Pay it Forward Ventures

100x Impact Accelerator is a venture accelerator that backs impact ventures capable of improving hundreds of millions of lives through systemic change. They provide catalytic capital, world-class expertise, and access to a community of mentors, advisors, and funders, all focused on deep systems-change support. Their ventures deliver impact across education, climate, healthcare, and other global challenges. 100x Impact operates with the mission to scale social innovations that can achieve systemic change, recognizing that while the world has many social innovations, very few scale effectively. They are powered by LSE (London School of Economics) and leverage evidence-based research, expert guidance, and global convening reach. Their approach combines funding with LSE's academic rigor and venture insights shared across the ecosystem to drive impact at scale. The organization has established itself as a significant player in the impact investing ecosystem by backing 35 ventures that have collectively impacted 144 million lives across 45 countries. They have demonstrated their effectiveness by helping ventures secure substantially more capital after completing their program, with participants raising 15 times more funding. Their focus on creating 'impact unicorns' and sharing proven insights globally positions them as a catalyst for scaling impactful solutions worldwide.

ABC Impact is a Singapore-based private equity impact fund focused on scaling companies that deliver measurable social and environmental outcomes across Asia. Backed by Temasek Holdings, the firm invests in growth-stage businesses across sectors like financial inclusion, healthcare, education, and climate, with a disciplined approach to both impact measurement and financial returns.

Accelerating Asia Ventures is the leading early-stage venture capital accelerator in Southeast Asia and South Asia, focusing specifically on pre-Series A startups. They operate as both an accelerator and VC fund, targeting high-potential founders with real traction and grit who may not have traditional backgrounds but demonstrate strong business fundamentals. Their mission centers on investing in the region's best pre-Series A startups by providing capital, credibility, and hands-on partnership to help founders reach the next level. Licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore, they fill a crucial gap in the funding ecosystem by focusing on startups that are 6-18 months away from institutional funding - companies with robust products at early stages of customer traction that are often overlooked by other investors. Accelerating Asia serves as a catalyst for positive change by backing undiscovered entrepreneurs and providing investor partners with systematic access to innovation in Asia's most dynamic markets. They focus not just on financial returns but on profitability, growth, and impact, operating with the guiding belief that entrepreneurs are one of humanity's greatest catalysts for positive change.

Access Ventures is an impact investing organization that uses catalytic capital and blended finance to expand economic opportunity and build stronger, more equitable communities. Its work is grounded in the belief that lasting transformation begins with people, not capital alone. Through a one-pocket mindset, Access Ventures seeks to align investments, grants, partnerships, and other resources with its mission. The organization accepts risks that conventional investors may avoid, supports emerging ideas and leaders, and develops financial structures designed to improve access and economic agency. Over the past decade, Access Ventures has invested in companies, funds, community initiatives, and leadership programs addressing challenges such as financial inclusion, accessibility, healthcare, small-business financing, and sustainable development. By combining capital with collaboration and long-term support, Access Ventures aims to demonstrate that financial discipline and measurable social impact can work together to create a more resilient and inclusive economy.

Accial Capital is an impact investment firm focused on expanding access to credit for underserved populations across Latin America and other emerging markets. The firm partners with fintech lenders and financial institutions to scale responsible lending solutions that improve financial inclusion while delivering risk-adjusted returns. Through a data-driven approach, Accial Capital provides capital and strategic support to platforms that serve micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises and consumers who are often excluded from traditional banking systems.

Accion is a global nonprofit dedicated to building a fair and inclusive economy by expanding access to responsible financial services. Founded in 1961, Accion works at the intersection of fintech, investment, and advisory to scale solutions that improve financial health for underserved populations. Through its investment strategies, advisory services, and research initiatives, Accion supports companies and financial institutions reaching millions of people across emerging markets. Its work spans digital banking, credit, payments, and climate-focused financial tools, helping individuals and small businesses gain access to the financial systems they need to grow and thrive.

Acumen is a venture philanthropy organization that invests in visionary entrepreneurs building transformational companies from seed to scale. They focus on funding bold entrepreneurs who are creating inclusive solutions across sectors like sustainable agriculture, quality education, renewable energy, healthy communities, dignified jobs, and gender equality. Their mission is to break the cycle of poverty through patient capital investments in high-innovation, high-impact enterprises. They operate by deploying philanthropic capital to shape markets and support entrepreneurs who are addressing the world's toughest poverty-related challenges, investing where traditional funders won't. Acumen Ventures has established itself as a significant force in the impact investing ecosystem since 2001, with an A to Z directory of portfolio companies spanning over two decades. They matter because they've reinvented the rules of return, prioritizing impact alongside financial sustainability and helping to demonstrate that venture philanthropy can drive meaningful systemic change in underserved communities globally.

The Adaptation Fund Climate Innovation Accelerator (AFCIA) is a programme of the Adaptation Fund, implemented by the World Food Programme (WFP) Innovation Accelerator in Munich. It identifies, supports and scales locally rooted climate-adaptation solutions that protect food systems and livelihoods in communities hit by droughts, floods, storms and rising temperatures. AFCIA runs four regional cohorts from 2024 to 2029. Each year focuses on a different region. The first cohort (2024) supported ventures implementing in Egypt, Jordan and Lebanon. The Asia-Pacific sprint (2026) includes ventures in Nepal, Pakistan and the Philippines. The third cohort targets Latin America and the Caribbean, with a live call for solutions tailored to climate-adaptation challenges in the Dominican Republic, El Salvador and Peru. The programme contributes to SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) and SDG 13 (Climate Action). It seeks both low- and high-tech innovations from established legal entities (for-profit, nonprofit, social business, NGO or INGO) that already have a presence in the country of implementation and are at least seed stage. Selected teams join a bootcamp, then can enter a nine-month Sprint with WFP support and equity-free funding. Applications for the LAC cohort close 13 September 2026, 23:59 UTC; only English submissions are accepted.