ASEAN Impact Challenge 2018: Tech Forward Innovations for a Digital Economy

IMPACT Hub Kuala Lumpur launched, yesterday, a call for applications for its regional programme, ASEAN Impact Challenge (AIC). Now in its 4th year, the AIC programme is designed to discover innovators from Southeast Asia who are accelerating the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through cross-sector partnerships and disruptive innovations. The Challenge presents opportunities to identify and strengthen new and scaleable innovations and to achieve select outcomes around the SDGs. It brings together entrepreneurs, investors, governments, multilateral agencies and corporations around a common agenda.

This year’s challenge is themed ‘Tech Forward: Innovations for a Digital Economy’ and hopes to discover innovations from the citizen and private sectors that are contributing to the digital economy transformation in the region through the power of entrepreneurship and collaboration.

Over the last 3 years, the programme has discovered 720+ innovators, accelerated 50 teams, collaborated with 60+ partners (ranging from UNDP to Microsoft), unlocked 3000+ mentoring hours from 50+ mentors, and connected over USD5 million of capital to impact. Since 2015, the programme has reached a digital audience of 70+million through its network of partners.

“We are looking forward to discovering the digital economy talent that exists in Southeast Asia especially innovations and ventures that can create an impact on society. We are blessed yet again to partner with other ecosystem supporters and investors around this common cause, to channel money, provide mentors and connect markets for mission-driven entrepreneurs in ASEAN,” said Shariha Khalid Erichsen, cofounder and Board Member, Impact Hub KL.

The Challenge is open to ASEAN-based innovations with the potential to scale and is designed to encourage, empower and support cross-sector partnerships that will create impact in the region. Eligible applications should either be Early-stage or Scale-stage innovations. The top 10 finalists will participate in an 8-week tailored Global Goals Lab acceleration programme with local and regional mentors leading up to the Regional Finals.

Notable past finalists are Edukayson from the Philippines who recently secured a pre-series A funding round for their education matching platform serving 1 million students, and MyCashOnline, an e-marketplace for migrant workers in Asia.

The Call for Applications closes on 9th September, and finalists will be announced by 21st September 2018. The Regional Finals will take place in Singapore during the ASEAN Summit from 11 - 13 November 2018.

Learn more about the ASEAN Impact Challenge by visiting http://www.aseanimpactchallenge.org/