Kuala Lumpur. On 8 August 2018, Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur launched a Call for Applications for its regional programme, the ASEAN Impact Challenge (AIC) and announced its partnership with Grab.

Now in its 4th year, the AIC programme is designed to discover innovators from Southeast Asia who are accelerating the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through cross-sector partnerships and disruptive innovations. The programme presents opportunities to identify and strengthen innovations emerging from Southeast Asia that can achieve select outcomes around the SDGs. Bringing together entrepreneurs, investors and global corporations, it has become a key private sector-led programme in Southeast Asia and serves as an entrepreneurship ecosystem connecting the region.

As part of this year’s challenge, Grab is partnering with Impact Hub KL to extend their support as a key tech innovator in the region in pursuit of discovering and driving digital innovations in Southeast Asia.

“At Grab, we believe in the power of technology to make lives better for everyone. Over the last 6 years, we have worked with leading innovators, partners and governments across the world to solve some of the region’s most complex challenges, including safer transport and financial inclusion. Our own journey in providing millions access to essential everyday services has shown us the possibilities that the region’s talent has to offer. Our partnership with Impact Hub KL and the ASEAN Impact Challenge exemplifies our mission to help more dynamic startups in Southeast Asia develop and scale technologies that will solve the mobility, O2O and payment challenges of today and tomorrow,” said Chris Yeo, Regional Head of Grab Ventures.

“Partnership and collaboration are key to helping innovators and entrepreneurs make the leap to scaling beyond borders and entering new markets. Impact Hub KL is proud to partner a company that not so long ago was a startup and has now become one of the most famous unicorns in the world with its phenomenal growth trajectory. Most importantly, Grab was founded with the impact ambitions that we share- to make impact business as usual and support those beginning their entrepreneurial journeys.” Shariha Khalid Erichsen, Co-Founder & Board Member, Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur.

Launched in 2015, the ASEAN Impact Challenge has established 60+ cross-sector partnerships in 10 ASEAN countries, discovered more than 720 innovations from 2,800 innovators and accelerated 50 finalist teams who have been supported to connect to over USD 5 million in capital, a network of mentors, and digital visibility that has reached over 60 million people through social media channels. This year’s challenge is themed ‘Tech Forward: Innovations for a Digital Economy’, and emphasizes the discovery and scale of future-proof innovations necessary for the creation of resilient nations and a strong economic region. This year’s Regional Finals will take place in Singapore during the ASEAN Summit from 11 – 13 November 2018.

The Challenge is open to ASEAN innovations with the potential to scale and is designed to encourage, empower and support partnerships and innovations that will create impact in the region. Eligible applicants should either be Early-stage or Scale-stage innovations. The top 10 finalists will participate in an 8-week tailored Global Goals Lab acceleration programme with local and regional mentors leading up to the Regional Finals.

At the Regional Finals, the finalist teams with a proven innovation and impact model will be given the opportunity to pitch their revolutionary initiatives to a group of entrepreneurs, investors, and corporations. The call for applications closes on 9 September 2018.

Learn more about the ASEAN Impact Challenge by visiting their website http://www.aseanimpactchallenge.org/

About Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur

Impact Hub is the world’s largest network focused on building entrepreneurial communities for impact at scale — home to the innovators, the dreamers and the entrepreneurs who are creating tangible solutions to the world’s most pressing issues. Impact Hub KL’s vision is to be a hub for business and people-driven impact in Malaysia and beyond. Impact Hub KL wants to see a world where every business and every individual has the capacity to create impact.

Established in Malaysia since 2015, Impact Hub KL has reached 15,000+ beneficiaries through its 3 pillars of work that aim to deliver wellbeing and sustainability outcomes through Empowered Learners, Impactful Enterprises and Inclusive Cities. The ASEAN Impact Challenge is a programme managed by Impact Hub KL under its Impactful Enterprises pillar.

To learn more about Impact Hub KL, visit https://kualalumpur.impacthub.net/
Facebook: Impact Hub KL | Twitter: @impacthubkl

About Grab

Grab is one of the most frequently used Online-to-Offline (O2O) mobile platforms in Southeast Asia, providing the everyday services that matter most to consumers. Commute, eat, deliver shopping – and pay with one e-wallet. Grab believes that every Southeast Asian should benefit from the digital economy, and the company provides access to safe and affordable transport, food and package delivery, mobile payments and financial services. Grab currently offers services in Singapore, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Cambodia. For more information, please visit www.grab.com.

Press contact:
Ralph Mpofu
Programs & Partnerships Manager
Impactful Enterprises Pillar
Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur
Cell: +6019 381 0183
Email: ralph.mpofu@impacthub.net

Yvette Lim
Vice President
Teneo Strategy for Grab
DID: +65 6911 6697
Email: grab@teneostrategy.com

In the pictures:

Grab Representative
Mr Zafrul Hashim
Vice President, Regional Legal and Government Affairs
Grab

Impact Hub KL Representative
Dr Shariha Khalid-Erichsen
Co-Founder & Board Member
Impact Hub Kuala Lumpur