SC Ventures

SC Ventures is the innovation, fintech investment, and venture-building arm of Standard Chartered Bank. The firm focuses on building and investing in breakthrough ventures both within and beyond the traditional banking landscape. Their mission is to rewire the DNA in banking by evolving how clients are served, facilitating global trade, and building institutional-grade digital capabilities for financial services. They operate with a distinct advantage, leveraging institution-grade build and scale, a presence in high-potential markets, and a focus on high-conviction themes.

Established in 2018, SC Ventures emerged from a recognition that digital adoption in society had outpaced the financial sector, leaving many client segments underserved and needs unmet. The initiative was proposed in 2017 by a small group of innovators, including CEO Alex Manson and Gurdeep Singh Kohli, with the aim of creating a platform and catalyst for Standard Chartered to promote innovation, invest in disruptive financial technology, and explore alternative business models. Their operating model emphasizes venture building as a core focus, complemented by selective investments in partners they have directly collaborated with.

SC Ventures has a diverse portfolio of investments and ventures. Notable examples include leading a Series C funding round for Keyrock, a neo investment group for digital assets, and a strategic investment in TruFin. They have also incubated and invested in companies like Zodia Custody, an institutional crypto asset custodian, Solv, an Indian digital marketplace for SMEs, and Autumn, a financial goals and wealth planning app. Other investments include Thought Machine, vArmour, and METACO, demonstrating their commitment to financial software, network management, and digital asset infrastructure.

The team at SC Ventures comprises experienced business builders, operators, and investors with diverse expertise spanning corporate law, digital transformation, finance, M&A, compliance, risk management, and technology, including AI, Web3, and digital assets. Key leadership includes CEO Alex Manson, with a background in investment banking and transaction banking, and Gurdeep Singh Kohli, Global Head of Enterprise Innovation. The firm also benefits from a network of senior practitioner advisors across tech, regulation, and banking, enabling them to navigate complex markets and drive impactful innovation.