100×100, a Singapore-based venture builder, has launched a US$100 million fund to support 50 climate-focused startups across Southeast Asia and India. The initiative aims to address emissions-intensive sectors like energy, food, materials, and supply chains by transforming low-carbon technologies into scalable businesses. Marie Cheong, a founding partner, said the effort highlights an opportunity where reducing emissions and generating profit are not mutually exclusive but complementary. The fund’s strategy emphasizes commercial viability, with a focus on sectors where innovation can directly impact global decarbonization goals. By aligning with market demands in rapidly growing economies, the initiative seeks to demonstrate that climate solutions can simultaneously drive economic growth and environmental impact.
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The fund’s timing aligns with rising investor interest in climate tech despite broader fundraising challenges. According to Tracxn, Southeast Asia’s climate startups raised US$166 million in 2025, a 10% increase from 2024 but still below the 2023 peak of US$288 million. The region has attracted nearly a quarter of global venture capital investments since 2021, driven by digitalization, expanding markets, and manufacturing growth in countries like India, Indonesia, and Vietnam. Asia’s startup ecosystem has also been bolstered by OECD data showing the region accounted for nearly a quarter of global venture capital investments between 2021 and 2023, reflecting its role as a hub for innovation and economic transformation. However, climate-focused ventures remain a niche within this broader setting, with limited diversification in both geography and industry focus.
Climate-focused ventures, however, remain a small part of the broader startup ecosystem. Singapore leads the region in climate-tech investment, having drawn nearly US$872 million since 2018. Indonesia and Vietnam follow, with much of their funding concentrated in electric mobility. Quentin Vaquette, another founding partner at 100×100, noted that Southeast and South Asia face unique challenges: they contribute disproportionately to global emissions while becoming hubs for manufacturing reshoring, AI infrastructure, and food system redesign. This dual role as both a source of emissions and a center for innovation presents a complex opportunity for investors. The region’s strategic position in global supply chains and its increasing reliance on digital infrastructure make it a critical battleground for climate solutions that can scale across multiple sectors.
100×100 operates differently from traditional venture capital firms. Instead of investing in existing startups, it builds companies from scratch. The firm has co-founded 27 ventures across eight countries since its first fund closed in 2023. Examples include Rize, which tackles methane emissions in rice farming, and Helios, a Philippine solar company. The new fund targets a collective goal of reducing 10% of global emissions through these startups. This approach allows the firm to tailor solutions to specific regional needs, such as the agricultural practices in Southeast Asia or the energy demands of rapidly urbanizing populations. By embedding sustainability into the core of each venture, 100×100 aims to create a pipeline of companies that can serve as blueprints for decarbonization in other markets.
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Investor interest has shifted toward sectors like waste management, smart grids, and renewable energy. These areas are critical for meeting rising electricity demand while cutting emissions. The fund’s launch coincides with broader efforts in Asia, such as Google’s regional AI-focused accelerator and expanding government support for clean tech. Yet, financing gaps persist, with most climate-tech funding concentrated in a few markets and sectors. The growing emphasis on AI infrastructure and food system redesign has also drawn attention to opportunities in data centers, electric vehicle networks, and sustainable agriculture. These areas present overlapping challenges and opportunities, requiring integrated solutions that address both technological and systemic barriers to decarbonization.
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