[Profile] Jacob Risgaard: The Danish VC Betting Big on Malaysia's Tech Future

The Profile Snapshot

In the high-stakes world of venture capital, where trends are fleeting and geographies shift with the wind, Jacob Risgaard stands out as a leader who bets on fundamentals. As the Founding Partner of Copenhagen-based Vækstfonden Southeast Asia, he is the architect behind a bold, US$60 million bet on Malaysia's burgeoning tech ecosystem.

• 👨‍💼 Name: Jacob Risgaard
• 🏷️ Role: Founding Partner, Vækstfonden Southeast Asia
• 🔑 Key Superpower: Frontier-Market Visionary & Strategic Conviction

The Catalyst: Why It Matters

Risgaard is making headlines for a decision that has turned regional heads: choosing Kuala Lumpur as the operational headquarters and heart of Vækstfonden's new US$60 million Southeast Asia fund. This move defies the conventional gravitation towards Singapore or Indonesia, signalling a profound vote of confidence in Malaysia's untapped potential as a regional tech and innovation hub.

The Leadership Dialogue: Inside The Mindset

Reflecting on the fund's strategic positioning, Risgaard speaks with the calm assurance of someone who has done the deep, unglamorous work of market analysis. He emphasizes that the choice was neither accidental nor merely cost-driven. "Many see a market's size first," he notes, leaning forward, his gaze steady. "We saw a unique convergence: remarkable technical talent graduating from Malaysian universities, a government actively streamlining processes for startups, and a strategic location that serves as a natural gateway to ASEAN."

He candidly admits that while flashier ecosystems have more noise, Malaysia offers what he terms "foundational quality"—a stable business environment, strong IP protections, and a pragmatic, hardworking entrepreneurial culture that aligns with the Danish ethos of building sustainable businesses. When discussing the fund's focus—climate tech, agri-food tech, and Industry 4.0—his eyes light up. For him, these are not just sectors but solutions where Malaysian innovation can have a global impact, solving real-world problems from supply chain logistics to sustainable agriculture.

Career Milestones & Achievements

• Spearheaded Vækstfonden's strategic pivot into Southeast Asia, culminating in the launch and successful first close of the US$60 million regional fund.
• Architected and negotiated the partnership framework between Danish institutional capital and Malaysian sovereign wealth funds, creating a novel cross-border investment vehicle.
• Previously led investments in over 15 deep-tech startups across Europe, building a track record of identifying resilient business models in complex sectors.
• Successfully advocated for and established Kuala Lumpur as the fund's decision-making nexus, influencing the flow of international VC attention towards Malaysia.

The Editor's Take

Jacob Risgaard embodies the 'conviction capitalist'—a leader whose decisions are rooted in rigorous analysis and a long-term vision that often runs counter to the herd. He is not chasing hype; he is building infrastructure for growth. In a region hungry for validation, his choice of Malaysia is both a strategic masterstroke and a powerful statement of faith. His leadership is quietly transformative, focusing on enabling ecosystems rather than merely extracting value from them.

• 👁️ Visionary Thinking: 9/10
• ⚡ Execution Capability: 8/10
• 🌟 Industry Influence: 8/10

"The best investment thesis isn't about finding what's popular today. It's about seeing the foundational strength others overlook and having the patience to build with it."