In Southeast Asia, the old assumption that companies must choose between profitability and impact no longer holds. The most successful ventures are showing that in emerging markets, commercial growth and social outcomes often reinforce each other.
When eFishery first introduced smart fish feeders in Indonesian ponds, sceptics doubted smallholders would adopt such technology. Yet adoption spread quickly, demonstrating that solutions addressing basic needs can scale commercially while improving livelihoods. This kind of dual outcome, revenue growth alongside measurable community benefit, is becoming one of the region’s defining opportunities.
Across agritech, healthtech, and edutech, founders are proving that purpose fuels profit. Here’s how.
Founder Stories: The Double Bottom Line in Action
Agritech: eFishery’s US$200M Bet on Smallholder Farmers
The problem is clear. Around 40 per cent of aquaculture feed in Southeast Asia is wasted (FAO), keeping farmers in cycles of poverty. Feed can consume up to 60 per cent of a farmer’s income, leaving little margin for resilience.
The solution combines IoT sensors with AI-driven feeding. This reduces feed costs by up to 20 per cent while boosting yields by about 30 per cent.
The results are significant:
- 250,000+ livelihoods improved
- 5M tons of CO₂ avoided through efficient feeding
- A strong signal that investors are backing models that align profitability with farmer well-being
eFishery illustrates how tackling one inefficiency—feed waste—can generate impact at scale: higher incomes for smallholders, reduced environmental pressure, and a stronger supply chain for one of SEA’s core food sources.
Healthtech: Doctor Anywhere’s prescription for equity
Healthcare in SEA has long been defined by gaps: distance to clinics, affordability, and shortages of trained professionals. For rural families, even basic check-ups can mean a day’s travel and high costs.
Doctor Anywhere’s pivot from corporate wellness into rural telehealth during COVID-19 showed how digital tools can bridge these divides. The platform now delivers teleconsultations at around US$5, roughly 40 per cent cheaper than offline visits in parts of Indonesia.
“If you can’t reach a clinic in Borneo, the doctor should come to you. Our tech makes healthcare borderless.” – Lim Wai Mun, Founder of Doctor Anywhere
Its impact is measurable:
- 5M users accessing US$5 teleconsultations
- 40 per cent cheaper than offline visits in Eastern Indonesia
- US$140M Series C at 2.5X valuation jump (2022)
This case highlights a broader principle: the strongest healthtech models don’t just digitise existing systems. They reimagine them for contexts where scarcity, not abundance, is the norm.
Also Read: Driving social impact with tech in Southeast Asia: Building for outcomes, not optics
Why impact measurement wins trust
Investors increasingly expect startups to measure outcomes beyond revenue. It is no longer enough to show financial KPIs; impact dashboards are becoming part of the due diligence process.
Take GrowSari, a B2B platform in the Philippines serving sari-sari stores. By tracking metrics such as income growth (15 per cent for 50,000 stores), GrowSari demonstrated that its platform directly improved livelihoods. This, in turn, helped it secure funding and build credibility with partners.
The lesson is simple: measurable outcomes create trust. Tools like B Corp certification and IRIS+ standards provide shared language for investors and startups to align. Startups that adopt these frameworks early differentiate themselves in an increasingly competitive funding environment.
“Investors used to ask, ‘What’s your EBITDA?’ Now they demand ‘Show us your impact dashboard.’” – Shiyan Koh, Partner at Hustle Fund (early backer of GrowSari)
Investor perspectives: The case for capital
“The best companies solve problems so essential, their business model becomes antifragile.” – Peng T. Ong, Co-Founder of Monk’s Hill Ventures
Why are investors leaning into impact?
- Regulation: Indonesia’s SDG Indonesia One has mobilised over US$3 billion for sustainable development, much of it climate-focused.
- Consumers: Nearly three-quarters of SEA millennials say they prefer ethical brands.
- Performance: Studies show impact startups had a 22 per cent higher survival rate during COVID-19.
The logic is clear: ventures solving essential problems are less vulnerable to downturns. They build resilience because their markets — health, education, food, energy — remain critical regardless of economic cycles.
Also Read: Report: Singaporeans are among the most optimistic about the economic impact of AI
Green shoots: Funding momentum
The data reflects this shift.
Impact startup funding grew from US$150M in 2020 to US$850M in 2024, a 467 per cent increase.
The number of deals nearly quadrupled, showing deepening investor appetite.
These deals span cleantech, agritech, inclusive fintech, and healthtech—indicating broad demand across sectors.
This momentum suggests impact is not a niche play. It is increasingly becoming the mainstream thesis for venture and growth capital in the region.
The road ahead
“Profit is oxygen, but purpose is our heartbeat. Without both, you don’t have a business—you have a spreadsheet.” – Steve Melhuish, PropertyGuru Founder & Impact Investor
The next wave of SEA innovation will be defined by whether startups can align profitability with measurable outcomes. For founders, this means baking impact into KPIs from the start, whether it’s farmer incomes, patient access, or school retention rates. For investors, it means embedding metrics like IRIS+ into due diligence, alongside EBITDA and ARR.
Funding models that value both profit and purpose are no longer fringe experiments. They are setting new benchmarks for what successful businesses look like in Southeast Asia.
The message is clear: in emerging markets, the smartest capital is chasing ventures where impact and profit are the same story.
—
Editor’s note: e27 aims to foster thought leadership by publishing views from the community. Share your opinion by submitting an article, video, podcast, or infographic.
Enjoyed this read? Don’t miss out on the next insight. Join our WhatsApp channel for real-time drops.
Image courtesy: DALL-E
The post Funding for good: Why investors should bet on tech with measurable social impact appeared first on e27.