ROOT
Good Return launches $10 million fund to support women entrepreneurs across Asia-Pacific
ROOT
Good Return launches $10 million fund to support women entrepreneurs across Asia-Pacific
Social purpose organisation Good Return has launched a second Impact Investment Fund targeting a $10 million capital raise to support women-led businesses in developing Asia-Pacific economies.
Good Return launches $10 million fund to support women entrepreneurs across Asia-Pacific
Social purpose organisation Good Return has launched a second Impact Investment Fund targeting a $10 million capital raise to support women-led businesses in developing Asia-Pacific economies.

The new evergreen fund is open to Australian wholesale impact investors contributing a minimum of $20,000. Funds raised will be used to guarantee and de-risk loans provided by local financial institutions to female entrepreneurs in countries including Fiji, Cambodia, Nepal, Indonesia and Papua New Guinea.
The launch follows Good Return’s first fund, which closed at $1 million in 2020 and facilitated $5.05 million in loans to more than 600 entrepreneurs—90 per cent of whom were women—across Cambodia and Indonesia. The fund also met its financial performance targets, returning results comparable to Australian bank deposit rates.
Peter McMullin AM, humanitarian and chair of the Good Business Foundation, was an investor in the inaugural fund and said investing in women entrepreneurs created far-reaching benefits.
“Entrepreneurs and SMEs don’t lack talent, only opportunity,” Mr McMullin said.

“When given the right support and environment, the women entrepreneurs I have met in our region have shown how they can grow businesses that are environmentally sustainable, economically resilient and create meaningful employment for their families and local people.”
One example cited by Good Return was Voucheang Loa, a small-scale Cambodian farmer who received an $8,000 loan to build greenhouses and scale up herb cultivation. Her loan was guaranteed by Wing Bank, a local partner of Good Return, which used fund capital to back $77,145 in loans to 13 entrepreneurs who lacked collateral.
Good Return’s Head of Asia and Impact Investments Diana Tjoeng said the new fund aims to address gender bias in the finance sector and improve access to capital for small businesses.
“Small businesses in the Asia Pacific form the backbone of developing economies and single mothers and other individual women entrepreneurs play a vital role,” Ms Tjoeng said.
“By empowering women... to access loans and use capital to grow their businesses, we can make a difference to economies more broadly.”
The fund will be supported by grant funding to train financial institution staff on gender-inclusive practices. Nearly 3,000 staff were trained through the first fund, and further efforts will focus on climate resilience through investment in infrastructure and sustainable inputs.
The initiative aligns with the Australian Government’s approach to development financing. Speaking at the launch of the Indo-Pacific NGO Blended Finance Accelerator, Foreign Minister Penny Wong said such programs were helping deliver broader change.
“By investing in the ability of organisations to scale and sustain blended finance projects, we are helping to drive long-term change in areas like gender equality and climate resilience across the Indo-Pacific – and shape a peaceful, stable and prosperous region,” Senator Wong said.
Good Return is encouraging eligible investors to participate in the new fund to support financial inclusion and long-term economic development across the region.

Invest
Australian investors flock to US stocks and crypto after Trump victory
Trading volumes in US equities surged 20 per cent on Australia's second-largest share trading platform following Donald Trump's election victory last month, as local investors sought to capitalise on ...Read more

Invest
Investment firm raises $9bn for global special situations fund
Bain Capital secured $9 billion for its latest Global Special Situations Fund, positioning the firm as one of the world's largest special situations investors. Read more

Invest
Morrison Securities unveils plug-and-play global trading access to 15 countries
Equities clearing firm Morrison Securities has partnered with trading technology provider ViewTrade to introduce one of Australia's first plug-and-play global trading solutions, enabling streamlined ...Read more

Invest
Institutional investors react positively to policy stimulus in September
State Street Global Markets has reported a rebound in institutional investor risk appetite in September, driven by supportive policy announcements from central banks. Read more

Invest
AMP partners with Striver for Brimstone event to attract new financial advisers
AMP has announced a partnership with advice community and careers technology platform Striver for the annual Brimstone event series, scheduled to take place in Sydney next week. Read more

Invest
North expands managed portfolio options with new customisation features
North, a leading Australian wrap investment platform, has announced an expansion of its customisation options for managed portfolios, aiming to provide advisers with greater flexibility for their ...Read more

Invest
State Street partners with Taurus to expand digital asset capabilities
State Street Corporation has announced a strategic agreement with digital asset infrastructure provider Taurus SA to enhance its digital asset offerings for institutional clients. Read more

Invest
State Street to provide custody and administration services for Brighter Super's $30 billion in funds
State Street Corporation has been chosen as custodian and administrator for more than $30 billion in funds invested for members of Queensland-based superannuation fund Brighter Super. Read more

Invest
Australian investors flock to US stocks and crypto after Trump victory
Trading volumes in US equities surged 20 per cent on Australia's second-largest share trading platform following Donald Trump's election victory last month, as local investors sought to capitalise on ...Read more

Invest
Investment firm raises $9bn for global special situations fund
Bain Capital secured $9 billion for its latest Global Special Situations Fund, positioning the firm as one of the world's largest special situations investors. Read more

Invest
Morrison Securities unveils plug-and-play global trading access to 15 countries
Equities clearing firm Morrison Securities has partnered with trading technology provider ViewTrade to introduce one of Australia's first plug-and-play global trading solutions, enabling streamlined ...Read more

Invest
Institutional investors react positively to policy stimulus in September
State Street Global Markets has reported a rebound in institutional investor risk appetite in September, driven by supportive policy announcements from central banks. Read more

Invest
AMP partners with Striver for Brimstone event to attract new financial advisers
AMP has announced a partnership with advice community and careers technology platform Striver for the annual Brimstone event series, scheduled to take place in Sydney next week. Read more

Invest
North expands managed portfolio options with new customisation features
North, a leading Australian wrap investment platform, has announced an expansion of its customisation options for managed portfolios, aiming to provide advisers with greater flexibility for their ...Read more

Invest
State Street partners with Taurus to expand digital asset capabilities
State Street Corporation has announced a strategic agreement with digital asset infrastructure provider Taurus SA to enhance its digital asset offerings for institutional clients. Read more

Invest
State Street to provide custody and administration services for Brighter Super's $30 billion in funds
State Street Corporation has been chosen as custodian and administrator for more than $30 billion in funds invested for members of Queensland-based superannuation fund Brighter Super. Read more