Jakarta, 26 June  2025 – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) jointly hosted the SDG Investment Facilitation Lab Showcase, together with a selected  group of 10 Indonesian early-stage impact enterprises and over 20 impact-focused investors from across the region.

The program was implemented by UNDP and IIX under the ASSIST Joint Programme — a UN inter-agency initiative supported by the Joint SDG Fund. Through a series  of workshops, pitch refinement, and curated investor matchmaking, the program supported the growth of purpose-driven businesses and helped build a stronger impact investment ecosystem in Indonesia and across Southeast Asia.

Nila Murti, Head of Financing for Development, UNDP Indonesia, addressed the critical role of private capital in closing Indonesia's SDG financing gap. “Through this initiative, we are committed to strengthening Indonesia's impact investment ecosystem — supporting entrepreneurs to not only access capital, but also enabling them to become long-term drivers in achieving the SDGs. The SDG Investment Facilitation Lab serves as a platform to bridge the gap between the supply of capital and the demand from impact-driven enterprises in Indonesia.” she said.

Despite growing interest in impact investing, only 3% of impact capital in Asia has reached early-stage enterprises. These SDG-aligned businesses, though often underrecognized by mainstream investors, represent powerful opportunities to drive inclusive and sustainable solutions to social and environmental challenges. The two-day Lab served as a platform to improve investment readiness, foster visibility on the topic, and facilitate direct engagement between entrepreneurs and potential funders.

Enterprises participating in the Lab included Crustea, Hear Me, Komodo Water, OKE Garden, Perfect Fit, Puffer Water, ReservoAir, Rezycology, Sambung Asa, and Suarise. These enterprises are not simply businesses—they are innovators developing solutions that directly contribute to accelerate Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)  in Indonesia, from empowering pond farmers and advancing smart water management systems, to promoting disability inclusion in the digital sector and pioneering new approaches to waste management, each enterprise is creating real, measurable impact for communities across Indonesia.

The program began with a hands-on workshop in Jakarta, where enterprises refined their pitches and aligned their business strategies with financial and SDG impact goals. This was followed by investor presentations and one-on-one meetings to explore potential funding opportunities.

An investor panel featuring SPIL Ventures, Climate Capital Management, ADM Capital, Living Lab Ventures, and IIX also discussed trends and opportunities in Indonesia’s impact investment landscape, highlighting the importance of climate-smart, gender-inclusive, and SDG-aligned financing.

“Indonesia has long been a priority country for IIX because of its immense potential for inclusive growth and its vibrant entrepreneurial landscape,”said Jonathan Abeywickrema, Senior Director at IIX Impact Partners. Furthermore, he emphasized how the challenges faced by local ventures in connecting with capital have been observed—not due to a lack of innovation, but due to limited access. “The Lab has been designed to equip enterprises with the tools to articulate their impact in investor language, translating purpose into performance. It is considered one of many steps toward the creation of a more equitable investment ecosystem across the region,” he said.
In preparation for the Lab, enterprises received targeted support in impact measurement and management (IMM), business storytelling, and investor communication. These were identified as critical components often lacking in early-stage companies, making it difficult for them to effectively pitch to funders.

“As a founder, the biggest challenge isn’t just being seen—it’s gaining access to the right support and infrastructure to grow sustainably. This program didn’t just give us visibility; it gave us the practical tools and mentorship to become investment-ready. That kind of targeted support is what early-stage enterprises like ours truly need to move forward as we work to empower women across Indonesia and contribute to a healthier environment,” said Tungga Dewi, CEO of Perfect Fit. 
After the event, UNDP and IIX continued supporting participating ventures with technical assistance, strategic advice, and investor engagement. This effort underscored a broader commitment to building a more inclusive, sustainable investment ecosystem in Indonesia—fostering innovation, strengthening communities, and advancing the SDGs.
 

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Media Contact:
Nabilla Rahmani, Head of Communications UNDP Indonesia
nabilla.rahmani@undp.org

Karinta Magnalia, Marketing & Communications Impact Investment Exchange
kmagnalia@iixglobal.com 

About UNDP: 
UNDP is the leading United Nations organization fighting to end the injustice of poverty, inequality and climate change. Working with our broad network of experts and partners in 170 countries, we help nations to build integrated, lasting solutions for people and the planet. Learn more at undp.org or follow at @UNDP.

About Impact Investment Exchange (IIX):
Since 2009, the Impact Investment Exchange (IIX) has been a pioneer in the global impact investing movement, reshaping finance for sustainable development with a focus on gender equality and climate action through capital mobilization and data-based solutions. From establishing the Impact Partners™ platform, creating the Women's Livelihood Bond™ Series, (listed 6 bonds in the public market with zero credit default), and establishing an Impact Institute and Research & Advisory, our work spans 60 countries globally where we have invested close to $500 million of private-sector capital, positively impacted over 160 million lives, and avoided over 1.9 million metric tons of carbon and have collected over 90,000+ data points on sustainable micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).Our team’s 'PREM' values—passion, resilience, equity, and mavericks—propel our efforts, bringing meaningful change to Global South communities and the 99%.
For more information visit: https://iixglobal.com/ 

About The Orange Movement:
The Orange Movement™ is a transformative initiative dedicated to uniting gender equality with climate action, economic prosperity, and peace. With a mission to mobilize US$10 billion by 2030, the Orange Movement™ aims to empower 100 million women, girls, and LGBTQIA+ individuals worldwide. By embracing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 5 - Gender Equality, which serves as a cross-cutting asset class advancing other SDGs, the movement highlights the crucial role of women as changemakers in driving sustainable solutions. Through its focus on gender-empowered finance, capital mobilization, and accelerating change, the Orange Movement™ calls for global collaboration to build a more equitable and resilient future.
For more information, please visit: https://orangemovement.global/