The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Singapore-based Trigger Asset Management have announced a new partnership to bolster investment and support for startups and businesses aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The initiative, named Origin, seeks to leverage UNDP’s global expertise and Trigger’s investment acumen to create a robust ecosystem for mission-driven ventures.
Origin will focus on several key areas, including the design and launch of investment opportunities for SDG-aligned startups, supported by structured acceleration and incubation pathways. Additionally, a next-generation digital platform powered by AI and Web3 technologies will be developed to facilitate connections between startups and investors, enhancing collaboration and efficiency.
The partnership will also establish a comprehensive database of startups nurtured by UNDP’s accelerator programmes, enabling smart matchmaking between ventures, donors, and investors. Tailored capacity-building programmes, including training in SDG impact management and innovative financing, will be offered to enhance business development and project design skills.
Robert Pasicko, Team Leader for UNDP’s Alternative Finance Lab, highlighted the potential of SDG-aligned startups, stating, “This partnership with Trigger is about bridging that gap—making it easier for impact investors to find and fund ventures solving real-world problems whilst giving those ventures the tools and networks they need to thrive.”
Goh Seh Harn, CEO of Trigger Asset Management, emphasised the transformative potential of the collaboration, noting, “We are building an ecosystem where capital not only scales businesses but also fuels systemic change for people and the planet.”
By combining their strengths, UNDP and Trigger aim to support a new generation of investment-ready startups capable of delivering sustainable social and environmental impact on a global scale.
“`
