Villgro Philippines has launched the Nexus for Equity Accelerator, a 24-month hybrid program designed to support Philippine enterprises addressing the interconnected challenges of climate change, gender, and health. The program aims to address the disparity in funding for women-led climate initiatives.
The accelerator will support 35 enterprises in its first phase with capacity building and coaching. A Venture Showcase will then select 15 of these enterprises to receive up to $5,000 in seed funding and move on to the second phase. This phase will provide tailored investment readiness and growth support, culminating in an Impact Showcase where the top three enterprises will receive an additional $15,000. Phase three will continue to provide support to facilitate further access to finance.
“Women and girls are at the forefront of leading the charge in the fight against the climate crisis. Villgro Philippines is looking to fund and support women-led and women-benefitting enterprises that address intractable problems across climate, health, and gender. Through the Nexus for Equity Accelerator, we are doubling down on our commitment to supporting innovative models that are locally rooted in addressing climate change,” says Priya Thachadi, Co-Founder and CEO of Villgro Philippines.
The program is open to Philippine-based, early-stage enterprises that are women-owned, women-led, and/or women-benefitting, and focused on climate solutions with clear social and environmental outcomes. Applicants must be legally registered in the Philippines. Applications from underrepresented founders and marginalized groups, particularly those outside of metro areas, are encouraged.
Applications are due by February 14, 2025, and can be submitted through the Villgro Philippines website. Participation in the program is free. Villgro Philippines is a gender-smart incubator supporting over 120 enterprises across climate, health, and other sectors in South and Southeast Asia. Their award-winning gender initiatives have been recognized by the UN Women WEPs Awards, and they are certified under the Gender Lens Incubation and Acceleration (GLIA) standards.