Investments support CEO's philanthropic commitments

Finance executive believes it's important to contribute meaningfully to society

- Prisca Ang

Finance executive Caesar Sengupta plans to donate most of his family's wealth during his lifetime, a process that is already in motion.

His investments underpin several commitments to non-profits in Singapore and overseas that will be in place for a number of years.

Mr Sengupta, 48, says: "For my wife and I, in addition to ensuring we give our kids the best educational opportunities and taking care of our loved ones, it is really important that we contribute to society meaningfully."

That philanthropic mission has shaped his investing strategy. He generally avoids investing in individual stocks, favouring a more passive and systematic approach. Conservative investments make up 30 per cent to 40 per cent of his portfolio, with the remainder focused on high-growth strategies.

Over 90 per cent of Mr Sengupta's financial assets are managed by the digital wealth platform Arta Finance, of which he is chief executive and co-founder.

The company launched the platform globally in Singapore on Oct 11, a year after its US debut. In September, it announced an undisclosed investment from the Economic Development Board's strategic investment arm.

Arta's platform allows accredited investors to access alternative assets such as private equity and get a line of credit against their assets, among other solutions, without the sales pressure and high fees seen at some other institutions.

The company, dual-headquartered in the United States and Singapore, is also partnering banks to enhance lenders' wealth management offerings.

Mr Sengupta started Arta in 2021 after 15 years at Google, where he worked on the Chrome operating system with Mr Sundar Pichai, now chief executive, and several colleagues who would later co-found Arta.

Along the way, he discovered what he described as his lifelong passion - using technology to break down barriers.