Francis Wong

Francis Wong is Managing Director at Sumitomo Corporation Equity Asia Limited, the Asian corporate venture capital arm of Sumitomo Corporation. SCEA’s team page says he oversees the firm’s investment and operations, provides venture-investing insight as a chartered engineer, and helps set SCEA’s investment strategy.

Earlier public profiles listed him as Executive Director and board member of SCEA. HKSTP’s 2018 EPiC biography described him as responsible for driving SCEA’s investment strategy and said SCEA invests in next-generation technology startups in Asia where there is mutual strategic benefit for both Sumitomo Corporation and the startup.

Before SCEA, Wong was an Assistant Vice President at Walden International, investing in emerging technology ventures in Asia. Before venture capital, he spent the 1990s in telecom roles spanning network services, product development, project management, and business development; SCEA’s current team page lists previous experience at Walden International, Hutchison Telecom, and Hong Kong Telecom.

He holds a BEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering and an MSc in Computer Science from The University of Manchester, plus an MBA from Strathclyde Graduate School of Business. His LinkedIn profile also lists IMD Business School executive education and a Chartered Engineer credential from the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

• SCEA’s stated focus is “identifying technologies from Asia that unlock new commercial opportunities globally” and working with Sumitomo Corporation’s businesses to revolutionize markets.
• The firm seeks strategic partnerships where Sumitomo Corporation’s global platform can act as a launchpad for startups.
• SCEA’s 2013 investment philosophy said it invests in “growth and potentiality in Asia,” prefers “regional penetration and global uniqueness,” favors revenue-generating models over cost-cutting models, and seeks business synergies with Sumitomo’s business network.
• SCEA’s 2013 stage guidance emphasized early/growth companies needing expansion capital; seed was “not our priority,” but could be considered where the product or service had customer acceptance and solid revenue.
• The 2013 “not to do” list excluded infrastructure, real estate/buildings, privatizations, biotech, pure concepts, and funds.
• Current visible portfolio categories on SCEA’s website are automation, transportation, consumer and media, clean tech, fintech, and healthcare.