Funding dips 42% for women-led startups in SEA

Fintech, consumer, and retail amongst top top-funded sectors with women-founded startups.

Southeast Asia is home to over 1,700 women-led startups with a cumulative funding of around $4b to date, according to Traxcn. Of these startups, over 600 have received funding.

Tech startups in Southeast Asia have raised $79.7b in total funding, with women-led startups accounting for $3.9b which reflects 4.89% of the overall tech funding pie.

However, funding for women-led tech startups fell 42% to $480.8M in 2023 from $831.9M in 2022 due to the funding winter and the global macroeconomic landscape.

At present, 657 women-led startups in Southeast Asia have advanced to A-series funding and 1.8% of them have gone on to the Series C stage or beyond.

In addition, Traxcn revealed that fintech, consumer, and retail are the top-funded sectors with women-founded startups in the Southeast Asia tech ecosystem.

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In terms of cities with the most number of women-led startups, Singapore ranks first with 936, followed by Jakarta (173), Kuala Lumpur (107), Bangkok (67), and Metro Manila (62).

Following the list are Ho Chi Minh (41), Petaling Jaya (30), Hanoi (21), Quezon City (14), and Chiang Mai with 12.

In terms of the total amount of funding raised, Singapore ranks first with $3b in funding across 380 rounds, followed by Jakarta with $935.9m from 106 rounds, and Cyberjaya with $86.3, across 10 rounds.

Some emerging startup landscapes include Kuala Lumpur with $49.8m in total funding raised, followed by Ho Chi Minh (40.7m), and Bangkok ($31.6m)

The top women-led startups in Southeast Asia include Advance Intelligence, PatSnap, ShopBack, Investree, and Sociolla.