Thomas Tsao
Co-Founder @ Gobi Partners
Shanghai, China
Thomas Tsao is a Series A investor at Gobi Partners in Shanghai focused on E-Commerce and Travel. Thomas Gai Tei Tsao has served as Tuniu's Director since 2008. Tsao is a Co-founder of Gobi Ventures, Inc. He has over two decades of experience in venture capital, fund management, and investment banking in China and the United States. Tsao is a Co-founder of Beijing Technology Development Fund. Prior to founding BeijingTechnology Development Fund, Tsao was Director of Investment Banking at Dresdner Kleinwort Benson (China), covering the technology, media and telecommunications sector, in 1998. From 1996 to 1997, Tsao worked for Seapower Financial Services Group. From 1992 to 1996, Tsao was an investment banker at Merrill Lynch in New York and Hong Kong. Tsao received a B.A. degree in Economics from Harvard University in 1992.
- Total investments:
- 43
- Last investment:
- Lead investor:
- 60%
Last updated:
For AI agents: llms.txt
Industries Thomas Tsao invests in
Stages Thomas Tsao invests in
Countries Thomas Tsao invests in
Contacts
| Type | Contact | Validation |
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| Work email | ||
| Personal email | ||
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Investment Focus
Industry
- E-Commerce 9 (21%)
- Travel 7 (16%)
- Financial Services 6 (14%)
- FinTech 5 (12%)
- Tourism 5 (12%)
Stage
- Series A 12 (28%)
- Seed 10 (23%)
- Venture - Series Unknown 8 (19%)
- Series B 5 (12%)
- Series C 5 (12%)
Country
- Malaysia 18 (42%)
- Singapore 4 (9%)
- China 3 (7%)
- Pakistan 2 (5%)
- Indonesia 2 (5%)
Investments
| Company | Description | Round | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| PolicyStreet is an insurance technology (insurtech) group of companies providing digital insurance solutions to businesses and consumers in Southeast Asia and Australia. They offer insurance, bespoke employee benefits, financial advice, insurance aggregation, and the development of digital technologies to make insurance meaningful and simple forbusinesses and people. | $21M / Series C / Apr 01, 2026 | ||
| Cortical Labs is a biological computing startup that is revolutionizing computing by integrating living neurons into chips. The biOS from Cortical Labs creates their reality and transmits data about it via electrical signals. The activity of the neuron is then translated into actions within that reality. The mind perceives these actions as having apositive or negative impact on biOS, which it then adapts to in order to enhance that feedback. The self-programming, infinitely flexible human neuron is the product of four billion years of evolution. | Venture - Series Unknown / Mar 04, 2026 | ||
| ServAuto is an automotive aftercare marketplace that offers maintenance, solar film, dashcam, footpad, wiper, and tire services. | Seed / Feb 10, 2026 | ||
| Jatri is the fastest growing technology company in Bangladesh with a mission to bring reliable transport to everyone, everywhere at the touch of a button. We are offering a mobility-as-a-service platform that enhances bus system reliability and quality. | Venture - Series Unknown / Jan 15, 2026 | ||
| nanoSkunkWorkX develops nanotechnology for AGI scaling and allergy biosensing. | Venture - Series Unknown / Jul 30, 2025 | ||
| SkyeChip is a technology company that provides ASIC products, micro-architecture, product engineering, logic, and circuit design services. | Venture - Series Unknown / Mar 26, 2025 | ||
| Funding Societies operates an online platform that connects individual and institutional investors with SMEs seeking loans. The platform allows SMEs to access financing quickly and efficiently, often bypassing traditional banks. The company has operations in multiple Southeast Asian countries, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. | Venture - Series Unknown / Mar 20, 2025 | ||
| iMotorbike is the #1 motorbike online E-commerce website in South East Asia, providing a fast, secure, simple and trouble free online experience with a wide variety of product range, setting itself apart from what exists in the market. iMotorbike offers three main categories: motorbikes, parts and accessories. For a complete 360° experience,iMotorbike also enables users the access to services such as insurance and financing. At iMotorbike we always strive to offer our customers the best experience through a complete and efficient online ecosystem for motorbike users, lovers and professionals. | $10M / Series A / Jan 21, 2025 | ||
| 'Azarol Faizi is the Founder & CEO of Bateriku Group of Companies, Malaysia’s leading Vehicle Ownership Experience Service Provider' Azarol Faizi is a Malaysian entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO for Bateriku Group of Companies – a Vehicle Ownership Experience platform that provides breakdown and maintenance solutions directly tovehicle owners via technology and gig economy.Today, there are 3 companies under Bateriku Group of Companies namely Bateriku (M) Sdn. Bhd., Akademi Bateriku Sdn. Bhd. and BPlaz (M) Sdn. Bhd. Azarol previously founded Astra Manufacturing, a battery manufacturing factory that primarily supplies automotive and industrial batteries to OEM and REM companies such as Proton, Perodua, Mitsubishi, Petronas and Telekom.Azarol’s vision was to ultimately make it easy and seamless for vehicle owners to receive solutions and support to anything and everything that is related to their vehicle. He wanted to create a sustainable ecosystem of automotive product and service providers that prioritize awesome customer experience, every time, all the time.Inspired by the tech disruption created by MyTaxi and Uber in Malaysia, Azarol saw the gap in the market for battery replacement for vehicle owners. In 2014, he pivoted his 7-person team to establish Bateriku.com – an online platform that enable vehicle owners to find on-demand solution to that dreadful #battkong experience via its well trained and equipped crowdsourced technicians or BHero. In 2015, Bateriku.com started to build a network of Dealers under the ‘BPreneur’ Program to establish its unique selling proposition of Nationwide Warranty Assistance. The BPreneur program has enabled the opening of more than 150 Bateriku retail outlets or Pitstops nationwide including in Sabah and Sarawak. In 2017, Bateriku launched its Bateriku Customer App for a seamless after-sales customer experience that complements existing touchpoints of 24/7 hotline number, web booking, whatsapp and social media enquiries.In 2019, the group expanded its on-demand battery solution by offering full-fledged Roadside Assistance to vehicle owners under BPlaz. The solutions offered include towing, tyre replacement, fuel top-up and car lock-out services. The services are fulfilled by either its BHero network or workshop partners under the ‘BBuddy’ program. In the same year, Bateriku was appointed as Etiqa Insurance’s service provider to serve Etiqa’s 2.5Million insurance subscribers. To date, Bateriku has served close to 1.2 Million vehicle owners and has shared more than RM12 Million in commission payouts within its ecosystem partners. The group reached multiple milestones in 2022 when it was appointed by Allianz Malaysia to serve Allianz’s 3.5 Million subscribers. In the same year, Persatuan Insurans Malaysia (PIAM) also appointed Bateriku as a licensed insurance agent. The biggest milestone for the group happened on May 22 with the launching of Bateriku’s very own automotive product range under the Astra brand by Bateriku.com. Since the introduction of Astra batteries, Bateriku has managed to sell more than 200,000 units of batteries nationwide. More recently, the Astra brand has also introduced exclusive Astra wiper blades to the Malaysian market since April 2023. Azarol is determined to bring in more fast-moving products under the Astra brand for the benefit of not just vehicle owners, but also to its ecosystem partners. Today, the group has built an ecosystem comprising close to 1,000 BHeros, 100 BPreneurs and approximately 3,000 BBuddys to fulfil the growing demand for battery and roadside assistance solutions. Bateriku today collaborates with prominent brands including Allianz, Etiqa, Socar, Gocar, Touch & Go, Setel and Grab by providing multiple value-added offerings to respective partner’s ecosystem.In January 2023, Bateriku established Akademi Bateriku – a training centre that primarily aims to streamline on-the-ground deliverables to its growing ecosystem. Akademi Bateriku received endorsement from HRDF for its multi-level certification programs that includes vehicles systems troubleshooting as well as EV and Hybrid systems.Concurrently, Bateriku also established its first BGarage – a workshop model designed and operated by Bateriku to accommodate customers with non-related battery issues such as alternator and starter issues. The establishment of BGarage value-adds to the overall customer experience for Bateriku’s existing and potential customers.Recently, Bateriku signed a Memorandum of Contract with TowMe Asia – a roadside assistance company based in Singapore to provide cross-border solutions to travellers to/from Malaysia and Singapore respectively.In its pipeline, the group is looking to solidify its position by digitizing the 3 verticals of Battery, Breakdown and Bengkel into an inclusive automotive digital platform called ‘Bazaar.’ Enabled by its priority on customer experience and the advancement of technology, the group has evolved from a brick-and-mortar battery reseller to providing real solutions very much needed by vehicle owners, not just in Malaysia and Singapore but soon to other ASEAN countries. | $8M / Series B / Sep 04, 2024 | ||
| FinKnight offers new growth opportunities and financial management experience for companies. It bridges the gap by providing innovative financial leadership. | Seed / Aug 21, 2024 | ||
| See all 43 investments → | |||
Co-Investors
About Gobi Partners
Founded in 2002, Gobi Partners is a leading pan-Asian investment firm specialising in bespoke capital solutions for family offices, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions and corporate investors. Headquartered in Hong Kong and Kuala Lumpur, Gobi manages US$2 billion across 30+ investment vehicles, investing in early to growth-stage companies with the potential for generational and global impact. The firm’s team of over 90 investment professionals operates from 18 locations, curating a diversified portfolio of more than 400 companies, with 76 exits achieved to date. Gobi is recognised for its long-term, values-aligned approach, building ecosystems at the intersection of technology, sustainability, and inclusion. From pioneering TaqwaTech for two billion Muslims, to advancing the circular economy, to promoting gender-diverse leadership, Gobi backs the trends that are reshaping societies. Gobi's edge lies in identifying structural and demographic shifts, forging partnerships with universities and institutions of higher education; bridging world-class research with private capital and bringing deep technology breakthroughs to commercialisation.
Gobi Partners Contacts
| Name | Phone | Socials | |
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Jamaludin Bujang
Managing Director
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Kay-Mok Ku
Managing Partner
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Thomas Tsao
Co-Founder
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Arya Putra Ketut Masagung
Venture Partner
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Avery Li
Vice President
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FAQ
What does Thomas Tsao invest in?
Thomas Tsao invests primarily in E-Commerce, Travel and Financial Services startups, most often at Series A and Seed stage. Most of the 43 investments tracked by Shizune back companies in Malaysia. The Investment Focus section breaks down every industry, stage and country in the portfolio.
How do I contact Thomas Tsao?
Public channels for Thomas Tsao include LinkedIn. For a verified work email and phone number, create a free Shizune account — contact data is searched across 20+ sources and validated before delivery, so your outreach lands in the right inbox.
When did Thomas Tsao last invest?
The most recent investment recorded for Thomas Tsao closed in Apr 2026. Shizune tracks 43 investments in total for this profile, including round sizes, stages and portfolio companies, all sourced from confirmed public funding rounds and refreshed monthly.
Is Shizune's investor data accurate?
Yes — every stat on this profile is calculated from confirmed public funding rounds monitored across hundreds of sources since 2020. This profile was last refreshed in Oct 2026 and is updated monthly. Spotted something off? Use the “Suggest an edit” link near the top of the page.
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