Indonesia needs more female investors willing to back female founders: Helen Wong of AC Ventures

Helen Wong, Managing Partner at early-stage VC firm AC Ventures, said Indonesia needs more female investors willing to back female founders.

Addressing regional policymakers and prominent business leaders at the Women’s CEO Forum at the ASEAN Business & Investment Summit (ABIS) 2023 in Jakarta, she said women entrepreneurs are key economic drivers.

“In a market as vibrant as Indonesia, women entrepreneurs are not just fulfilling a social role; they are key economic drivers. Our research indicates that investing in women-led businesses is not just the right thing to do, it’s the smart thing to do,” said Wong.

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“Given that these businesses contribute significantly to the local economy – and keep it resilient during times of crisis such as the pandemic – we’re looking at an untapped yearly opportunity worth hundreds of billions of dollars. As such, we need more female investors who understand this and are willing to take concerted action to back more female founders,” she added.

During her speech, Wong called upon fellow investors and policymakers to take actionable steps to support female investors. She emphasised the compelling economic rationale behind backing women entrepreneurs in Indonesia and local female venture capitalists.

The archipelago is home to more than 64 million MSMEs, accounting for 98 per cent of all businesses in the nation. These MSMEs significantly contribute over 61 per cent to the local economy. Over half of these enterprises are women-owned, which AC Ventures identifies as an annual investment opportunity worth over US$421 billion.

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Wong also noted that AC Ventures has a good track record supporting female tech founders and women-owned MSMEs in ASEAN. The VC firm has a 50:50 gender-balanced team and 41 per cent female leadership across its investment portfolio.

“In our journey at AC Ventures, we’ve learned that diversity isn’t a buzzword; it’s a business imperative. A balanced team brings diverse perspectives, leading to smarter investment decisions and more robust portfolio performance,” she stated.

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Image Credit: AC Ventures

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