The Central Investment Hub for Innovation in AI and Web3 in the APAC region.
Rule72 Pte. Ltd. is a Singapore-based next-generation technology investment company focused on AI, advanced FinTech and Web3 solutions across the APAC region. Operating originally as a permanent capital vehicle and now expanded into multiple ways of adding value to its shareholders and investors, Rule72 aims to foster the creation of an open and interoperable financial network. In particular, the Team sees tremendous value at the intersection of AI and Web3 and is focused on ways of developing and enhancing the accretive potential of this technology regionally and globally. |
The growing AI, Web3 and FinTech ecosystem in the APAC region and beyond has opened up new investment opportunities for Rule72.
Chairman, CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer
Co-Chief Investment Officer and Director
Michael H. Conn
Dr. Amrit Kumar
Our Leaders
An experienced team with combined strengths in AI, Web3, finance, venture capital and technology.
Michael is the Chairman, CEO and Co-Chief Investment Officer of Rule72 Pte. Ltd., a global asset management company he co-founded with Amrit Kumar under the name Zilliqa Capital Pte. Ltd. in 2021 and converted to Rule72 Pte. Ltd. in 2022.
Michael was formerly co-Founder, CEO and Director of Ether Capital (ETHC: NEO), the first Ethereum-focused publicly-traded company, where he successfully led a $45 million private placement raise and public listing. With an established career across the traditional financial services, AI and digital assets spaces, Michael has held senior leadership positions at AllianceBernstein, Société Générale, Trust Company of the West, AsiaVest, and Quail Creek Ventures, having been responsible for portfolio management, strategy, M&A, operations, sales, and marketing across Asia, North America and Europe.
Michael is an active member of the Singapore Fintech Association and Blockchain Association Singapore.
Michael was formerly co-Founder, CEO and Director of Ether Capital (ETHC: NEO), the first Ethereum-focused publicly-traded company, where he successfully led a $45 million private placement raise and public listing. With an established career across the traditional financial services, AI and digital assets spaces, Michael has held senior leadership positions at AllianceBernstein, Société Générale, Trust Company of the West, AsiaVest, and Quail Creek Ventures, having been responsible for portfolio management, strategy, M&A, operations, sales, and marketing across Asia, North America and Europe.
Michael is an active member of the Singapore Fintech Association and Blockchain Association Singapore.
Amrit is the Co-Chief Investment Officer and Director of Rule72 Pte. Ltd., a global asset management company he co-founded with Michael H. Conn under the name Zilliqa Capital Pte. Ltd. in 2021 and converted to Rule72 Pte. Ltd. in 2022.
Amrit was formerly co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Zilliqa Research. He actively participated in its initial $22 million fundraise and has been an active fintech builder and digital asset investor ever since. Amrit is also the COO of AltLayer, a Web3 infrastructure-scaling company for all blockchains.
He researched at National University of Singapore and has a PhD in Computer Science from Inria, France. He has published several academic papers on blockchains and smart contracts at top tier conferences such as PLDI, OOPSLA, ESORICS and DSN. Many of his research papers have been deployed into production systems.
Amrit was formerly co-Founder, President and Chief Scientific Officer of Zilliqa Research. He actively participated in its initial $22 million fundraise and has been an active fintech builder and digital asset investor ever since. Amrit is also the COO of AltLayer, a Web3 infrastructure-scaling company for all blockchains.
He researched at National University of Singapore and has a PhD in Computer Science from Inria, France. He has published several academic papers on blockchains and smart contracts at top tier conferences such as PLDI, OOPSLA, ESORICS and DSN. Many of his research papers have been deployed into production systems.
Board of Directors and Key Advisor
- Rumi MoralesPartner and Board Member at Outlier VenturesRumi is a Partner and Board Member at Outlier Ventures, the world’s leading Web3 accelerator. She previously led the venture arm of the CME Group in Chicago where she pioneered investments by large financial institutions in blockchain and digital currencies. She was also a long-time executive at Goldman Sachs in New York and Hong Kong and founded a premier boutique research firm, based in Singapore, focused on financial market development. Rumi is a member of the Boards of the Girl Scouts of the USA, the Negaunee Music Institute of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, and the Chamber of Digital Commerce.
- Professor David LEE Kuo ChuenProf. Blockchain, Singapore University of Social SciencesDavid also holds an Adjunct Professor position at the National University of Singapore. His other appointments are the key advisor to Artichoke Capital, the Chairman of Global Fintech Institute, Vice President of the Economic Society of Singapore, Co-founder of Blockchain Association of Singapore, Global Web3 Association and Council Member of British Blockchain Association. He has 20 years of experience as CEOs and Independent Directors of listed and tech companies and is a consultant and advisor to international organisations on food supply chain, blockchain, FinTech and Digital Currency.
- Jehan ChuFounder and Managing Partner at Kenetic CapitalJehan founded Kenetic Capital -- a blockchain Venture Capital and cryptocurrency trading firm based in Hong Kong. He has invested and supported over 100 projects. Jehan also founded the Ethereum HK community (2014), co-Founded the Bitcoin Association of Hong Kong (2014). Jehan serves as co-Chairman of the Hong Kong Fintech Association Blockchain Committee, is enrolled in the Kauffman Fellows Program, and is a Fellow of the Singapore University of Social Science. Jehan holds a BA from Johns Hopkins University and MA from Hong Kong University.
- Raymond ChiamFormer Managing Director, Investments at TemasekRaymond is the former Managing Director (of investments) and a long-time senior member of the team at Temasek. Over his 16 years with Temasek, he ran the public market desk responsible for executing trades globally. Raymond is now an Advisory Director for Temasek and serves as a director for a number of Temasek subsidiaries. In addition, he also takes on senior advisory roles in various companies involved in financial services, FinTech, blockchain and the infrastructure sector; with companies like Rule72, Platinum Group, EQBR Holdings, AIOZ and Diamond Glass. Over the course of his career, Raymond had previously held other senior leadership roles in HSBC, Wardlay, UBS, James Capel and Citicorp Vickers.
- Mason BordaFounder and CEO of TokensoftMason is Founder and CEO of Tokensoft. Tokensoft is a blockchain infrastructure firm that helps create your favorite digital assets. To date, Tokensoft customers comprise over $10 Billion in market cap from assets such as Tezos, Avalanche and The Graph. In 2020, Tokensoft pioneered bringing SEC-Registered assets to the Ethereum blockchain with INX Token and ArCoin. Previously Mason held positions at BitGo, Boeing, Space Systems/Loral, and Broadcom.
- Benjamin TsaiPresident & Managing Partner at Wave FinancialBenjamin leads Wave Financial, a California Registered Investment Advisory firm focused on blockchain and cryptocurrencies, with a focus on portfolio management and product development. Previously, Ben served as the Head of Alternative Investments Asia Pacific at AllianceBernstein for 3 years. His finance career started at Merrill Lynch, where he spent 12 years stationed in Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Singapore, running derivative products desks for both equity and fixed income, subsequently the commodities desk. He has a BS from UC Berkeley, MBA from UCLA, and is SEC registered.
- Miko MatsumuraGeneral Partner of gumi Cryptos CapitalMiko has been building open source software startups in Silicon Valley for over 25 years, including raising over $50 million in venture capital for companies such as Gradle, Hazelcast. He has also participated in multiple exits including INFRAVIO, webMethods, and Db4O. He is an advisor in successful startups like Idle Finance and Pundi X. He has been an investor with Focus Ventures, a firm with over $800M under management, 9 IPOs, 44 exits and Pantera Capital. He holds a Master's degree in Neuroscience from Yale University where he worked on abstract computational neural networks.
- Jeffrey ZirlinCo-Founder at Sky Mavis/Axie InfinitySky Mavis are the developers of Axie Infinity where Jeff spearheads community growth experiments, incentive design, and strategic collaborations. A lifelong gamer and collector, Jeff has been involved in the Non-fungible token (NFT) space since 2017.
Investment Thesis
AI, Web3 and next-generation technology-based financial products and services are shaping the future of finance. We invest in ventures building this innovative future that will leave a pronounced impact across developed and emerging markets.
There is a tremendous opportunity to serve the Unbanked and Underbanked population in the region by supporting the "picks and shovels" type of businesses that will foster democratisation of access to financial products and services, all while providing access and exposure to the most exciting and accretive businesses that are capable of providing superior risk-adjusted returns.
There is a tremendous opportunity to serve the Unbanked and Underbanked population in the region by supporting the "picks and shovels" type of businesses that will foster democratisation of access to financial products and services, all while providing access and exposure to the most exciting and accretive businesses that are capable of providing superior risk-adjusted returns.
Copyright © 2024 Rule72 Pte Ltd (and its subsidiaries).
All rights reserved.
info@rule72.com
All rights reserved.
info@rule72.com