We build what others
only fund.
After a decade of traditional philanthropy, we asked an uncomfortable question: what if the money was the easy part? SOW 2.0 is the answer.
From Philanthropy to Venture Building
SOW Asia was established as a Hong Kong Section 88 charitable organization, initially focused on traditional philanthropy. Over the last decade, we recognized that grants are finite—systemic problems require sustainable, scalable solutions.
"We operate in the execution layer between policy intent and market adoption."
- William Lee, Board Director, SOW Asia
Today, SOW Asia 2.0 has evolved into an impact venture studio. We no longer just fund; we build. We bridge the gap between government objectives and private market capabilities.
Our Evolution
Traditional Philanthropy
- - Grant-based funding
- - Supporting existing SEs
- - Capacity building
- - Limited scalability
Venture Studio
- ✓ Building from scratch
- ✓ De-risking validation
- ✓ Spinning out to market
- ✓ Capital recycling
The Studio Model
Unlike accelerators that invest in existing startups, we build ventures from scratch. Our process:
Our Impact Numbers
We've built and spun out ventures across longevity, circular economy, financial inclusion, youth skills, and biotechnology—recycling donor capital back into new ventures each time.
From Philanthropy to Venture Building
SOW Asia was established as a Hong Kong Section 88 charitable organization, initially focused on traditional philanthropy. Over the last decade, we recognized that grants are finite—systemic problems require sustainable, scalable solutions.
"We operate in the execution layer between policy intent and market adoption."
- William Lee, Board Director, SOW Asia
Today, SOW Asia 2.0 has evolved into an impact venture studio. We no longer just fund; we build. We bridge the gap between government objectives and private market capabilities.
← Click to explore
Who We Are
SOW Asia 1.0 → 2.0
How We Work
Track Record
What We're Here to Do
Mission
To solve the problems governments identify but markets won't touch. We build the ventures that make those solutions permanent.
Vision
A region where the gap between policy intent and market reality is closed. Not by grants that run out, but by ventures that sustain themselves.
How We Think About Capital
Traditional philanthropy optimises for optics. Venture capital optimises for exits. We optimise for the problem. That means sitting with it longer than either is willing to. When building something that doesn't need us to survive.
Four Themes. Real Gaps.
Longevity & Urban Health
One in five people in Hong Kong is over 65. That ratio is rising and the system isn't ready.
The Gap
Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. It also has one of the most strained public healthcare systems. Most eldercare policy is written. Very little of it is actually built.
What Government Has
Primary care reform commitments, community health centre funding, eldercare service mandates. Policy is there. Execution isn't.
What We Build
- •Community health navigation for seniors
- •Preventive care platforms that reduce A&E pressure
- •Wellness programmes tied to measurable health outcomes
Longevity & Urban Health
One in five people in Hong Kong is over 65. That ratio is rising and the system isn't ready.
The Gap
Hong Kong has one of the highest life expectancies in the world. It also has one of the most strained public healthcare systems. Most eldercare policy is written. Very little of it is actually built.
What Government Has
Primary care reform commitments, community health centre funding, eldercare service mandates. Policy is there. Execution isn't.
What We Build
- •Community health navigation for seniors
- •Preventive care platforms that reduce A&E pressure
- •Wellness programmes tied to measurable health outcomes
Circular & Low-Carbon Supply Chains
Supply chains cause 80% of corporate emissions. Most companies have no viable path to change that.
The Gap
APAC generates 40% of global emissions. Circular alternatives exist in theory. In practice, the B2B infrastructure to connect suppliers, buyers, and recyclers at scale doesn't exist yet.
What Government Has
Carbon neutrality targets, green procurement mandates, waste reduction legislation. Targets are set. Markets aren't built.
What We Build
- •B2B marketplaces for recycled materials
- •Supply chain carbon tracking at the transaction level
- •Reverse logistics networks for industrial waste
Economic Resilience
Automation is hollowing out the middle. The safety nets weren't designed for this.
The Gap
Gig workers, SMEs, and first-generation professionals are caught between welfare systems built for a different economy and financial products that weren't designed for them.
What Government Has
Poverty alleviation funds, SME financing schemes, digital payment infrastructure. The intent is right. The delivery channels are broken.
What We Build
- •Alternative credit tools for workers without formal income history
- •Micro-insurance products sized for gig and informal workers
- •Community savings and lending networks for underserved households
Youth & Purposeful Work
The best young talent in Asia is leaving for cities that give them something worth building.
The Gap
Youth unemployment is running at three times the adult rate. Traditional hiring doesn't match what young people can do. Most CSR-flavoured job programmes don't work.
What Government Has
Youth employment schemes, vocational training funds, skills development grants. Money is available. Meaningful placements aren't.
What We Build
- •Skills-matched hiring platforms that bypass credential gatekeeping
- •Apprenticeship structures inside impact-driven companies
- •Entrepreneurship programmes for young founders building in Asia
How We Measure What Matters
We don't count heads. We track whether anything actually changed.
If the venture scales but the impact doesn't, we failed. We won't accept a trade-off between commercial success and social outcome. The two have to move together, or we go back to the drawing board.
Board of Directors
The people accountable for how SOW Asia operates, allocates capital, and measures what it builds.
Andy Tung
Managing Partner, QBN Capital
Andy is former CEO of Orient Overseas Container Lines (OOCL), a business which his family exited in 2018. He has extensive operating experience in international transportation, and has been an important figure in the trade and logistics sectors for many years. In addition to his involvement in QBN, Andy also serves on the boards of Standard Chartered Bank (China) Limited, and Orient Overseas International Limited in Hong Kong.
Darius Yuen
Managing Director, Zhong Yi Investment
Darius Yuen Lai Yan is a Hong Kong investment banker and philanthropist. He is the founder of Sow Foundation, a charity based in Hong Kong. Because of his contribution to charitable causes, he was named one of 48 Heroes of Philanthropy by Forbes. He was also one of the Men Of Hope 2017 Honorees.
Cliff Cheung
Founder, InterLeader Capital
Cliff is Founder and Chairman of InterLeader Capital and formerly MD & CIO of PAMA Group. With more than four decades of private equity experience in Asia and the United States, Cliff's leadership spans driving international investments and serving on boards and committees across diverse geographies, industries, professional networks, and philanthropic initiatives in Hong Kong and the US, including the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, Hong Kong Venture Capital & Private Equity Association, Economy of Goodness Society, Chi Heng Foundation, HK Children in Need Foundation, and CFA Institute.
William Lee
Co-Founder, N+ Ventures
William Lee, based in Hong Kong, is currently a Co-Founder at YAS MicroInsurance. William Lee brings experience from previous roles at N+ Ventures, Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong, SOW (Asia) Foundation Limited and UCP Group. William Lee holds a 2023 - 2024 Certificate @ Economy of Goodness Society.
Advisors
Practitioners who contribute domain knowledge and open doors that matter.
Stephen Law
Managing Director, President of HKICPAAlain Lam
Board Director, Oriental Watch GroupDemetrius Yuen
Managing Director, Port Shipping CentralAndy Ann
Chairman, N+ VenturesStephen Law
Managing Director, President of HKICPAAlain Lam
Board Director, Oriental Watch GroupDemetrius Yuen
Managing Director, Port Shipping CentralAndy Ann
Chairman, N+ VenturesSee how the studio model works and what we've built so far.