ANDE South Asia Convening is an initiative to bring this ecosystem of entrepreneur support organizations, in South Asia, together to initiate discussion and catalyze cross-border collaboration to further economic growth through entrepreneurship and strengthen the SGB ecosystem.
South Asia Convening 2025: Building Tomorrow’s Ecosystems – Connect, Innovate, Transform
South Asia Convening 2025 took place in the context of unprecedented global upheavals, the impacts of which are reverberating across the South Asia region as well. Over the three days, key discussions focused on:
- Nascent & Developed Ecosystems in South Asia
Insights into strengthening place-based ecosystems – from diagnostics and policy to local collaboration. The recent changes in the global trade and development sector indicate a strong need to strengthen regional ecosystems and increase regional and local collaboration between ecosystem players.
- Corporate Engagement
Exploring the growing role of the private sector in supporting SGBs through supply chains, mentorship, procurement, and capital. Globally, corporations have been supporting innovation via multiple modes, and due to public pressure and increased awareness, Environment, Sustainability, and Governance continue to remain relevant. - Diversifying Funding Models
From grants and blended finance to catalytic capital and outcome-based funding – what’s working and what’s next. Existing models continue to get refined and new models emerge simultaneously in the funding landscape.
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Day One revealed a bold blueprint for transformation: green financing strategies, NGO-to-enterprise pivots, and skills development.
SAC 2025 continued its momentum with Track 2: Corporate Engagement, diving into strategic partnerships that harness private sector muscle for SGB growth amid South Asia's evolving economic tides.
South Asia Convening 2024: Big Ideas for Small Business
South Asia Convening 2024 built on the ANDE Global Annual Conference 2024 theme “Big Ideas for Small Business.” Hosted by the ANDE South Asia chapter in partnership with NAB Bangladesh, over the three days, key discussions focused on:
- Regional Ecosystem Building for SGBs, examining how regional cooperation, infrastructure development, and digital transformation can drive economic growth, reduce poverty, and improve market access;
- Population-Weighted Asset Under Management (AUM), exploring its definition, scope, SWOT analysis, methods, and regional comparisons; and
- Impact InvesTREND day, which will highlight the role of impact investing for sustainable development in Bangladesh, with sessions covering regulatory frameworks, transparency, and investment tools.
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Highlights from Day 1 of the ANDE South Asia Convening 2024: Strengthening Regional Ecosystems for Small and Growing Businesses.
Insights from Day 2 of the ANDE South Asia Convening 2024, focusing on key learnings from Strengthening Regional Ecosystems for Small and Growing Businesses.
Day 3 Highlights from ANDE South Asia Convening 2024: Insights into scaling impact investment, boosting transparency, and enabling small businesses through supportive regulations.
South Asia Convening 2023: Accelerating Action in the Region
Center staging our theme of ‘Accelerating Action in the Region’, 2023 Convening looked at the role that the region can play in fostering innovation, growth and sustainability. Throughout the three days of convening, we looked at the market opportunities, stakeholders, funding landscape, different growth models and ways to support small businesses and women entrepreneurs in South Asia. We also discussed the role of cities in addressing the problem of climate change, circular solutions for textiles and ways of catalysing cross-border finance to support the small & growing business ecosystem.
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South Asia Convening 2022: Regional Entrepreneurship
The 2022 convening focused on three broad themes, namely, climate and environment entrepreneurship, gender equality in SGBs and building the ecosystem for SGBs. It brought together regional experts to exchange ideas and explore ways to collaborate and strengthen the South Asian entrepreneurial ecosystems.
For more details, please visit this page.