Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam – She Wins Climate, an initiative by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) in collaboration with New Energy Nexus as the implementing partner, is launching a 12-month accelerator program to support 25 high-potential, early-stage women-led climate startups across Southeast Asia.
Women entrepreneurs continue to face significant barriers to scaling their businesses. Only less than 7% of climate tech venture funding in Q1 2023 went to women founders — likely even lower in Southeast Asia, where data remains incomplete.[1].
“Women-led climate startups have the potential to drive transformative change, yet they face systemic barriers, including limited funding and restricted access to networks,” said Thao Tran, Country Director at New Energy Nexus Vietnam. “This program is designed to equip female founders with the tools, connections, and confidence they need to scale their solutions and attract investment.”
The twelve-month program aims to enhance investment readiness, expand market access, and strengthen the business capabilities of women entrepreneurs tackling climate challenges. Selected participants will receive tailored mentorship, pitch coaching, and networking opportunities with investors and industry leaders.
The application window for She Wins Climate Southeast Asia is open from May 5 – June 13, 2025. The program kicks off in August with a virtual event, setting clear objectives and fostering collaboration. Participants will engage in a series of curated workshops addressing key challenges faced by women-led climate startups. This hybrid-format program will provide in-depth virtual sessions including mentoring, expert sharing, and peer learning, as well as in-person workshops covering essential topics such as investor pitch networking, overcoming gender biases in the climate business ecosystem, and accessing female-focused markets.
To ensure personalized support, the program includes one-on-one mentoring sessions, expert-led discussions on critical topics such as funding and legal strategies, and peer learning opportunities with the cohort members. Participants will also gain exposure to investors through pitch networking sessions and an investor matching event, helping them navigate the climate investment ecosystem and strengthen their investment readiness.
Additionally, participants will have opportunities to access a network of investors, join the She Wins Climate global alumni community, and increase visibility to showcase their work at IFC and the World Bank Group’s platforms.
[1 ] Tech Crunch, “ VC funding of women climate tech founders is abysmal. Here’s how it could improve”