joined four other venture capital funds: Orbit Malaysia, The Hive Southeast Asia, Gobi Partners, and DeepTech Labs (with ARM and the University of Cambridge).
Today, Sunway iLabs has a portfolio of nearly 100 companies in different industries.
With a fast-growing middle class, a tech-savvy population, and strong demographic trends, Southeast Asia is now one of the world’s most exciting regions for innovation.
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, said the statement.
Sunway said that today, technology, society, and sustainability are more connected than ever. Its partnership with a16z Perennial shows Sunway’s forward-thinking approach, positioning it not just as a business but also as a builder of ecosystems and a driver of positive change in the region.
“This is Sunway’s call to the next generation of innovators. Let’s build, not just the future we want but the future we need, together, across borders,” added Leeuwen.
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