Funding Societies 57
Did you know pak choi is widely grown in Indonesia? The Indonesian company Beleaf developed an innovative way to grow this and other vegetables. With financing from Funding Societies, Beleaf enables farmers to improve their yields and increase their income.
The project
Beleaf is an innovative agricultural company that works with farmers in Indonesia to improve their harvests and earn a fair income. Founder Armit started his first farm in 2019 after noticing that agricultural yields in Indonesia were lower than in other Southeast Asian countries. He decided to take action.
The farm became a place for research, and the knowledge he gained was shared with other farmers. He provided them with seeds, fertilizers, and hands-on support and coaching. Beleaf also buys the farmers’ harvest at a pre-agreed price.
Where farmers previously had to rely on loans from intermediaries, often leading to debt that limited their growth, they now have the opportunity to improve their production and earn a better income. This allows them to strengthen their businesses and look to the future with more confidence.
In its early stages, Beleaf received financing through Funding Societies, a fintech platform that provides SMEs in Southeast Asia with access to funding. The platform connects businesses with individual and institutional investors, enabling them to raise capital more quickly for growth. Thanks to this financial support, Beleaf has grown from a single farm into a scale-up that creates better income opportunities for thousands of farmers.
Your investment helps entrepreneurs like Amir scale innovative solutions.
Your investment
- Annual interest rate: 6%
- With an investment of €1,000 the expected total repayment is €1,045
- Maturity: 12 months
- Currency: EUR
Funding Societies
Impact
SMEs comprise about 60% of Southeast Asia's GDP and provide most jobs, but they face a $320B financing gap. Funding Societies has stepped in to bridge this gap, financing over €815 million through more than 3 million business loans in the last five years. Their focus lies in short-term credit, typically under 12 months, tailored to meet the needs of SMEs.
The impact of their loans is significant. About 76% of SMEs use their loans for working capital. Many acknowledge that this financing was essential to keep their businesses open and maintain their workforce. Furthermore, Funding Societies fosters women's economic empowerment by supporting female entrepreneurs, who comprise 24% of their borrowers.
Investing in Funding Societies on Lendahand promotes financial inclusion and social mobility in Southeast Asia, more specifically in Indonesia and Vietnam. With Funding Societies, you can contribute to regional development and make a real difference in people's lives.
Related blog posts
- Read the introduction of Funding Societies as an investment opportunity here.
- Want to learn more about Funding Societies? Read our email interview with CEO Kelvin Teo here.
- Curious about the impact Funding Societies and Lendahand create together? Watch our interview with Funding Societies’ COO and impact manager, Vikas, here.
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