Despite men's historical dominance in technology and entrepreneurship, the increasing influence of women in startups in Southeast Asia is reshaping the industry. This rise in female-led startups is a testament to their resilience as women in tech work to overcome significant challenges such as gender bias, underrepresentation in leadership roles, and limited access to funding and networking opportunities. Their achievements and ability to overcome these barriers are remarkable and are transforming the tech landscape in the region.
Companies benefit massively from the move toward gender balance. Research by BCG highlights that companies with females comprising more than 20% of the management team have 10% higher innovation revenues, underscoring the importance of gender diversity for innovation. The increasing presence of women in startups in the region enriches the tech ecosystem and drives broader economic growth.
Female founders and leaders are playing a pivotal role, offering fresh perspectives and fostering innovation, ultimately shaping the future of the region's technology landscape. The advantages of these changes in the boardroom underscore the importance of gender diversity in the tech industry, a fact that we should all be aware of and advocate for. Here are 4 startups with females at the helm that are on the rise:
MADCash
Established in 2020, fintech startup MADCash (Multiply Assist Donate Cash) empowers female entrepreneurs by providing them with the capital, business training, and financial education needed to grow their micro-businesses. Founded by Nuraizah Othman, fondly known as Aizah, MADCash offers interest-free micro-funding ranging from USD 200 to USD 1000.
The fintech startup provides financial resources and equips women with the business acumen to make their ventures sustainable. In October 2023, MADCash completed a pre-series A funding round, securing a USD 1.2 million investment led by Artem Ventures, with participation from MSW Ventures and ScaleUp Founders Fund. The funding is to enhance its online platform with AI technology, support operational and marketing expenses, and explore expansion opportunities across Southeast Asia.
OtterHalf
Cassandra Ong, formerly the Growth and Marketing Lead at Tripadvisor, Chope, and Foodpanda, launched OtterHalf, a remote-based global marketing consulting firm. It specialises in providing tailored consulting solutions to help growth-stage tech businesses achieve sustainable growth.
Founded in April 2023, it boasts a team with over a decade of combined experience in marketing and design within the tech industry. The team has successfully executed more than 100 digital marketing campaigns and partnerships for prominent tech companies, including Foodpanda, Chope, and Tripadvisor.
OtterHalf offers a wide range of services, from hourly consulting and project-based campaign launches to acting as a fractional marketing team. With a focus on creativity and exceptional execution, the firm aims to empower tech businesses to navigate marketing challenges and drive growth.
Heyva Health
This family health app provides preventive health programs focused on family planning, mental health, women's reproductive health, and overall family care. The Heyva Health platform also helps companies improve productivity, employee satisfaction, and retention rates while simultaneously reducing benefit costs through comprehensive health planning for employees.
It offers a virtual health platform with a wide range of services, including consultations with doctors, personalised health programs, health tracking, medications, online classes, and webinars. The platform addresses general nutrition and mental health, as well as specific women's health concerns such as fertility, UTIs, menopause, contraception, and HPV.
The company aims to create a more equitable and accessible healthcare system by enhancing healthcare for women and families.
Kindred Health
Another healthtech startup, Kindred Health, provides accessible and tailored healthcare services primarily serving women in the Philippines. Launched in 2021 as a virtual clinic during the pandemic, it has since expanded its operations offline.
The startup has partnered with over 70 doctors across 25 specialities, offering a wide range of services, from OBGYN consultations and immunisations to nutrition and fitness coaching and mental health services. With just one clinic, the startup currently serves more than 20,000 women. Kindred Health plans to launch 11 new clinics, beginning with one in Quezon City. Many of these clinics will be located in underserved areas to ensure people across the Philippines have access to high-quality healthcare.
In its latest milestone, the company raised USD 5.5 million in a pre-Series A funding round in July 2024. The funds will support the company's expansion plans to open multiple physical clinics.
Female-led startups are not only reshaping the tech industry in Southeast Asia but also challenging traditional gender norms and serving as powerful examples of leadership and success for future generations of women.
Their emphasis on collaboration, inclusivity, and social impact is helping to build more equitable workplace cultures. As women in tech continue to break through the glass ceiling and shake up startups in Southeast Asia, they inspire younger generations to pursue careers in the industry, breaking down more barriers and creating a more balanced, equitable and diverse tech ecosystem.
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