DBS Foundation Distributes Rp11.2 Billion to Five Social Enterprises and Impact Businesses
Amid growing social and economic challenges across Asia, the need for sustainable business models that create social impact has become increasingly relevant. In response, DBS Foundation has once again provided grant support of SGD4.9 million (approximately Rp65 billion) to 22 social enterprises and businesses for impact (BFI) across Asia through the DBS Foundation Grant Program 2025.
In Indonesia, DBS Foundation has awarded grants of SGD850,000 (approximately Rp11.2 billion) to five social enterprises and BFI: Parongpong RAW Lab, Konekin, Nazava Water Filters, DoctorTool, and Sosial Business Indonesia (SOBI). This support is projected to reach more than 1.9 million beneficiaries.
“We believe that business can be a force for good. Amid increasingly complex social and economic challenges, business models that not only survive but also create measurable and sustainable social impact are essential. Through the DBS Foundation Grant Program, we provide not only funding but also strengthen the foundations of social enterprises and BFI through mentorship and network access so they can grow healthily whilst expanding their impact,” said Head of Group Marketing & Communications at PT Bank DBS Indonesia, Mona Monika.
“As a purpose-driven bank, Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to growing alongside our community and building a more inclusive ecosystem. We hope the grant recipients will bring real and sustainable change to society,” she added.
This grant distribution reflects not only DBS Foundation’s continued commitment but also the increasingly mature social entrepreneurship ecosystem in Indonesia. In 2023, the Creative Economy Agency (Bekraf) recorded approximately 20,000 social entrepreneurs, up from 15,000 the previous year. This growth demonstrates increasingly strong commitment from business actors to make social impact integral to their business models and shows the need for appropriate support to enable sustainable growth.
The DBS Foundation Grant Program has been an initiative since 2014 to support hundreds of social enterprises and BFI across Asia that provide solutions to various social challenges, ranging from clean water access, food security, financial inclusion, to inclusive employment.
This year, five grant recipients with diverse solution approaches were selected to expand their impact across various regions in Indonesia, from Sumatra, Java, to Eastern Indonesia.
DBS Foundation has also expanded its support scope to the healthcare sector through DoctorTool in the healthtech field, as part of efforts to strengthen primary healthcare services and expand access for underserved populations.
The 2025 DBS Foundation Grant Program recipients are:
Parongpong RAW Lab—increases fisher incomes by processing fish net waste (ghost nets) into high-value, environmentally friendly building materials (Prototile).
Koneksi Indonesia Inklusif (Konekin)—an impact platform focused on creating more inclusive work environments for 17 million working-age persons with disabilities in Indonesia through training, assessment, and mentoring for equal and fair recruitment practices.
Nazava Water Filters—provides affordable clean water access through water filtration technology that purifies well water, tap water, river water, or rainwater without boiling or purchasing plastic bottled water. Nazava filters are the only Indonesian-made drinking water filters certified by the WHO. Nazava specifically focuses on ensuring low-income families have access to safer and more affordable drinking water.
DoctorTool—a healthtech startup focused on transforming primary healthcare services through technology to improve quality and access to services, particularly for underserved populations and participants in the national health insurance scheme (JKN).
Sosial Business Indonesia (SOBI)—focuses on developing inclusive supply chains and sustainable agriculture to improve the welfare, resilience, and food security of smallholder farmers.
“More than a financial partner, Bank DBS Indonesia is committed to fostering broader inclusivity. Our sustainability pillar ‘Impact Beyond Banking’ is about empowering impact businesses to extend and strengthen their positive reach. Through twelve years of the DBS Foundation Grant Program, we have witnessed how crucial support can open opportunities and inspire hope. This is not merely a grant programme for us; it is about building a collaborative ecosystem where private companies, communities, and institutions can collectively create sustainable solutions for Indonesia’s social challenges,” said Mona.
DBS Foundation actively supports the growth of innovative social enterprises and BFI in Indonesia. This support includes SGD4 million committed in grants to 28 social enterprises and BFI, plus an additional SGD2 million allocation through blended finance to further support social enterprises and BFI in Indonesia.
In addition to the DBS Foundation Grant Program, DBS Foundation expands its contribution through strategic collaborations with various partners, including financial literacy and inclusion programmes reaching more than 220,000 women and young people with The Asia Foundation, Mercy Corps, and Plan Indonesia; free IT training scholarship programmes with Dicoding Indonesia to develop 70,000 young digital talents; and programmes to improve access to nutritious and sustainable food whilst empowering 28,000 beneficiaries.