# Jessica Huang Pouleur

Jessica Huang Pouleur is a Singapore-based venture capital investor who serves as a general partner at Openspace Ventures (also styled Openspace Capital), a Southeast Asia-focused firm, where she leads the firm's growth equity strategy, Openspace Growth.<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup> She joined Openspace in 2020 from [The Walt Disney Company](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-walt-disney-company) and became the firm's third general partner alongside co-founders [Shane Chesson](https://www.edgepedia.org/shane-chesson) and [Hian Goh](https://www.edgepedia.org/hian-goh), who have led the firm since its 2014 founding.<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> Her investing centers on growth- and late-stage technology companies in Asia Pacific, with sector focus on consumer retail, B2B technology and fintech, and the semiconductor ecosystem.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup>

## Key facts

| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current role | Partner (general partner), Openspace Ventures; leads Openspace Growth<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> |
| Joined Openspace | 2020, as executive director leading growth equity strategy<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[4](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3021084/openspace-ventures-hires-ex-providence-director)</sup> |
| Prior firms | The Walt Disney Company (corporate strategy, business development, and M&A, APAC, and Middle East); Providence Equity Partners (Southeast Asia investment team lead); Citigroup (investment banking)<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> |
| Education | BA in Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup> |
| Fund she leads | OSV+, Openspace's mid-stage growth fund<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> |
| Boards | GoPlay and JIWA Group (director); Validus and Kumu (board observer)<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> |
| Selected deals | Fano Labs Series B (May 2024); BrioHR US$6.75M Series A (April 2025); ServAuto US$4.7M round (February 2026); follow-ons in Pluang and Kumu; first external deal in JIWA Group<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[8](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-huang-pouleur-9529711_openspace-leads-fano-labs-series-b-funding-activity-7192011434208157696-VesA)</sup> |

## Early life and education

Public sources say little about her early life. Her firm profile states that she holds a [Bachelor of Arts](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelor-of-arts) in Political Science from [Barnard College](https://www.edgepedia.org/barnard-college), Columbia University.<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup> Her first recorded professional roles were in banking: she worked in Citigroup's Healthcare Investment Banking team and its Asia Debt Capital Markets team.<sup>[6](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)</sup> Her 2026 InnoVEX speaker biography credits her with more than 20 years of growth- and late-stage investment and corporate strategy experience across Asia Pacific.<sup>[6](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)</sup>

## Career before Openspace

From banking she moved into private equity, leading the investment team for Providence Equity Partners in Southeast Asia.<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup>

She then joined The Walt Disney Company, where she headed Corporate Strategy & Business Development for Asia Pacific and the Middle East.<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup> The Business Times describes the same role as covering corporate strategy, business development, and mergers and acquisitions across the two regions.<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> AVCJ, the Asian Venture Capital Journal, describes her Disney position as head of Asia M&A.<sup>[4](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3021084/openspace-ventures-hires-ex-providence-director)</sup>

## Role at Openspace Ventures

Openspace Ventures is a Southeast Asia-focused investment firm founded in 2014. By 2025 to 2026 it managed about US$800 million in assets and had invested in more than 50 companies across the region,<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> through six funds and six offices in Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Vietnam, and Malaysia.<sup>[6](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)</sup> When she joined in 2020, the firm reported over US$350 million in assets under management.<sup>[7](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/asia-summit-2020/speakers/jessica-pouleur)</sup>

Openspace hired Huang Pouleur in 2020 as an executive director and an investment committee member of OSV+, the firm's mid-stage growth fund, with a mandate to lead its growth equity strategy.<sup>[4](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3021084/openspace-ventures-hires-ex-providence-director)</sup> AVCJ reported her promotion to partner the following year.<sup>[5](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3025807/openspace-promotes-growth-fund-head-to-partner)</sup> She was subsequently elevated to general partner, joining co-founders Shane Chesson and Hian Goh as the firm's third GP.<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup>

Within the firm she leads Openspace Growth, the firm's growth strategy, and is a member of the Openspace Growth Investment Committee and the Executive Committee; she also chairs the firm's ESG committee.<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup> The firm is predominantly a Series A-and-beyond investor. Outlining its Malaysian deployment, she identified three priority sectors: consumer retail, B2B technology and fintech, and the semiconductor ecosystem.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> Openspace Growth Fund II, a private equity growth and expansion vehicle seeking to raise US$200 million, targets later-stage opportunities including in Malaysia and sits within her remit.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup>

## Notable investments and exits

Her deal record at Openspace centers on OSV+. The Business Times reports that through OSV+ she led a series of investments, doubling down on existing portfolio companies Pluang and Kumu and executing the firm's first external deal in Indonesia's JIWA Group.<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup>

Recent disclosed deals include:

- **Fano Labs** (May 2024): Openspace led the company's Series B round, with participation from HSBC, Greater Good Investments, the family office of Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Lo, and existing shareholders. The round funds Fano Labs' APAC expansion, including a new Singapore office as a hub for international clients.<sup>[8](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-huang-pouleur-9529711_openspace-leads-fano-labs-series-b-funding-activity-7192011434208157696-VesA)</sup>
- **BrioHR** (April 2025): the Malaysian human resources management platform, founded in 2018, raised US$6.75 million in a Series A led by Openspace, bringing its total raised to US$8.87 million.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup>
- **ServAuto** (February 2026): the Malaysian automotive-care platform, founded in 2024 by former Carsome executives, raised US$4.7 million in an early-stage round led by Vynn Capital with Openspace, Gobi Partners, and SWC Global participating.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> Both Malaysian deals were made through Openspace Ventures IV, the firm's fourth venture fund focused on Series A and Series B investments.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup>

No independent source reviewed provides verified exit outcomes, IPOs, or write-off figures for her portfolio; available figures cover round sizes rather than investment performance.

## Boards and public positions

She sits on the boards of GoPlay and JIWA Group and acts as a board observer for Validus and Kumu.<sup>[2](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)</sup> Her industry affiliations include membership of the Global Private Capital Association's Global Tech Council, co-chairing the Singapore chapter of PEWIN (an organization for women in private equity), and past membership of the Milken Institute's Young Leaders Circle.<sup>[1](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)</sup> She was listed as a speaker at the Milken Institute Asia Summit in 2020<sup>[7](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/asia-summit-2020/speakers/jessica-pouleur)</sup> and at InnoVEX 2026, the startup event of Computex Taipei.<sup>[6](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)</sup>

## By the numbers

| Figure | Value | Source basis |
|---|---|---|
| Openspace assets under management (2020) | Over US$350 million | Milken Institute speaker page<sup>[7](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/asia-summit-2020/speakers/jessica-pouleur)</sup> |
| Openspace assets (2025–2026) | About US$800 million | The Edge Malaysia<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> |
| Committed capital across six funds (2026) | Over US$800 million | InnoVEX 2026 biography<sup>[6](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)</sup> |
| Portfolio companies | More than 50 since 2014 | The Edge Malaysia<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> |
| BrioHR Series A (April 2025) | US$6.75 million; US$8.87 million total raised | The Edge Malaysia<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> |
| ServAuto round (February 2026) | US$4.7 million | The Edge Malaysia<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> |
| Growth Fund II target | US$200 million | The Edge Malaysia<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> |

## Recent developments

Her public record between 2024 and 2026 shows an active Malaysia-focused deployment and continued leadership of growth-stage investing. In May 2024 she announced Openspace's led Series B in Fano Labs.<sup>[8](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-huang-pouleur-9529711_openspace-leads-fano-labs-series-b-funding-activity-7192011434208157696-VesA)</sup> In April 2025 Openspace led BrioHR's US$6.75 million Series A, and in February 2026 it participated in ServAuto's US$4.7 million round, with The Edge Malaysia reporting that Openspace intends to deepen its Malaysian presence and that she identified the firm's three priority sectors there.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup> Over the same period Openspace's disclosed assets grew from over US$350 million in 2020<sup>[7](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/asia-summit-2020/speakers/jessica-pouleur)</sup> to about US$800 million across six funds,<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup><sup> • </sup><sup>[6](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)</sup> and the firm began raising Openspace Growth Fund II, targeting US$200 million.<sup>[3](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)</sup>

## References

1. [Team — Jessica Huang Pouleur (Openspace)](https://www.openspace.vc/team/jessica-huang-pouleur)
2. [Openspace appoints Jessica Huang Pouleur as third general partner — The Business Times](https://www.businesstimes.com.sg/startups-tech/startups/openspace-appoints-jessica-huang-pouleur-as-third-general-partner)
3. [Venture Capital: Singapore-based Openspace Capital to deepen presence in Malaysia — The Edge Malaysia](https://theedgemalaysia.com/node/797528)
4. [Openspace Ventures hires ex-Providence director — AVCJ](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3021084/openspace-ventures-hires-ex-providence-director)
5. [Openspace promotes growth fund head to partner — AVCJ](https://www.avcj.com/avcj/news/3025807/openspace-promotes-growth-fund-head-to-partner)
6. [InnoVEX 2026 Speaker — Jessica Huang Pouleur](https://innovex.computex.biz/show/speaker.aspx?ID=365&showyear=2026&type=cyber)
7. [Milken Institute Asia Summit 2020 speaker page — Jessica Pouleur](https://milkeninstitute.org/events/asia-summit-2020/speakers/jessica-pouleur)
8. [Jessica Huang Pouleur LinkedIn post — Openspace leads Fano Labs Series B](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/jessica-huang-pouleur-9529711_openspace-leads-fano-labs-series-b-funding-activity-7192011434208157696-VesA)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Society and history › Economics and business › Founders, operators, and investors › Venture and growth investors › India and Asia-Pacific venture › Southeast Asian venture investors and funds*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license