UN Women Climate Tech Accelerator
Calling Women-led Climate Tech Startups in ASEAN!
Applications are open!
This one-of-a-kind accelerator program provides comprehensive support and resources to turn high-potential women-led climate tech startups into high-growth, high-impact, gender-responsive enterprises that are investor and market-ready.
The programme is seeking to find a diverse cohort of female entrepreneurs that are spurring technological innovation to address persistent challenges to climate change in South-East Asian countries within the ASEAN* region whilst offering more opportunities for women in the blue and green economy.
Eligibility
We are looking for women-led* startups in the pre-seed and seed stages with climate technology products or solutions focused on, but not limited to:
🌱 Renewable Energy (solar, wind, bioenergy, tidal, wave, ocean thermal energy, energy storage)
🌱 Energy efficiency and related solutions reducing women’s domestic chores time (i.e. water/firewood fetching, cooking, etc.)
🌱 Green and Sustainable Transportation (electric vehicles, sustainable urban mobility)
🌱 Water Management (conservation, purification, desalination)
🌱 Sustainable Agriculture and Forestry (reforestation, precision farming, crop health monitoring, aquaculture)
🌱 Waste Management (recycling, upcycling, waste-to-energy)
🌱 Green Buildings and infrastructure (energy-efficient buildings, smart home tech, sustainable materials construction)
🌱 Climate Resilience (early warning system, adaptation technologies, risk assessment tools, GHG and ecological data)
🌱 Supply chain management (route optimization, fleet management, inventory management, marine logistics)
🌱 Blue economy solutions (Marine ecosystem monitoring, marine biotechnology, coastal resilience)
*We also encourage applications from male co-founders and mixed teams startups!
Objectives
Over 9 months, the programme is targeted to enable women-led climate tech startups:
Competition Process
PROGRAMME I
An intensive 3 month programme for startups to participate in training workshops, inspiring panel discussions and fireside chats as well as policy-impacting advocacy. This first phase of the program will culminate in a Demo Day in front of investors and strategic partners to showcase their solutions and growth.
Phase 1: Capacity Building and Strategy Refinement
Duration: 3 months (August - October 2024)
Mentorship from industry experts and successful entrepreneurs
Targeted support to refine offering and growth strategy
Access to fundraising opportunities
Capacity building for increased impact, including and especially gender-impact
Training to develop leadership skills and advocacy, and strategic thinking to drive impact
Dedicated coaching for personal and professional growth
Demo Day: Pitching to Investors and Strategic Partners
At the end of Phase 1 (November 2024)
Pitching to a curated audience of investors, including venture capitalists, family offices, and impact investors actively seeking to support and invest in climate tech innovations
Exposure to potential strategic partners
Phase 2: Regional Mentoring and Semifinal
Duration: 3 months (December - February 2025)
Regular check-ins and office hours with experienced investors, industry experts, and successful entrepreneurs in climate technology
One-on-one mentorship session for personalized guidance, feedback, and support
Post Programme Engagement
Duration: 3 months (From February 2025 onwards)
Access to curated events and resources provided by the She Loves Tech Community
Continued engagement with the She Loves Tech and UN Women networks, fostering ongoing support and connection
Further opportunities for networking, partnerships, and potential collaborations
PROGRAMME II
The second and third phase of the programme focuses on a more tailored approach of mentoring and advisory, accompanying the startups in their growth journey toward investable and influencing startups in the climate technology ecosystem in ASEAN. Women founders will establish themselves within the growing community of She Loves Tech entrepreneurs and delve into the opportunities of the wider ecosystem.
Regions
This accelerator seeks solutions registered and/or operating within the South-East Asian country of the ASEAN region:
Brunei
Cambodia
Indonesia
Laos
Philippines
Myanmar
Singapore
Malaysia
Thailand
Vietnam
About the Program
The UN Women Climate Tech Accelerator, powered by the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) is an initiative supported by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, the Republic of Korea, and implemented by She Loves Tech. It aims to support women entrepreneurs who are working on Climate Tech solutions in the ASEAN countries
(Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore).
