The project

This week was particularly busy for baker Atiqah, with a flood of orders for Eid al-Fitr. Her bakery, founded in 2015, specializes in making Semperit cookies. This is the Malaysian variant of shortbread and is very popular as a delicacy during Eid al-Fitr. Under her mother's leadership, the bakery previously focused only on these festive periods.

When Atiqah took over in 2020, she saw opportunities for growth and dared to look further. Determined to expand the bakery, she sought financial help from Funding Societies. Thanks to a loan she could easily apply for online, Atiqah invested in new ovens, ingredients, and packaging materials, allowing her to produce more throughout the year. With the growth, the range of cookies and products has expanded, and she has been able to hire four permanent and several part-time employees.

Your support to Funding Societies gives 22 local entrepreneurs in Malaysia the opportunity to improve their quality of life.

Take a look inside Atiqah's growing bakery:

What social return could your investment generate? 

In Malaysia, small and medium-sized enterprises are central to the economy, accounting for more than 65% of employment. Your investment in Funding Societies makes a difference for 22 entrepreneurs in Malaysia. Supporting these businesses is crucial for both economic growth and improving living standards.
 

What financial return could your investment generate? 

• An annual interest rate of 6%. 
• The maturity of the loan is 18 months. 
• Your investment will be repaid in equal instalments, along with interest, every six months.
• With an investment of 1,000 euros, your expected return would be 1,060 euros.
• Currency: EUR

The story of Funding Societies

Funding Societies plays an important role in making financial services available to small and medium-sized businesses that are often overlooked in Southeast Asia. This specific project is focused on financing in Malaysia, but Funding Societies is also active in Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, and Singapore.

The goal of Funding Societies is to bridge the $320 billion financing gap in Southeast Asia, thereby promoting economic growth and prosperity in the region. Funding Societies believes that stronger SMEs contribute to stronger societies. In line with this belief, Funding Societies has actively provided more than 3 million loans to small and medium-sized businesses over the past years, amounting to a total of more than 815 million euros.

Investing in Funding Societies means not only supporting a financial platform but also directly contributing to strengthening economic and social opportunities in Southeast Asia.

Funding Societies in numbers

• Founded in 2015 with headquarter in Singapore
• 600+ employees
• Financed > €3 billion in loans
• Disbursed > 80,000 SME loans
• Active in 5 markets across Southeast Asia: Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, and Singapore