In an increasingly equity-dominated startup funding narrative, venture debt remains an underexplored yet essential pillar. Dr. Jeremy Loh, Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Genesis Alternative Ventures, brings a unique blend of academic depth and financial pragmatism to the conversation. With roots in engineering and patents to his name, Dr. Loh’s unconventional journey from academia to venture capital highlights the strength of cross-disciplinary thinking in building impactful investment career.
In this exclusive interview with Indian Startup Times, Dr. Loh discusses Genesis’s mission, the evolving role of venture debt, and how founders can make smarter funding decisions by understanding the full spectrum of capital solutions.
From Lab Coats to Venture Capital: Dr. Jeremy Loh’s Career Evolution
Dr. Loh embarked on his venture capital journey after a decade in academia, where his work at the intersection of biology and engineering led to patent filings. In 2007, facing a pivotal decision between pursuing an MBA and entering the nascent venture capital space, he chose the latter, driven by a desire to understand the intricacies of creating and funding tech businesses. The analytical rigor honed during his academic career proved invaluable, translating into a pragmatic approach to business and finance.
His career path then shifted from venture equity to venture debt, a transition facilitated by a fortuitous opportunity at DBS Bank. There, he spearheaded venture debt lending to the region’s venture-backed companies. This role offered Dr. Loh a firsthand perspective on the funding challenges faced by founders and underscored the increasing importance of venture debt in meeting the growing capital demands of rapidly expanding startups.
Genesis: Bridging the Debt Financing Gap
Genesis Alternative Ventures was founded to address a critical need: providing debt financing to early-stage, venture-backed companies. As banks traditionally cater to large corporations and well-established SMEs, startups in their growth phase often find themselves underbanked.
Genesis exclusively focuses on this segment, backing founders from the early stages of debt eligibility through their growth journey. Notably, the firm’s LP base includes institutional investors like banks and financial institutions, ensuring continuity in capital as their portfolio companies scale.
The Visibility Gap: Venture Debt’s Undersung Role
One of the recurring themes Dr. Loh highlights is the lack of visibility around venture debt. While equity raises often make headlines, debt financing tends to remain in the shadows. “Companies announce a $10–15 million equity raise with great fanfare, but rarely mention the accompanying debt funding,” he notes.
Lack of visibility and also founder hesitation—concerns around repayment, bankruptcy risks, and misconceptions about debt being “expensive.” To increase awareness around venture debt, Genesis actively engages in market education to dispel these fears, advocating that venture debt deserves equal consideration alongside equity.
Investment Lens: Traction, Revenue, and Maturity
Venture debt typically does not suit startups that are too early—such as those at the seed or proof-of-concept stage. Instead,Genesis is on the lookout for companies that have demonstrable business traction and revenue generation. The goal is to support these businesses on the cusp of scaling, particularly when they’ve moved beyond proving product superiority and are disrupting incumbents.
Although headquartered in Singapore, Genesis invests across Southeast Asia and remains open to international startups from other geographies who can demonstrate a clear nexus to the region,, such as an established business presence.
Sector-Agnostic but Strategic
While Genesis maintains a sector-agnostic investment mindset, its portfolio naturally leans towards industries that align well with debt financing models. Fintech and Greentech are particularly well represented—not due to targeted strategy, but because fintech remains one of the best-funded verticals in the region.
Macroeconomic Shifts and Startup Sustainability
The global pivot away from the “growth at all costs” model has benefited venture debt providers. Startups are now more focused on profitability and sustainable burn rates, making them better candidates for debt financing. Dr. Loh underscores how startups that previously raised funds every 6–12 months have had to reassess when capital became harder to access during economic slowdowns.
Balanced Investment Philosophy: Innovation + Stability
A core tenet of Genesis’s evaluation approach is finding a good balance between tech and commerical. Dr. Loh explains, “We give equal weight to technical innovation and commercial viability.” This dual focus ensures not just potential valuation uplift, but also repayment ability—which is a key consideration for lenders.
Beyond Capital: Building an Enabling Ecosystem
Genesis doesn’t just provide capital—it opens doors. The firm actively connects investee companies to a broader ecosystem of funders, equity partners, advisors, and experienced founders. This network effect helps startups navigate growth challenges and align their capital structure with business goals.
Advice for Founders: Know Your Capital Tools
Dr. Loh’s advice for founders is clear: understand your options. As a startup matures, the risk profile changes— and capital requirements will naturally follow the risk as the business scales. Each stage demands a different capital solution. Founders should move beyond the equity-only mindset and strategically assess the pros and cons of both debt and equity to optimize funding costs and company control.
Looking Towards India
Genesis is increasingly interested in the Indian startup ecosystem where companies can demonstrate the nexus to Southeast Asia and is open to exploring opportunities to collaborate with Indian founders and platforms.
Conclusion: Elevating the Conversation on Venture Debt
Dr. Jeremy Loh and Genesis Alternative Ventures are on a mission to reframe how debt financing is perceived in the startup world. By championing a capital structure that incorporates both debt and equity, they are enabling startup founders to scale sustainably while retaining ownership and reducing dilution.
As venture ecosystems mature across Asia and beyond, conversations like these remind us that a well-rounded funding strategy is not just good finance—it’s good business.
-Interview conducted by Sandhya Bharti, Deputy editor, Indian Startup Times
