SDG Venture Scaler
Scaling impact-driven growth-stage businesses in Education, Health care, and Climate across Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines
Are you ready to accelerate your impact and grow with us?
About the programme
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 supercharge growth-stage enterprises tackling the SDGs in education, health care, and climate action across Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. Blending cutting-edge learning in business strategy, impact measurement, and behavioral insights with long-term mentorship, it offers unparalleled access to government networks, investor introductions, and live pitch opportunities. Entrepreneurs gain the tools, connections, and support they need to scale their businesses and deliver transformative, sustainable impact.
SDG Venture Scaler stands out from typical impact accelerators by offering an innovative and holistic approach which empowers entrepreneurs to not only scale their ventures but also to master the art of measuring social impact while decoding the behavioral drivers behind consumer engagement. By weaving together these critical elements, the program equips participants with the credibility to build scalable, sustainable solutions that truly drive progress on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Eligibility criteria
Growth-stage business
The programme is open to growth-stage businesses in the Pre-Series A to Pre-Series B stage. Eligible businesses must have raised a minimum of
US$ 100,000 or demonstrate annual revenues of at least US$ 100,000.
Industry focus
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).
Target markets
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.
SDG impact oriented
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.
Phases of the programme
- 1. Submit your application
- 2: Mentorship
- 3. Growth stage support
- 4. Pitch to investors
- 5. Continuous investment support
Get started with the application process; selected applicants will move forward to the next stages of the program.
Access an expert mentor who aligns with your needs and goals, offering personalized guidance and support.
Join immersive, hands-on sessions to refine your strategies, overcome challenges, and scale your business.
Shine during Investor Clinics, where you’ll pitch live to a panel of investors, gain invaluable feedback, and explore funding opportunities.
Receive ongoing support as we guide you through post-investment challenges, scaling strategies, and growth opportunities.
Why apply?
Long term mentorship with industry experts and investors
Rigorous curriculum
Reach curriculum of business, IMM and behavioral insights topics delivered in weekly live online sessions
Networking with relevant line ministries
Top 30 enterprises will be matched with enterprise and industry development government initiatives for additional support and resources
Deal Brokering
Secure fit-for-purpose capital through matching with impact-aligned investors
Impact Credentials Data
Share your impact and collectively build metrics and insights to enhance businesses’ social value propositions, attracting further investment
Impact Venture Accelerator network
Enjoy access to a community of past participants for lifetime collaboration, mentorship, and shared resources
Programme benefits
$20,000 subsidy in Dev
Up to $100,000 Google Cloud credits
$82,000 savings with HubSpot
$50,000 in Segment credits
Fee-free processing with Stripe
$10,000 in Freshworks credits
$10,000 in credits for Beefree SDK
Timeline
Application deadline
Submit your pitch and application online by 8 December 2024, 23:59 (GMT+8) Time
Selection
All eligible businesses will be pre-selected by 10 December 2024 for mentorship.
Top 30 businesses will be selected for acceleration by 20 January 2025.
Mentorship
All eligible pre-selected businesses will be offered mentorship from 10 December 2024 to 31 December 2024
Top 30 selected businesses will be offered long term mentorship as part of the acceleration programme from 15 February 2025 to 30 November 2025
Growth stage support
Top 30 businesses will be offered 10-months growth stage support programme from 1 February to 30 November 2025 that will combine weekly on-line sessions on business, impact and behavioral insights, online mentoring, investor matchmaking, in-person investor clinics, etc.
Investor Clinics
All 30 businesses will pitch at live Demo Days, held in-person in Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines, with virtual sessions and bilateral introductions complementing the in-person events.
* Timeline and Investor Clinic schedule and dates are subject to a change
Overview of investment opportunity areas
SDG Venture Scaler taps into cutting-edge market intelligence from SDG investor maps and high-priority investment opportunities spotlighted by top government and industry leaders across Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines. This strategy drives deeper collaboration with local stakeholders, ensuring capital flows directly into initiatives that fuel sustainable ecosystem growth.
Investment opportunity areas in Indonesia
- Education
- Digital platform for K12 interactive learning and after-school development
- Virtual skill development for K12 and professionals (e.g., computer tech, graphic design)
- Affordable education loans for
students - Online/Offline vocational skill training centers (white space opportunity)
- Food and Beverage
- Sustainable production of staple food with a focus on fortification
- Input-side digital platforms for farming advice, input solutions, financing, and logistics support
- Output-side digital platforms for supply chain management and connecting farmers to consumers
- Aquaculture supply chain development
- Renewable Energy
- Solar PV and Rooftop Solar Power systems
- Biomass-based energy generation (white space opportunity)
- Manufacturing and trading of energy management solutions, including energy storage systems/equipment (white space opportunity)
- Manufacturing and trading of Electric Vehicles (white space opportunity)
- Healthcare
- Telemedicine and ancillary healthcare services with a focus on last-mile delivery
- Production and delivery of alternative medicines (herbal) / supplements
- Pathology laboratories or testing centers for genomic and molecular testing
- Low-cost healthcare service providers (e.g., hospital chains, care-units) (white space opportunity)
- Manufacturing and supply of affordable medical equipment (white space opportunity)
- Financials
- Microcredit for low-income groups and retail customers in non-urban areas
- Payment solutions for digitizing cash flows
- Financing solutions to promote the growth of MSMEs
- InsurTech platforms offering affordable insurance products
- Lean infrastructure development (e.g., ATMs/Agent Network) (white space opportunity)
- Infrastructure
- Affordable housing development
- Integrated waste management for commercial and household waste
Investment opportunity areas in Vietnam
- Education
- EduTech – Online vocational skill training platforms
- Vocational training – Establishment of physical vocational training centers (white space opportunity)
- Food & Beverage
- Agricultural products – Agri-tech solutions to enhance production efficiency
- Retail & distribution – Cold storage facilities for improved supply chain efficiency
- Agricultural products – Bio-pesticides production to support sustainable farming
- Food – Food irradiation facilities to ensure safety and quality
- Food – Processing of fruits and vegetables into drinks
- Renewable & Alternative Energy
- Solar power plants – Development and scaling of solar energy infrastructure
- Affordable solar water heaters – Solutions for energy-efficient water heating
- Power transmission line – Expansion of energy grid (white space opportunity)
- Wind power plants – Investment in wind energy projects
- Fast charging stations for electric vehicles (white space opportunity)
- Healthcare
- Telemedicine – Expansion of telemedicine services to enhance healthcare access
- Pharmaceuticals – Production and processing of herbal ingredients, medicines, and supplements
- Medical technology – Manufacturing affordable healthcare devices for home and family use (white space opportunity)
- Financials
- Corporate and retail banking – P2P lending or crowdfunding platforms (white space opportunity)
- Insurance – Development of insurance products tailored for agribusinesses (white space opportunity)
- Infrastructure
- Water utilities & services – Clean water supply infrastructure development
- Waste management – Solid waste processing using environmentally efficient technologies
- Waste management – Circular economy model for waste treatment (white space opportunity)
- Electric utilities & power generators – Energy generation from solid waste
Investment opportunity areas in the Philippines
- Education
- Affordable education solutions
- Loans for students in primary and secondary education
- Food and Beverage
- Agricultural cold storage facilities
- Renewable Energy
- Hydropower infrastructure for underserved areas
- Solar power infrastructure for underserved areas
- Healthcare
- Digital healthcare payment processing
- Affordable hospital infrastructure development in remote areas
- Modular specialized healthcare facilities for patients with chronic kidney disease in underserved areas
- Technology and Communications
- Low-cost internet services in partnership with last-mile local governments
- Financials
- Insurance solutions for vulnerable smallholder farmers
- Infrastructure
- Affordable and resilient housing
- Bulk water supply
- Effective infrastructure for solid waste management
Presented by
As the lead United Nations agency on international development, UNDP works in 170 countries and territories to eradicate poverty and reduce inequality. We help countries develop policies, leadership skills, partnerships and institutional capabilities to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Our work is centred around six core development areas, known as our signature solutions: poverty and inequality, governance, resilience, environment, energy and gender equality.
Based in Singapore, CIIP was established in 2022 as a non-profit entity by Temasek Trust, a steward of philanthropic endowments and gifts. To establish impact investing as an effective lever for sustainability, Temasek Trust launched ABC Impact, a private equity fund dedicated to impact investing in Asia, in 2019. Temasek established an impact investing team in 2021 with a mandate to generate positive impact for underserved communities while achieving market rate returns.
Business partner
For social enterprises in emerging markets focused on delivering innovative entrepreneurial solutions to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through measurable social and environmental impact, Creatella Impact offers venture building, technology execution, mentorship, advisory support, acceleration programs, and facilitation in accessing financial capital, blended funding, and diverse financial instruments.
In-country partners
SIAP (Social Innovation Acceleration Program) is a learning platform dedicated to accelerating the growth of social enterprises in Indonesia. Our focus is on building a supportive community for social entrepreneurs by providing resources in capacity building, impact measurement, and venture development. With a mission to address societal and environmental challenges, SIAP is committed to driving systemic change through the development of sustainable and innovative solutions across various sectors.
Villgro is an early-stage social enterprise incubator and investor. Villgro funds and mentors innovative social enterprises that are building solutions to improve the lives of the poor. Through its intensive hands-on model, Villgro works closely with entrepreneurs at the early stages, helping them navigate the challenges of getting to market faster and cheaper. Villgro in the Philippines aims to create successful, innovative, impactful enterprises in the country.
The Women’s Initiative for Startups and Entrepreneurship (WISE) is a non-profit organization in Vietnam focused on supporting women-led startups and businesses. It provides comprehensive support, including capacity building, incubation and acceleration programs, mentorship, and advocacy for policy improvements. WISE has empowered thousands of women through training, networking, and investment opportunities, with a strong commitment to fostering gender equality and promoting women’s entrepreneurship.
Academic partner
Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE) is the centre for entrepreneurship education and research. Based in Rotterdam, ECE enables budding and seasoned entrepreneurs to transform their ideas into thriving businesses through knowledge, networks and access to resources.
Don't miss out on this chance to move your business forward! Join the Acceleration journey and create a sustainable and impactful future for your country!
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