Steve Melhuish

About

"It makes no sense to invest in companies (or people) that undermine our future" - (mis)quoting Desmond Tutu"Climate change is the biggest threat to global security that humans have ever faced" - Sir David Attenborough"It is not an investment, if it is destroying the planet" - Dr. Vandana ShivaI’m a recovering tech entrepreneur, passionate about climate and gender/social equality. I founded, built & exited unicorn businesses in Asia & Europe - including NYSE IPO. I co-founded a climate venture studio VC, helped build 27 climate startups, and personally invested in 25 green start-ups/funds/NGO's. I lived in Asia 2 decades before moving to UK end 2023. In 2007, I co-founded PropertyGuru ("South East Asia's RightMove") out of personal frustration & set out to increase transparency and “empower consumers to make confident property decisions”. I led as CEO for first 11 years, growing from scratch with my co-founder into unicorn in 5 countries used by 40 million monthly users & 1,300 staff. We delivered >40x RoI to our early investors, NYSE IPO and PE fund exit. I was board director until 2024. I hired a CEO/handed all operations in 2018 to focus on climate action.In 2019, I founded Planet Rise in response to the growing climate crisis and 1 billion marginalised people most affected. We aim to make the world a better place for our kids future - investing in/helping organisations tackling climate change and social/gender inequality, using tech for impact at scale. In 2021, I co-founded Wavemaker Impact/100x100 - Asia's first climatetech venture build VC fund. We co-found & invest in "100x100" ventures (fast growing, scalable & potential to mitigate 100M tonnes GHG emissions & generate $100M revenue in a decade) working with seasoned entrepreneurs & business builders. Previously I was CEO/investor at ComiAsia, an Asian mobile start-up. Prior to this, I founded Business2Profit in Europe to help large enterprises develop new ventures and startups with funding/growth e.g. Skype, AOL, iPass, British Telecom, Littlewoods and Ariadne Capital. I spent 10 years in leadership roles building new innovative internet & mobile ventures including $500 million revenue international unit at Cable & Wireless.I was awarded Spirit of Enterprise Award recognising contributions to entrepreneurship in Singapore in 2007. I’m member of Investors For Climate, start-up/climate conference speaker, official nominator for global climate challenge The Earthshot Prize, Women of Future Awards judge & donor/supporter of climate NGO's including Client Earth.