Backed by the Australian government and developed by ARQ SME Business Development Company (ARQ SME BDC) in collaboration with the Investing in Women initiative, SheSecure aims to address critical financial and social challenges faced by women entrepreneurs.
The program offers financing of up to P30 million per enterprise, coupled with interest incentives tied to measurable improvements in gender equality practices. These funds can support business expansion, technology investment, or working capital needs, ARQ SME BDC said in a statement.
Financial and social challenges
It was developed by ARQ SME BDC, a pioneering SME-focused debt and mezzanine investor, in collaboration with the Australian-funded Investing in Women initiative.
Speaking at SheSecure’s launch in December 2024, Dr. Moya Collett, Deputy Head of Mission at the Australian Embassy, reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to gender equality.
“Australia is pleased to support local partnerships that develop innovative solutions such as SheSecure by ARQ because evidence shows that incorporating a gender lens into an investment strategy improves financial performance and impact outcomes for investors,” Collet said.
Abigail Tan, managing partner of ARQ SME BDC, highlighted the dual obstacles women entrepreneurs face—access to appropriate capital and gender-specific barriers.
Bridging the gaps
SheSecure, Tan said, bridges these gaps by offering tailored financing and strategic support, enabling women-led businesses to scale effectively.
The launch also brought together notable women entrepreneurs such as Maita Madlambayan (HausTalk), Ann Cuisia (Traxion), betina Valenzuela-Mader (EQUILIFE), and Monette Iturralde-Hamlin (TeamAsia) who shared insights on leveraging opportunities like SheSecure to propel their ventures.
PayMongo CEO Jojo Malolos, speaking as a Male CEO Ally, emphasized the strategic value of diversity.
“When we create a space for diversity, when we champion women and value their perspectives, amazing things happen. But let's not sugar coat it. Women and entrepreneurs face challenges that their male counterparts don't. So we need to be more than just cheering from the sidelines and actively breaking down the barriers that hold women back,” Malolos said.
Strategy, not charity
“It's not charity — it's strategy. And when women succeed, businesses flourish, and we've proven that communities thrive and economies grow stronger,” he stressed.
SheSecure adopts a "double bottom line" approach, driving financial profitability while fostering social responsibility. Even businesses that do not fully meet program criteria are connected to alternative funding sources, ensuring a broader impact.
"Our goal with SheSecure is to nurture progressive growth-oriented businesses that seek to further adopt and improve their gender-inclusive practices while being the ‘unfair advantage’ as the SME captures visible opportunities" Tan added. "By prioritizing both profit and social progress, we create a win-win for businesses, their customers, and society as a whole." —Ed: CSN
