Founding Partner, Wavemaker Impact
Steve is serial entrepreneur, investor and advisor. He has scaled teams from zero to 1,500 staff, built a tech unicorn used by 40M monthly users, raised >$400M funding, led M&A deals, IPO on NYSE, invested/advises over 20 greentech start-ups and launched a climatetech fund. He’s passionate about entrepreneurship, climate change and social equality.
In 2007, Steve co-founded PropertyGuru out of personal frustration, and set out to increase transparency and “empower consumers make confident property decisions”. He led the business as CEO for first 10+ years, growing from scratch into a unicorn used by 40 million people in 5 countries, with 1,500 staff and took it public on New York Stock Exchange (“PGRU” NYSE ticker). Steve serves on the board.
Steve founded Planet Rise in 2019 to help companies tackle climate change and social inequality, using tech to achieve impact at scale. He’s invested in and advises over 20 Asian green-tech start-ups in clean energy, clean water, clean air, sustainable food, circular economy, sustainable finance, migrant worker rights and women-led enterprises.
In 2021, Steve co-founded Wavemaker Impact, South East Asia’s first VC climate-tech venture builder, with the goal of reducing 10% of global carbon emissions by 2035. We work with experienced entrepreneurs to build a portfolio of 100x100 unicorns - fast growing climatetech ventures with potential to mitigate 100MT emissions and generate $100M revenue each.
Steve has supported the development of South East Asia’s start-up ecosystem over the last 18 years – as angel investor (35+ start-ups), mentor and VC (Wavemaker Impact) focused on sustainability tech. Steve is a member of Asian Venture and Philanthropy Network (AVPN) and Top Tier Impact (TTI). He is also sponsor/mentor/judge for HabitatForHumanity’s Sheltertech affordable housing accelerator, Capitaland’s Sustainable Buildings accelerator and Temasek Foundation’s global The Liveability Challenge. Steve supports charities including FoodBank, Asia Startup Network (low income families) and LightHouse (migrant workers).
Previously, Steve invested in and then led ComiAsia as CEO, a Singapore mobile content start-up. Previously, he founded Business2Profit in Europe to help enterprises to innovate and start-ups with scaling. Prior to this, Steve held leadership roles in the tech sector for 10 years, his last position was director of a $500 million turnover business at Cable & Wireless helping internet, content, emerging telco and mobile players.
In 2007, Steve was awarded the “Spirit of Enterprise Award” in recognition of contributions to entrepreneurship in Singapore. He is a keynote speaker and regularly interviewed by media on start-up, venture investing and sustainability topics.