Handshakes
Handshakes is a Singapore-based data analytics and AI company specializing in uncovering hidden connections between companies and individuals across Asia-Pacific markets.
Profile
Provides data and AI tools that reveal hidden connections between companies and people for due diligence and investment decisions.
Handshakes is a Singapore-based data analytics and AI company specializing in uncovering hidden connections between companies and individuals across Asia-Pacific markets. Founded in the early 2020s, the company has grown into a significant player in private market data aggregation, particularly in ASEAN and China. Its core offering revolves around entity mapping, risk detection, and due diligence tools powered by proprietary datasets covering over 4.6 million companies.
The company positions itself as an ACRA-authorized data provider with capabilities in unwrapping ultimate beneficial ownership structures. In January 2026, Handshakes made strategic moves to bolster its AI capabilities through the acquisition of Cleanlab, primarily as an acqui-hire to add nine key research personnel to its team. The company serves financial institutions, public sector entities, and corporates with data products that integrate into workflows for compliance, investment analysis, and risk management. Its recent focus has been on expanding AI-powered features while maintaining coverage of hard-to-access private company data across Southeast Asia.
Who buys this
- Financial institutions conducting KYC and anti-money laundering checks
- Government agencies and regulators monitoring corporate networks
- Private equity firms and investors researching ASEAN and China markets
- Corporate strategy teams assessing partnerships and M&A targets
- Legal and compliance teams investigating beneficial ownership
Publicly disclosed clients
- Takaful Malaysia
Strengths and what to watch
Strengths
- Largest aggregator of private company data in ASEAN and China with 4.6M+ entities
- Official data partnerships including ACRA authorization in Singapore
- AI-powered connection mapping that surfaces non-obvious relationships
Watch for
- Dependence on regional corporate registries that may change data access policies
- Integration challenges post-Cleanlab acquisition as teams merge
- Competition from global data providers expanding into Asian private markets
Recent moves
Key Information
- Founded
- 2020
- Headquarters
- Singapore
Frequently Asked Questions
What does Handshakes do?
Handshakes provides AI-powered data tools that uncover hidden connections between companies and individuals across Asia-Pacific. Their platform helps with due diligence, risk detection, and investment decisions by mapping corporate relationships across 4.6 million entities, focusing on ASEAN and China markets. (42 words)
How does Handshakes help with due diligence?
Handshakes' platform reveals ultimate beneficial ownership structures and non-obvious corporate relationships using proprietary AI. It aggregates data from Asian corporate registries to help financial institutions, investors, and compliance teams verify business connections and assess risks in private market transactions. (44 words)
What types of companies use Handshakes?
Key users include financial institutions for KYC checks, government regulators monitoring corporate networks, private equity firms researching ASEAN deals, corporate strategy teams evaluating M&A targets, and legal teams investigating ownership structures. Notable clients include Takaful Malaysia. (45 words)
What makes Handshakes different from other data providers?
Handshakes specializes in hard-to-access private company data across Southeast Asia, with official partnerships like ACRA authorization. Its AI-powered connection mapping covers 4.6M+ entities, focusing on uncovering non-obvious relationships that traditional providers might miss in Asian markets. (43 words)
How has Handshakes expanded its AI capabilities?
In January 2026, Handshakes acquired Cleanlab primarily to add nine research personnel to its team. This talent-focused acquisition strengthened its AI development for data labeling and connection mapping features while maintaining its regional private company data coverage. (44 words)
What are the limitations of Handshakes' platform?
Potential challenges include dependence on regional corporate registries that may change data policies, integration hurdles from recent acquisitions, and competition from global providers expanding into Asian markets. The platform focuses primarily on ASEAN and China coverage. (42 words)
Sources
- techcrunch.com — Cleanlab acquisition details
- www.handshakes.ai — Product offerings and market positioning
- www.handshakes.ai — Takaful Malaysia client reference
- www.theinformation.com — CEO Garrett Lord's commentary on AI in workflows