Deadline Date: January 12, 2026
The Climate Venture Scaler is a UNDP initiative developed in partnership with Impact Investment Exchange to accelerate growth-stage climate ventures across Southeast Asia.
The focus areas of the programme include the following: finance gap, with growth-stage climate ventures often stalling between early grants and institutional capital and the programme helping close this gap by identifying and preparing investable and inclusive deals; regional focus and global ambition, identifying high-potential ventures in Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia and connecting them to regional and international capital to accelerate finance for climate solutions; jobs and climate impact, where scaling ventures supports green jobs, strengthens resilience, advances gender equality and reduces emissions while contributing to climate action across the region.
The programme is designed to strengthen climate-focused enterprises by supporting their business models, improving financial readiness and establishing direct links with investors. It aims to drive climate resilience, foster green innovation and promote inclusive economic development while maintaining a strong emphasis on gender equality.
Selected enterprises will benefit from tailored mentorship through six one-on-one sessions with regional and international experts, along with eight group learning sessions that facilitate peer exchange across countries. This structure enables participating ventures to refine their strategies, address operational challenges and develop the capabilities necessary for long-term sustainability and growth.
The opportunity also offers comprehensive investment readiness support, including professional guidance on financial modelling, valuation, pitch preparation and investor engagement. This is complemented by access to self-paced courses through the IIX Institute and the UNDP SDG Finance Academy, ensuring participants can strengthen their skills beyond formal sessions.
Enterprises will gain visibility and reach by participating in national investor clinics across Cambodia, Laos and Malaysia. Additionally, they will have the opportunity to present their solutions at a global investor webinar scheduled for October 2026, connecting them with potential investors worldwide.
Top-performing enterprises in the programme will receive bespoke support to engage with aligned investors, negotiate term sheets and secure financing tailored to their growth needs. By enabling access to capital, the Climate Venture Scaler strengthens ventures that directly contribute to climate adaptation and mitigation across the region.
Eligible applicants must be growth-stage SMEs operating primarily in Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia. They should be for-profit entities offering climate adaptation or mitigation solutions, demonstrate measurable environmental and social impact, have a clear path to scale and profitability, and be planning to raise investment within the next one to two years.
For more information, visit UNDP.
