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SFi May 2026 Newsletter
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Hello Impact Community,
May has been a month of sharp thinking, intimate dialogue, and growing anticipation – and the energy heading into June is electric.
We were honoured to host a closed-door conversation with Dr. Ma Jun, China's foremost green finance expert, where a curated gathering of funders, family offices, and practitioners explored blended finance, catalytic capital, and project de-risking across Belt and Road regions – a timely and energising exchange ahead of what's to come in June.
Now, all eyes are on SFi Impact Week 2026. This year, we're back with new formats including the SFi Innovation Lab, fresh thematic conversations spanning climate, philanthropy, blended finance, and NextGen wealth, and a stellar speaker lineup that reflects the full depth and diversity of our community. From activations and roundtables to the flagship SFi Impact Summit on 3 June, the entire week is designed to move capital from intention to impact – and we couldn't be more excited to bring it to life with you.
Green Finance, the Belt and Road, and the Capital Gap
This month, SFi hosted a closed-door candid conversation with China's leading green finance expert, Dr. Ma Jun. The event was attended by a curated group of funders, family offices, philanthropic investors, and green finance practitioners, with Dr. Ma sharing details of his latest initiative: the Green Accelerator.
A key challenge in sustainable finance is the lack of bankable green projects in emerging markets. The Green Accelerator aims to address this gap by providing incubation, acceleration, and technical assistance for green technology projects across Belt and Road regions and emerging markets. What stood out most was the real-time convergence around blended finance, catalytic capital, and project de-risking – concepts that are increasingly central to climate action in Asia Pacific.
A sincere thank you to Dr. Ma Jun and Tracy Wong Harris for sharing their vision, and to everyone who joined us for such a thoughtful and engaging discussion.
SFi looks forward to continuing these impactful conversations at the intersection of climate, philanthropy, and impact investing, at our upcoming SFi Impact Summit.
Katy Yung on Asia’s "Now Generation" of Impact Investors
SFi’s CEO, Katy Yung, features on ImpactAlpha’s “Agents of Impact” podcast in a timely conversation released ahead of the SFi Impact Summit 2026. In the episode, she explores why Asia is emerging as a driving force in global impact investing, powered by a “now generation” of intergenerational leaders, patient family capital and values-driven operating businesses. Katy discusses how markets from Singapore and Japan to Hong Kong and South Korea are shaping their own impact paths, the growing collaboration across the region, and what Asian family offices are really looking for beyond financial returns.
The podcast sets the scene for Impact Week and our Summit in Hong Kong, where over 300 family offices, asset owners and investors will gather to deepen these conversations.
Read the full write-up and listen to the episode here.
SFi Impact Week & Summit: Capital in Action | Impact in Motion
From 1–5 June, SFi Impact Week 2026 will bring together impact investors, family offices, asset owners and ecosystem builders in Hong Kong to turn purpose into measurable progress across Asia Pacific and beyond. Throughout the week, our community will come together around themes such as climate resilience, ocean health, nature-based solutions, sustainable finance in practice and more.
At the heart of SFi Impact Week is the SFi Impact Summit on 3 June at the Hopewell Hotel – a one-day, invitation-only convening where 300+ leaders in private capital and impact will move beyond rhetoric into candid conversations, live showcases and concrete collaboration. Under the theme “Capital in Action | Impact in Motion”, the programme will explore how investors are structuring capital, navigating trade-offs, and mobilising resources at scale in today’s uncertain environment.
What to look forward to at the SFi Impact Summit on 3 June:
Deep-dive keynotes, reality checks and salons on topics like transition finance, the blue economy and values-driven stewardship, designed for honest discussion rather than stage-managed soundbites.
Live case studies and showcases of impact-driven strategies and solutions from across Asia Pacific, so you leave with concrete examples and relationships – not just big ideas.
The new Innovation Lab: an interactive Summit format where investors and innovators explore emerging solutions and investable opportunities together, with space for real-time feedback and collaboration.
Curated networking throughout the day – from coffee and small-group discussions to lunch and a closing reception – built to help you meet the right peers, partners and co-investors.
Discover the full Summit agenda at www.sfiimpactsummit.com
Stride, a Vietnam-based rooftop solar financing platform for households and small businesses, raised a USD 15 million Series B. The round co-led by Lightrock and TRIREC through Accelerate7 to expand nationwide and enter new markets.
CapitaLand Hope Foundation has launched the second edition of its Community Resilience Initiative, committing up to SGD 4 million to support 12 non-profits across China, India, Singapore and Vietnam with outcome-based funding, capacity building and partnerships to strengthen education, skills and mental well-being for children and youth.
South Korea’s Soyft Biome secured financing from MY Social Company’s Extramile Lycon Fund to expand the reach of its plant-based products, which are derived from fermented soybean waste.
Pentagreen Capital, backed by HSBC and Temasek, has secured USD 800 million for its Green Investments Partnership to finance hard‑to‑bank green and transition infrastructure projects across Southeast and South Asia.
Why Families and Charities are Aligning Giving and Investing
As global uncertainty rises, families and charities are increasingly aligning their philanthropy and investment strategies to achieve greater overall impact.
This “total impact” approach, as Barclays analysis explores, enables families to use all forms of capital more deliberately, scaling outcomes, managing risk and building a more intentional intergenerational legacy.
Data centers are heading to orbit, as new ventures explore building AI‑ready facilities in space to tap limitless solar power and cut earthbound energy and land constraints.
Global carbon pricing revenues have hit a record USD 107 billion, with nearly one‑third of global emissions now covered by a price on carbon – signalling a rapid maturing of this key climate policy tool.
Singapore has teamed up with the World Bank on a new initiative to help countries build high‑integrity carbon markets, aiming to unlock much larger flows of private capital into climate projects in emerging economies.
If you’re interested in more news on impact investing – ImpactAlpha is currently offering a 15% discount on the annual subscription exclusively for SFi members. Contact our team to learn more.
Click the links below to register or find out more about upcoming events
** denotes events where SFi are speakers
1 – 5 June: SFi impact Week 2026 (Hong Kong) – register here
15 June: Water Tech in Action: Imagine H2O Asia Showcase & Reception, (Singapore) – register here
31 July: GIIN Asia Impact Forum (Singapore)
For members, please add events@sustainablefinance.hk to your contacts and kindly confirm your attendance via the calendar invitation for all SFi-related events.
We welcome Family Office Principals, Private Investors managing endowments or foundations, and NextGen Investors to connect with us and explore the benefits of joining the Sustainable Finance Initiative community. Become part of a network of like-minded changemakers driving impact across Asia Pacific and beyond – and gain access to members-only opportunities designed to support your sustainable investment journey.
