Our Accelerator Program

Launched in 2013, the i2i (“Incubation to Investment”) Accelerator Program is Hong Kong's first accelerator program

exclusively built for social enterprises. The program encompasses all of SOW Asia’s impact sector focus and

aims to accelerate social enterprises with a prototype and limited market trials, to be ready for investment

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Network

We open up our networks to you to help you find the funds, talents, connections and expertise you need to grow your social business. For each cohort, we will make concerned effort to connect you to our industry contacts

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Investment

We organize pitch nights for you to showcase your business, where we invite our investor networks (philanthropists, impact investors and angel investors). Where there is alignment, SOW Asia may also invest or co-invest

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Mentorship

We connect you to a curated set of business professionals to help encourage, coach and hold you accountable during the accelerator program

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Consultancy

We work with you to identify and execute change to strengthen your impact, improve your business model and refine your pitch

 

our Selection Criteria

  • Preferably at least 2 full time co-founders

  • Companies operate within 1-3 years

  • Companies incorporated in Hong Kong

  • Beyond prototype: with limited market trials or at least has pilot test

  • Companies tackle social challenges in relation to the theme of our next cohort, with innovative technology

 

application process

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  • Applications will be reviewed upon recruitment of every cohort

  • After the initial screening, SOW Asia will contact you to do deeper-dive diagnostics and identify key business areas to focus on

  • Accepted applicants will be grouped into the corresponding cohort

 

Frequently asked questions

+ What is the structure of the workshops?

We believe in interactive, participative learning, where social entrepreneurs come and work out their own challenges or questions. We bring expertise in business/management and social impact measurement and we facilitate your team to articulate and focus on the questions that really matter for your social enterprise. The content of these workshops largely focuses on problem definition and the strategy for scaling your impact, improving your business model and refining your pitch.

+ What networking opportunities are provided during the program?

SOW Asia’s partners include angel investors, impact investors, NGOs and charities, corporates, foundations and startup communities. These networks have proven invaluable for past participants in helping them get connected to investors, find and recruit talents, outsource projects, and access professional support and expertise that otherwise would have been unavailable to them.

+ Who is SOW Asia?

SOW Asia is a charitable foundation based in Hong Kong that supports enterprises intent on scaling their social impact through financial investments and our accelerator program.

+ How to get in contact?

If you have questions about the program, application, please do not hesitate to contact the SOW Asia team at info@sowasia.org