This curated list of funding, fellowship, and acceleration opportunities is tailored to help these businesses thrive and expand their positive influence in the region, November and December 2024 edition.
The landscape of opportunities for impact businesses in Asia is more vibrant than ever. In a world increasingly focused on sustainable and socially responsible growth, impact businesses play a crucial role. This curated list of funding, fellowship, and acceleration opportunities is tailored to help these businesses thrive and expand their positive influence in the region.
RELEVANT SUSTAINABLE GOALS
SDG Venture Scaler
SDG Venture Scaler is a distinct programme designed by the Center for Impact Investing and Practices (CIIP) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to superchargegrowth-stage enterprises tackling the SDGs in education, health care, and climate action across Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
Eligibility and Submission Requirements:
- Growth-stage businesses in the Pre-Series A to Pre-Series B stage. Eligible businesses must have raised a minimum of US$ 100,000 and demonstrate annual revenues of at least US$ 100,000.
- Businesses must operate in the following sectors: Education, Health care, and Climate Action (which includes, but is not limited to key areas such as Food & Agriculture, Renewable Energy, Infrastructure, Waste Management, utilities, affordable housing).
- For-profit businesses – Enterprise shall be incorporated to pursue financial profit alongside social and environmental impact. Regretfully, not-for-profit entities will not be eligible.
- Businesses must target the Indonesian, Vietnamese, or Philippine markets. We support impact-driven ventures that are either operational or in the process of registering in these dynamic countries.
- Businesses need to consider one or more SDGs to ensure their initiatives contribute to global sustainability efforts and to demonstrate their commitment to addressing pressing social or environmental challenges.
- Age – Lead entrant needs to be at least 18 on application deadline.
- Language – The founder(s) shall have a good command of English.
- Availability – Enterprises shall be available to join the mentorship, acceleration programme and Investor Clinics (demo days) from 2 December, 2024 – 30 November, 2025.
YSEALI BLUE ECONOMY REGIONAL WORKSHOP
The U.S. Embassies in Indonesia and Singapore, in collaboration with Biji-biji Initiative, Divers Clean Action, and Seastainable, proudly announce the launch of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) Blue Economy Regional Workshop. This groundbreaking program is designed to empower young leaders from ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste to tackle the region’s pressing blue economy challenges.
Launched in 2013, the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) is the U.S. government’s signature program to strengthen leadership development and networking in Southeast Asia. Through a variety of programs and engagements, including U.S. educational and cultural exchanges, regional exchanges, and seed funding, YSEALI seeks to build the leadership capabilities of youth in the region, strengthen ties between the United States and Southeast Asia, and nurture an ASEAN community.
Eligibility and Submission Requirements:
- Open to YSEALI members aged 18-35;
- Citizens of ASEAN countries or Timor-Leste;
- Currently residing in any of the ASEAN countries or Timor-Leste.
Fluent in written and spoken English
The deadline for your application is November 10, 2024. For more information and to apply, visit here. For specific inquiries about the YSEALI Blue Economy Regional Workshop, please contact [email protected].
ASEAN Climate Leadership Programme (ACLP III)
The ASEAN Climate Leadership Programme (ACLP) was launched in 2020 by the Climate-Smart Land Use in ASEAN (CSLU) project. The ACLP is supported by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ together with the ASEAN Secretariat and partners. The ACLP focuses on developing leadership competencies essential for promoting climate-smart land use in the region.
The selection criteria and participant profile are as follows:
Individual Criterias (all criteria have to be met) :
- Language: Good English proficiency in speaking and writing.
- Position: Technical officer/advisor, manager and mid-level decision maker.
- Relevant field of work and experience and background/knowledge of the
following areas : Agriculture, forestry, rural development, food security,
climate policy and action (mitigation and adaption). - Directly or indirectly involved in ASEAN or national policy processes.
- Showing potential to be in a leadership position and has the mandate to
institute change. - Clearly expressed willingness to participate actively in the full programme,
including support from their superior. - Countries: From 10 AMS.
Group profile :
- Gender balance (min. 50 percent women).
- Country balance (up to three people per AMS from different institutions/
organizations). - Priority will be given to representatives of national policy-making institutions.
- Application from civil society organizations, and academia will be considered
if further place are available and if they meet all the individual criteria as
mentioned.
The deadline for registration is November 15th 2024
THE FOOD TECH 500 by FOODTECH 500
The FoodTech 500 showcases selected international AgriFoodTech startup and scaleup companies acting as a force of good for creating a brighter food future. Forward Fooding is proud to present the FoodTech 500, the world’s first definitive list of global entrepreneurial talent at the intersection of food, technology and sustainability.
Inspired by the Fortune 500, Forward Fooding is proud to present the FoodTech 500, the world’s first definitive list of the global entrepreneurial talent at the intersection between food, technology and sustainability.
The deadline for registration is November 15th 2024
2025 EPRI INCUBATERNERGY LABS
Do you have a groundbreaking idea that could revolutionize the electric power industry ? Join the 2025 Incubatenergy Labs challenge where innovators like you pitch their startups to industry experts and thought leaders.
The deadline for registration is November 15th 2024
2025 YSEALI SEEDS FOR THE FUTURE
The Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) builds the leadership capabilities of youth in the region and promotes cross-border cooperation to solve regional and global challenges.
YSEALI Seeds for the Future is a signature initiative by the U.S. Government to empower and connect young leaders across Southeast Asia. Since 2015, the program has supported hundreds of innovative projects addressing critical issues like civic engagement, economic empowerment, social entrepreneurship, education, and environmental sustainability.
The 2025 YSEALI Seeds for the Future program provides up to $12,000 for projects under the Innovation Catalyst tier, $8,000 for projects under the Impact Accelerator tier, and $5,000 for the Emerging Leaders tier. Wining projects will receive mentorships throughout the program, equipping them with the tools they need to create lasting impact.
Eligibility and Application Details:
- Teams of at least three members aged 18-35, who are citizens of ASEAN countries or Timor-Leste, can apply. Your project should align with one or more of YSEALI’s core themes.
- Stage 1: Submit a preliminary application between October 28 – November 17, 2024. Tell us about your project, its objectives, and the impact you aim to create.
- Stage 2: Shortlisted teams will be invited to submit a detailed proposal from November 25 – December 20, 2024.
Application deadline: November 17, 2024
Aurora Tech Award for Women Tech-Startups
inDrive is seeking applications for the Aurora Tech Award for women founders of tech startups.
inDrive invites you to participate this year and level up your product’s potential along the way. They’re interested in your company and your journey as a founder. Join The Aurora Tech Award and become a role model for women in IT worldwide.
Fund size:
- $85 000 prize fund: Providing financial support for the Top 5 winners
- First prize: $30 000
- Second prize: $20 000
- Third prize: $15 000
- Fourth prize: $10 000
- Fifth prize: $10 000
Eligibility and Application Details:
Applicants for the Award can be capable woman, entrepreneurs, who meet the following requirements:
- they are founders, co-founders and shareholders of companies or executives registered as legal entities no more than 5 years ago before the year of submitting application, and whose key product is created on the basis of technology;
- they are individual entrepreneurs registered no more than 5 years ago, and whose main activity is the development of products based on technology;
- they are not an employee of the Organizer and (or) a relative of the members of the Organizing Committee or the Jury;
- The startup of an applicant should be on pre-seed or seedstage: it must have minimum viable product and/or initial clients;
Application deadline: November 21, 2024
Breakthrough Energy Fellows
Founded in 2015, Breakthrough Energy is a global team of climate leaders committed to accelerating the world’s journey to a clean energy future. BE takes a comprehensive view of the climate challenge and drives innovation across technology, policy, and markets to reduce emissions from each of the five sources: manufacturing, electricity, agriculture, transportation, and buildings.
Working with our world-class network of partners, investors, and policy makers, BE supports the innovation of zero-carbon technologies at every stage — from discovery to development to deployment. Our work includes investment vehicles, philanthropic programs, policy advocacy, and other activities — aligned toward building a future where it’s cheaper and more efficient to do everything without emissions — a future that is cleaner, healthier, and more prosperous for everyone.
The breakthrough Energy Fellows is focused on technologies that have the potential, at scale, to reduce or capture greenhouse gases by at least 500 million tons per year or technologies that address adaptation to climate change.
Program Format:
Breakthrough Energy Fellows (BEF) offers three highly competitive programs:
Innovator Fellowship: Our flagship program, the Innovator Fellowship, is designed to accelerate the development of promising early-stage climate technologies. The Fellowship is a full-time commitment for innovators committed to commercializing their climate technology. Typically, Innovator projects have raised less than $2,000,000 in dilutive funding and are legally incorporated prior to program start date of September 2025.
Business Fellowship: The Business Fellowship is also a full-time program, designed for experienced business professionals. Business Fellows support Innovators in their technology commercialization efforts, complementing the scientific expertise of our Innovators. These exceptional business experts are recruited on an as-needed basis.
Explorers: Finally, Explorers receive funding for developing breakthrough climate solutions that are earlier stage, higher technical risk, and may not yet be ready to incorporate. Explorer projects are typically in a university lab or research entity and are overseen by professors, faculty members, or researchers who can remain in position for this part-time opportunity.
Application deadline: December 2, 2024
Action For Women’s Health by Pivotal Ventures
In May of this year, Pivotal Ventures’ founder, Melinda French Gates, announced she was committing an additional $1 billion—to be spent over the next two years—to advance women’s power globally.
As part of that commitment, Pivotal Ventures is launching Action for Women’s Health, a $250 million global open call, managed by Lever for Change, that will fund organizations working to improve women’s mental and physical health. These grants will be funded by Pivotal Philanthropies Foundation.
How to apply :
Organizations from around the world are invited to apply. Eligible organizations serve women and have a record of improving women’s mental or physical health. They should center equity in their approach and be poised to scale their work to strengthen the health of more women. Interested organizations are invited to visit womenshealth.leverforchange.org for more information regarding eligibility.
Applicants must register to apply before 4 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Tuesday, December 3, 2024. Once registered, applicants must submit an online application before 4 p.m. U.S. Central Time on Friday, January 10, 2025.
Action for Women’s Health will be managed by Lever for Change, a nonprofit affiliate of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation that connects funders with bold solutions to the world’s biggest problems—including issues like racial inequity, gender inequality, lack of access to economic opportunity, and climate change.
The next deadline for proposals is December 3, 2024
The Foodtech challenge 3.0
How do we meet the growing demand for food while minimizing water, energy, and loss & waste in hot, arid, and increasingly challenging environments?
The FoodTech Challenge (FTC) is a global competition that identifies and supports leading early-stage, tech-driven solutions poised to transform food systems in arid, hot, and increasingly challenging environments. These environments, in addition to being among the most food-insecure nations, are also underserved, untapped for innovations, and underinvested in by traditional agricultural practices. FTC champions four visionary winners, providing them with the opportunity to advance their tech- driven solutions in the UAE and the Global South.
FOCUS AREA:
-
Food & Water
- Innovations that optimize water use in agriculture, protein production, and food processing, enhance drought resistance, and increase crop yields in arid environments.
-
Food & Energy
- Technologies that reduce the carbon footprint of food production by improving energy efficiency across the value chain.
-
Food Loss & Waste
- Solutions that reduce food loss through optimized collection, processing, storage and distribution methods, address consumer behaviors to reduce waste, and mitigate emissions related to food decomposition.
- Solutions that reduce food loss through optimized collection, processing, storage and distribution methods, address consumer behaviors to reduce waste, and mitigate emissions related to food decomposition.
ELIGIBILITY:
To be eligible for the FoodTech Challenge, your startup must meet the following criteria:
- Have a workable minimum viable product, service, or solution
- Be less than five years old (founded after January 1, 2019)
- Have fewer than 25 employees
- Have not yet raised Series A funding
For more information, visit FoodTech Challenge.
SwedBio Funding Program for CSOs, International Organizations, Institutes, and Universities
SwedBio invites submissions of concept notes for a limited number of strategic initiatives through their ‘Collaborative Partner Implementation Pathway.’
Structured as an innovation challenge, this second edition of the Y4C Call for Solutions aims to support the work of young people and youth-led organisations in five thematic areas: Climate and Environment Literacy, Sustainable Energy, Food and Agriculture, Nature Assets, Sustainable Consumption and Production.
SwedBio’s funding program focuses on five thematic areas, each with close interlinkages:
- Livelihood, Food & Health
- Cities & Biodiversity
- Biocultural Diversity
- Climate Change & Ecosystems
- Values & Governance
Cross-cutting perspectives that underpin all of SwedBio’s operations include resilience perspectives and social-ecological systems rich in biodiversity.
Additionally, SwedBio emphasizes values such as poverty alleviation, equity, human rights, democracy, gender equality, and endogenous development.
SwedBio supports:
- Civil society organizations, including Indigenous peoples and local communities’ organizations
- International organizations
- Institutes
- Universities
Priority is given to regional and global networks with projects of regional and global relevance, particularly those based in OECD DAC list developing countries. Emphasis is placed on least developed and other low-income countries, although middle-income countries are also considered, especially as part of regional and global networks and south-south collaborations.
Proposals, if successful, can be implemented over a maximum of 24 months. Proposals can be submitted in English, French or Spanish.
Applications are reviewed year round
GLOBAL INNOVATION FUND
Global Innovation Fund provides funds for innovation or projects that can address important development problems. The Global Innovation Fund (GIF) is renowned for its commitment to funding innovative solutions and projects that are poised to address significant development challenges. GIF is dedicated to identifying and supporting innovations that have the potential to significantly improve the lives of millions living in poverty.
GIF holds the belief that groundbreaking solutions capable of addressing development problems more efficiently than existing approaches can originate from any individual, anywhere in the world. This perspective underpins its approach to sourcing and supporting innovative ideas.
As such, GIF welcomes applications from all sectors within any developing country. The fund is accessible to a wide range of organizations, including social enterprises, for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, international organizations, and research institutions from any country. It is advised that individual innovators, entrepreneurs, or researchers seek to apply through an organization with which they are affiliated.
As such, GIF welcomes applications from all sectors within any developing country. The fund is accessible to a wide range of organizations, including social enterprises, for-profit companies, non-profit organizations, government agencies, international organizations, and research institutions from any country. It is advised that individual innovators, entrepreneurs, or researchers seek to apply through an organization with which they are affiliated.
Pioneer Facility, powered by Nexus for Development
Nexus for Development offers an impact fund for SMEs engaged in low-carbon, clean water, energy, and waste management projects in Asia. Eligible and scalable SMEs can apply for up to $500,000 in debt financing through the Pioneer Facility fund.
To be eligible for the Pioneer Facility loan, your social enterprise must meet all the following requirements:
1. Services and Technology
Offer solutions/ technologies in clean water, energy, sanitation, waste management, sustainable agriculture; examples include but not limited to clean cooking, solar, biogas digesters, water purification, waste-to-energy, biochar
2. Geography
Operating in Southeast Asia
3. Impact
Directly benefit low-income and underserved communities, able to demonstrate social, environmental as well as gender lens impact
Directly benefit low-income and underserved communities, able to demonstrate social, environmental as well as gender lens impact
4. Business Stage
Revenue generating, growth phase with a clear business plan, a track record of 2+ years and ready to scale
Revenue generating, growth phase with a clear business plan, a track record of 2+ years and ready to scale
Applications are reviewed year round, The DD process will take approximately 2-3 months depending on the size of the loan request.
Southeast Asian Ocean Impact Film Grant
Calling all Southeast Asian filmmakers! Applications are now open for our newly launched Southeast Asian Ocean Impact Film Grant!
Embracing the transformative power of storytelling to heighten awareness and spur action for ocean preservation, Coastal Natives has established a dedicated fund to support impactful ocean narratives. This grant, offering up to USD 10,000, is available to both emerging and established filmmakers with a deep commitment to environmental conservation. It’s an opportunity to delve into the rich tapestry of the region’s cultures, ecosystems, and the vital link between humanity and the ocean.
Simply refer to Coastal Native’s application pack for instructions and we will get back to you with feedback. Be prepared to share your story concept, visual treatment and how your film aims to make a meaningful impact. Shortlisted applications will be reviewed by a panel of experts in filmmaking, film distribution and marine conservation. The selected filmmakers will not only receive financial support, but also mentorship and a chance to showcase your work at top-notch film festivals.
Applications are reviewed year round.
Lead image courtesy of Adobe Stock.
