New York and Singapore, 11 March 2025 —The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in partnership with the Centre for Impact Investing Practices (CIIP), has finalized a cohort of 31 enterprises that will take part in the SDG Venture Scaler. This programme is an accelerator and deal-brokering initiative designed to mobilize private sector investment towards addressing critical challenges in climate action, health care, and education across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam. View the finalists here.
The cohort leans heavily towards climate action, with over 60 percent of enterprises addressing climate-related issues. Industries represented in the cohort include clean energy, AI-driven waste management, fintech, edtech, the circular economy, EV mobility, and mental health. Twelve enterprises operate in Viet Nam, 10 in Indonesia, and six in the Philippines, while the remaining three enterprises cover all three markets.
These enterprises have strong teams that are backing innovative business models, with potential to scale. Many participants from the SVS cohort are actively fundraising or looking for corporate and government connections to grow. Based on data from the cohort and insights from three forums held across the target countries, the SDG Venture Scaler has designed a highly contextualized programme tailored to their unique business and operational needs.
The programme curriculum, which officially launched on 4 March, will address common challenges such as the need for fit-for-purpose capital and will help enterprises institutionalize sustainability and impact considerations through tools for impact measurement and management. Enterprises will further benefit from advice on improving their scaling or go-to-market strategies and overall data integrity to enhance their financial and impact accountability.
“Southeast Asia is on track to become the world’s fourth-largest economy, yet only three percent of global impact capital flows into the region. This is a missed opportunity—one that the SDG Venture Scaler is working to change. By strengthening investment-ready enterprises and connecting them with fit-for-purpose funding, we are unlocking private capital for solutions that advance the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) while delivering long-term business value,” remarked Dr. Şebnem Şener, Head of Private Finance for the SDGs, UNDP.
“Southeast Asia presents a vast market opportunity to tackle critical challenges in climate, health care, and education. Enterprises addressing these gaps can unlock significant revenue while driving meaningful impact. The SDG Venture Scaler helps businesses leverage these opportunities to build scalable business models and embed sustainability from the outset. Through mentorship and strategic investments, we accelerate solutions that generate strong financial returns while addressing the region’s most pressing challenges,” remarked Dawn Chan, CEO of CIIP, Temasek Trust.
“Access to funding is a game-changer for enterprises in ASEAN, enabling them to scale solutions that drive both economic growth and measurable impact. Despite Southeast Asia’s vast potential, impact-driven businesses often struggle to secure the right type of funding needed to grow sustainably. The SDG Venture Scaler was designed to equip high-potential enterprises with the investment readiness, networks, and tailored financing strategies they need to thrive,” remarked Guillaume Catella, Co-founder, Creatella Impact.
Through the SDG Venture Scaler, UNDP and its partners are helping enterprises become investment-ready, enabling them to grow, scale, and make a meaningful impact in one of the most dynamic regions in the world. The SDG Venture Scaler was developed by UNDP in partnership with CIIP, with technical support from Creatella Impact and its network of in-country partners: the Women's Entrepreneurship and Business Support Initiative (WISE), Villgro Philippines, the Social Innovation Acceleration Programme (SIAP), and academic partner Erasmus Centre for Entrepreneurship (ECE).
SDG Venture Scaler is part of the UNDP Sustainable Finance Hub’s global Pipeline Builder initiative, aiming to direct private capital toward businesses that align with the SDGs.
