Planting Seeds for Success
AC Dy’s journey as a climate advocate in the social impact space highlights the importance of nurturing innovative market-based solutions to protect our planet’s ecosystems and the role of venture support in amplifying these efforts, ensuring a healthier planet for future generations.
One of my favorite memories was descending 100 feet into the depths of the ocean in Antique, Philippines, to be greeted by a colorful and teeming underwater life at the bottom of the deep blue. As an avid diver, I’ve had the privilege of exploring some of the world’s most breathtaking coral reefs — but with each dive, I’m reminded of how fragile that beauty is and the looming threat of coral reef bleaching and overfishing.
In a world grappling with the realities of climate change, the urgency of preserving our planet’s biodiversity has never been clearer to me.
As someone deeply committed to driving change through my work with Villgro Philippines, I’m acutely aware of the critical role we all play in safeguarding our natural world for generations to come.
As I reflect on the beauty of our environment both on land and under the sea this International Day for Biological Diversity, I’m driven by a sense of purpose in my work with Villgro Philippines and our work in driving impactful change in the climate space.
For the past two years I’ve been with the organization, we have passionately worked towards establishing Villgro Philippines as a champion for Climate Action. The past year and a half have been especially intentional for me to set up our climate vertical and build our network of climate investors, advocacy groups, impact enterprises, and market partners.
Building our name in the space was a long process to show our continuous support throughout the years for climate enterprises in the region. In 2019, we launched the Angat Lahat sa Agri-Business Innovation Accelerator in partnership with Go Negosyo, which transformed the lives of smallholder farmers based in BARMM and their communities by identifying innovative ideas, supporting high-potential agripreneurs and growing robust agribusinesses. Through the program, Villgro Philippines supported two cooperative agribusinesses located in Benguet, and Baloi, Lanao Del Sur building new models that directly impact 40+ small-holder farmers.
In 2020, Villgro Philippines partnered with Habitat for Humanity and the Terwilliger Center for Innovation in Shelter to bring the Sheltertech Accelerator to Southeast Asia, a first-of-its-kind accelerator in the region focused on affordable housing designed to support entrepreneurs solving the most pressing issues in shelter through innovative, scalable solutions that received more than 200 applications.
In 2021, we brought together Filipino innovators solving challenges at the nexus of climate and gender through the Ways4Waste Innovation Challenge, with a particular focus on solutions for waste management systems and female informal workers where winners from the program received catalytic funds and fundamental business support in creating circular economies and providing better livelihood opportunities to female informal workers. Through the program, enterprises diverted 17.5 metric tons of waste, positively impacted 800 household members living in vulnerable communities, and touched the lives of 29 employees.
In 2022, we launched the Plastic-Free Future Philippines go-to-market accelerator in partnership with The Incubation Network and GIZ’s Single-Use Plastics Challenge which supported climate startups to pilot their solutions with F&B industry players to reduce single-use plastic waste and validate the environmental impact of single-use plastic packaging alternatives.
To increase funding potential and access to equipment and technology, we’ve partnered with local and international organizations to capacitate climate entrepreneurs to train in business fundamentals and assess their businesses.
In the latter of 2023, our climate team helped capacitate women waste workers in the informal sector through WWF’s Women in Waste’s Economic Empowerment program and trained agripreneurs around the Philippines for Yunus Environment Hub.
The past year has borne the fruits of our labor and our team has seen such immense growth and support for the climate impact space. Our team hosted the Climate Action Showcase for Philippine Startup Week 2023 to a resounding success of 100 attendees to witness 8 climate entrepreneurs showcasing their innovative solutions from around the Philippines committed to addressing climate change and advancing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) alongside a thought-provoking dialogue between impact investors and climate entrepreneurs. It’s been instrumental for the team to invest in climate action in order to address the rising global temperatures and climate change.
As we enter the mid-year of 2024, our team is gearing up for an exciting roster of activities and programs from the interest and support we’ve received from our past initiatives. To mark World Environment Day on June 5, 2024 and highlight the critical role of entrepreneurship in propelling climate mitigation and adaptation, Villgro Philippines, in partnership with the Impact Pioneers Network, will host Climate Catalyst, an event dedicated to accelerating investments in climate startups.
Climate Catalyst will feature a panel discussion on financing climate startups in the Philippines, and a pitch competition to showcase climate innovations, followed by networking among key stakeholders. This year will also bring in a program to support blue economy solutions in the coastal areas of the Philippines, and an innovation challenge and investment readiness program supporting Filipino women in clean technology.
In the past years, our team at Villgro Philippines has passionately worked towards establishing itself as a leader in climate action, nurturing impactful initiatives and fostering collaborations that drive positive change.
From empowering smallholder farmers to supporting climate entrepreneurs and advocating for sustainable solutions, our journey has been marked by resilience, innovation, and a steadfast commitment to safeguarding our planet.
As we look ahead to the exciting roster of activities and programs in 2024, we invite you to join us in our mission to create a more sustainable and resilient future for generations to come.
Hopefully, the breathtaking coral reefs that serve as motivation for my journey will continue inspiring generations of climate advocates to cultivate a greener and bluer world, where biodiversity flourishes.
Do you have your own climate enterprise and want to join us for our upcoming programs or events? Are you an investor or funder looking to drive impact? Reach out to us — we’d love to hear from you!
To learn more about our climate initiatives or partner with us, you may check out the Villgro Philippines website at http://villgrophilippines.org or reach out to us at climate@villgrophilippines.org
About the Author
AC Dy is a dedicated advocate for social and environmental impact, currently serving as the Head of Incubation & Venture Support at Villgro Philippines. With a strong focus on maximizing growth and impact for social enterprises, AC leverages her extensive experience to nurture and support ventures that tackle pressing societal and environmental challenges.
Connect with AC at ac@villgrophilippines.org
