SheSecure and Australian Gov Lend Financial Support for Women-Led SMEs in Philippines

• SheSecure bridges the funding gap with a funding up to P30 million addressing financial barriers for expanding women-led businesses
• The funding specifically supports businesses with assets between P35 million and P100 million
• The program provides affordable, flexible financing to women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses beyond micro-level

With support from the Australian Government, SheSecure bridges the funding gap with a private debt program in Philippines, addressing financial barriers for expanding women-led businesses. A funding of up to P30 million has been granted to support business expansion. The funding specifically supports businesses with assets between P35 million and P100 million, targeting a crucial stage where women often struggle to maintain control and scale effectively.

SheSecure offers tailored financing solutions for women entrepreneurs who often encounter barriers while procuring funding for business expansions. Addressing the financial gaps is essential for fostering greater economic inclusion. It ensures that women entrepreneurs have equal opportunities to scale their businesses successfully and reach higher revenue brackets.

Rather focusing on early-start-ups only, Arq directs its investments toward established businesses in their growth phase. It supports companies that have demonstrated financial stability, have consistent revenue generation, and the ability to manage loan payments effectively. It is targeted to address the struggle faced by women entrepreneurs to expand their businesses beyond micro-level.

While women own the majority of business with assets below P15 million, their representation drops significantly to only 16% once enterprises surpass P100 million in assets, as noted by Tan. Women entrepreneurs play a dominate role in the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSME) sector in the Philippines.

“We are providing smart capital to bridge that missing financing gap for SMEs here in the country,” Abigail Tan, co-founder and managing partner of Arq, said in a March 4 interview on ABS-CBN News Channel’s Market Edge. “In the Philippines, while there is a growing number of women investors in the country, the reality is it’s still dominated by men.”