Urban revitalization startup 10Ants Enterprise has raised US$500,000 in pre-seed funding from Wavemaker Impact to convert underused urban spaces across Southeast Asia into eco-friendly hubs for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The Bangkok-based firm aims to tackle the growing mismatch between idle real estate—such as upper floors of shophouses and unused warehouses—and the rising demand among SMEs for affordable, well-located commercial spaces.
Its model connects second-generation property owners with small businesses, offering rent rates up to 30% lower than comparable units in the same area.
The new funding will accelerate 10Ants’ transformation of dormant urban properties, with plans to integrate sustainability features such as IoT-enabled energy systems and low-energy ventilation. These retrofits are designed to reduce carbon emissions while improving operational efficiency for tenants.
10Ants also plans to build a proprietary property-technology platform that offers market analytics, sustainability advisory, and business expansion planning to tenants. The company said it is creating a “green, inclusive urban economy” by facilitating access to value-added services alongside physical space.
Wavemaker Impact said the initiative taps into an overlooked opportunity in the region, where over 30% of SME-owned buildings are underutilized. The investment marks its continued support for climate tech solutions that unlock commercial value while lowering emissions.
10Ants said it will use the capital to scale operations and develop its PropTech platform, with a long-term goal of revitalizing thousands of urban spaces across Southeast Asia.
Business News Asia
