Two social enterprises with community-focused businesses in the Philippines are gaining wider regional exposure after being selected to participate in the ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum and MSME Summit 2026 through the ASEAN Social Enterprise Development Programme (ASEAN SEDP) Elevate.
Filipino-founded sustainable personal care company MAGWAI and Real Bean Coffee, which works to improve the livelihoods of coffee farmers, were chosen based on their progress under the ASEAN SEDP Elevate mentorship program and their potential to expand solutions rooted in local communities.
Their participation gives the enterprises an opportunity to showcase their products while engaging with potential investors, business partners and markets from across Southeast Asia.
The initiative comes as the Philippines serves as ASEAN Chair in 2026 and hosts regional discussions focused on strengthening the role of social enterprises and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in inclusive economic growth.
The ASEAN Foundation, in partnership with SAP, launched ASEAN SEDP Elevate this year as a continuation of the broader ASEAN Social Enterprise Development Programme. The latest program brings together 17 alumni from 10 ASEAN-member states and provides specialized support based on the participants’ business needs.
Participants undergo a needs assessment before entering one of five tracks: market access, investment readiness, social impact, artificial intelligence or a customized track.
The program combines one-on-one mentoring, business matchmaking with investors and strategic partners, and SAP-led masterclasses designed to help social entrepreneurs apply artificial intelligence and digital tools to practical business challenges.
The focus reflects a growing need for social enterprises to move beyond creating local impact and develop the capacity to reach larger markets while maintaining the communities and beneficiaries at the center of their business models.
“ASEAN SEDP is part of our commitment to fostering a more connected and inclusive ASEAN ecosystem where social enterprises can collaborate and access opportunities beyond their home markets,” said Dr. Piti Srisangnam, executive director of the ASEAN Foundation.
For SAP Southeast Asia President and Managing Director Liher Urbizu, the partnership is also intended to strengthen the digital capabilities of entrepreneurs seeking to address social and economic challenges.
The program builds on four years of ASEAN SEDP, which has supported 401 social entrepreneurs representing 100 social enterprises across 10 ASEAN member states.
According to the program, the participating enterprises have collectively reached more than 6.2 million people through their solutions. The program has also emphasized inclusion, with 83 percent of participating enterprises led by women. Seventeen participating enterprises employ persons with disabilities, including seven that are led by persons with disabilities.
More than 65 percent of alumni said the program helped strengthen their strategic leadership, while more than half reported increases in revenue and profit ranging from five percent to 194 percent.
MAGWAI’s selection for the latest regional activities illustrates how the program is intended to translate mentorship into concrete opportunities for expansion.
Czarina Carbonel, co-founder and CEO of MAGWAI, said the program helped the company sharpen its growth strategy while creating connections that could support its next stage of development.
The participation of MAGWAI and Real Bean Coffee also places community-based Philippine enterprises in front of a broader ASEAN audience at a time when regional markets are looking for business models that combine commercial activity with social and environmental impact.
As host of the 2026 ASEAN activities, the Philippines is positioning the forum as a venue for social enterprises, governments, investors and businesses to establish partnerships and explore opportunities across borders.
Faye Solina, officer-in-charge director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Bureau of SME Development, said the country’s hosting of the forum provides an opportunity to showcase community-driven enterprises from the region and connect them with potential markets, partnerships and investment.
The ASEAN SEDP Elevate initiative ultimately reflects a broader shift in how social enterprises are being supported in Southeast Asia: from programs focused primarily on capacity building toward initiatives that also seek to connect established entrepreneurs with technology, capital, investors and regional markets.
For the participating enterprises, the regional exposure could provide a pathway for locally developed solutions to reach communities beyond their home markets while maintaining their focus on inclusive and sustainable growth.