Supporting Innovation.
Delivering Impact.
The Scaling Frontier Innovation (SFI) Program is an initiative of the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s innovationXchange supporting social enterprises to scale their development impact in the Asia Pacific region.
This will be achieved through four, interconnected program interventions:
Frontier Innovators, Frontier Incubators, Frontier Brokers, and Frontier Capital.
Bridging the funding gap
Globally, the funds required to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) fall well short of the total global aid budget, with an estimated funding gap of USD 2.5 trillion. The ‘Impact Investing’ market – investment directed towards businesses having a social or environmental impact – is growing and holds the potential to bridge the gap in development financing.
Growing the ecosystem
The ecosystem that supports private investment in social innovation and social enterprises is still in its early stages in our region. East and South East Asia contribute only 6 per cent of total assets under management for impact investors globally.
Creating opportunities
By supporting innovators who are delivering impact through market-based models, we can help create opportunities for private sector capital to be invested in ways that contribute to development outcomes, and help fill this gap.
Frontier Innovators
Frontier Innovators supports high potential social enterprises in the region. An award of up to $100,000, as well as training and business development support, will be provided to 15 social innovators to help scale their business and impact.
Frontier Incubators
Frontier Incubators develops mentoring relationships between fledgling business incubators and accelerators and high-performance global business incubators and accelerators. This mentoring strengthens the quality and results of emerging business incubators and accelerators in the Asia-Pacific region.
Frontier Brokers
Frontier Brokers assist social enterprises by helping them connect with potential investors including fund managers, philanthropists and angel investors. This helps social enterprises to attract the financial support necessary to establish and grow their businesses.
Launching soon
Frontier Capital
Capital flows for impact investment in the Asia-Pacific lag behind other emerging economies. Frontier Capital aims to increase interest in social enterprise investment in the region, create more co-investment, and reduce the costs of doing business.
Launching soon