A pioneering venture builder launching high-growth companies to tackle emission-intensive sectors across South-East Asia
Recognising the urgent need to scale climate solutions in South-East Asia, Wavemaker Impact was established as the region’s first climate tech venture builder. Backed by BII in 2023, it focuses on creating and growing early-stage companies with the potential to deliver both strong commercial outcomes and meaningful emissions reductions.
Its model centres on building ‘100×100’ businesses, each aiming to reach more than $100 million in annual revenue while abating over 100 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions. Rather than relying solely on backing existing start-ups, this venture-building approach supports the creation of high-impact climate companies from the ground up.
Since our investment, the platform has continued to build a portfolio of companies targeting some of the region’s most emissions-intensive sectors. One example is Rize, which is reducing emissions in rice production. Rice is the biggest contributor to agricultural emissions in Indonesia, and globally emits more greenhouse gases than aviation. Rize’s technology is helping to modernise this essential crop, helping to improve farmer livelihoods while reducing rice’s pressure on water and soil. The company is already working with over 18,000 farmers across Indonesia and Vietnam.
Now operating under the name 100×100 Ventures, the team behind Wavemaker Impact plans to scale more companies like Rize. Together, these businesses have the potential to contribute to a meaningful reduction in global emissions, while demonstrating that climate solutions can also be commercially viable.