MANILA, Philippines – The ASEAN Foundation, in partnership with SAP, supported two social enterprises from the ASEAN Social Enterprise Development Programme (ASEAN SEDP) Elevate to participate in the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum and MSME Summit, taking place on 21 and 22 September 2026 in Manila, Philippines. MAGWAI, a Filipino-founded sustainable personal care enterprise, and Real Bean Coffee, a coffee enterprise that improves farmers’ livelihoods, were selected in recognition of their progress during the ASEAN SEDP Elevate mentorship, along with their potential to scale their community-rooted solutions for sustainable growth. Their participation will provide opportunities to showcase their products and connect with investors, partners, and regional markets.
The selection reflects the programme’s focus on helping social enterprises translate their local impact into opportunities for wider growth.
“ASEAN SEDP is part of our commitment to fostering a more connected and inclusive ASEAN ecosystem where social enterprises can collaborate and access opportunities beyond their home markets. Through ASEAN SEDP Elevate, we continue to create pathways for social enterprises to grow and expand their impact across the region,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, Executive Director of the ASEAN Foundation.
Launched this year as a continuation of the ASEAN SEDP, ASEAN SEDP Elevate connects 17 ASEAN SEDP alumni from 10 ASEAN Member States with experts to address specific business goals and prepare for sustainable growth. Following a needs assessment, participants accessed one of five tailored tracks: Market Access, Investment Readiness, Social Impact, AI, or Custom. Support included one-on-one mentorship, business matchmaking with investors and strategic partners, and SAP Masterclasses on applying AI to market access, investment readiness, and social impact measurement.
Moreover, through its partnership with the ASEAN Foundation, SAP is helping social entrepreneurs build the digital capabilities and confidence to apply technology to real business challenges and create lasting impact.
As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, SAP will lead the Masterclasses that anchor the programme, equipping alumni with practical AI capabilities and tools to address challenges in market access, investment readiness, and social impact measurement.
“At SAP, we believe meaningful digital transformation begins when people have the skills and confidence to apply technology to real-world challenges. That belief is at the heart of our partnership with the ASEAN Foundation through ASEAN SEDP Elevate. We are not simply providing access to AI tools, we are investing in the entrepreneurs and innovators who are driving positive change in their communities. By equipping social enterprises with practical digital and AI capabilities, we are helping build a more resilient, inclusive, and future-ready economy across Southeast Asia,” said Liher Urbizu, President and Managing Director, SAP Southeast Asia.
ASEAN SEDP Elevate builds on the four-year track record of ASEAN SEDP, which has supported 401 social entrepreneurs from 100 social enterprises across 10 ASEAN Member States, collectively reaching 6,241,157 people through their solutions. The programme has also advanced inclusion, with 83% of participating enterprises led by women, while 17 employ persons with disabilities (PWDs), including seven PWD-led enterprises. More than 65% of alumni credit the programme with sharpening their strategic leadership, while over half report revenue and profit gains ranging from 5% to 194%.
The programme’s positive impact is also reflected in MAGWAI’s journey, an ASEAN SEDP alumni selected to participate in ASEAN SEDP Elevate and the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum 2026.
“ASEAN SEDP Elevate has strengthened our strategy for growth through valuable mentorship and new connections. We hope to build on these lessons to expand our reach, deepen our impact, and create lasting value for the communities we serve,” said Czarina Carbonel, Co-Founder & CEO of MAGWAI.
As ASEAN Chair for 2026, the Philippines is hosting the Forum as an opportunity to strengthen connections between the region’s social enterprises, governments, businesses, and investors, while showcasing community-driven solutions from across ASEAN.
“As the ASEAN Chair for 2026, the Philippines is proud to once again welcome ASEAN’s social enterprise community. Social enterprises and MSMEs are the backbone of our economy, and they are the ones that grow our communities and uplift Filipino families. Hosting them from across the region at the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum gives our government, businesses, and investors a direct window into the innovative, community-driven solutions being developed throughout Southeast Asia. In line with President Marcos Jr.’s Bagong Pilipinas agenda, the DTI is committed to supporting platforms like ASEAN SEDP Elevate that open doors for our social entrepreneurs to access new markets, partnerships, and investment,” said Department of Trade and Industry – Bureau of SME Development (DTI-BSMED) OIC Director Faye L. Solina
