Mekong Inclusive Ventures (MIV) is the newest member of the ANDE East and Southeast Asia community! This locally-rooted, majority Khmer and women-owned organization is transforming the entrepreneurship landscape through its focus on inclusion, accessibility, and innovative support models.
Breaking New Ground in Inclusive Entrepreneurship – MIV stands out for its pioneering approach to combining entrepreneurship support with disability inclusion. With the recent merger of Agile Development Group and Mekong Inclusive Ventures, they’ve established themselves as a powerful voice for underrepresented entrepreneurs across Cambodia and the South and Southeast Asian region.
“We believe that entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive when they include everyone,” says Khim BUN, MIV’s co-founder. “Our work bridges the gap between traditional business support and the unique needs of entrepreneurs with disabilities, women, and other marginalized groups.”MIV’s flagship innovative programs driving change include:
MIV Studio: A groundbreaking success-based Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) venture studio providing comprehensive back-end support for entrepreneurs with disabilities and GEDSI-focused impact ventures through tailored training, mentorship, investment readiness support, and capital connections.
Ecosystem Support Initiatives: MIV has a deep commitment to mainstreaming disability inclusive programming, training other entrepreneurship support organizations to develop their inclusive programming, creating a multiplier effect of opportunity throughout the region and globally. MIV’s impact speaks volumes about its commitment to meaningful change, with over 1,000 women and youth entrepreneurs living with disabilities directly supported through their entrepreneurship programming, including digital and financial literacy. The work directly contributes to multiple SDGs, including No Poverty (SDG 1), Gender Equality (SDG 5), Decent Work & Economic Growth (SDG 8, and Reduced Inequalities (SDG 10).
MIV has also recently signed on as the Cambodian intermediary for LendForGood, a partnership initiative that will provide syndicated impact debt to address the “missing middle” financing gap for SGBs seeking $50,000-250,000, particularly benefiting women-led enterprises and those in rural areas.
As MIV joins the ANDE community, they bring fresh perspectives and deep local expertise that will enrich our collective work. Their additional focus on emerging sectors like the care economy and regenerative agriculture presents exciting opportunities for collaboration.
We look forward to the valuable insights and connections MIV will bring to our network as we work together to build more inclusive, resilient entrepreneurial ecosystems across Southeast Asia.