At the heart of DBSF’s efforts are two strategic focus areas: providing essential needs and fostering inclusion. The DBSF Grant identifies and supports enterprises aligned with these priorities – whether by addressing basic needs such as food, education and healthcare (including mental health), or by enabling financial and digital inclusion.
Since its inception, the DBSF Grant has supported over 160 enterprises with more than ₹143 crore (SGD 21.5 million) in funding, enabling them to scale their businesses and amplify their impact. Of these, 23 grantees in India have received a total of ₹15.77 crore (SGD 2.38 million).
The funding will support the enterprises in areas such as market expansion, product innovation, research and development, and infrastructure enhancement. Beyond funding, recipients will also gain access to a comprehensive ecosystem of support – including capacity-building programmes, mentorship, preferential access to banking solutions and DBS’ regional network – to build resilience and scale sustainably.
Claire Wong, Lead (Business for Impact), DBS Foundation, said, “Across Asia – and especially in India – we continue to witness a new wave of impact-driven businesses reimagining solutions to complex social and environmental challenges. Through the DBSF Grant, we are proud to support enterprises that are bridging critical gaps in essential needs such as healthcare and education, while also advancing digital and financial inclusion. Our aim is to accelerate the growth of these innovative changemakers who are committed to creating lasting impact.”
In India, the DBSF Grant has already empowered several enterprises to scale their impact. Organisations such as Phool, Haqdarshak and S4S Technologies have been previous recipients.
In 2024, four Indian businesses were among the 22 recipients of the DBSF Grant. These include Hasiru Dala Innovations, Atypical Advantage, Neurosynaptic Communications and Last Mile Care. Atypical Advantage is using the support to establish skills-training centres and develop inclusive learning materials for persons with disabilities. Meanwhile, Neurosynaptic Communications, which works to enhance healthcare access in rural areas, is leveraging the grant to set up two new medical consultation hubs.
The DBSF Grant is open to businesses registered and operating in any of DBS’ six core markets – Singapore, India, Hong Kong, China, Taiwan and Indonesia. Eligible applicants must demonstrate at least two years of proven impact, a focused plan for using the grant to scale both business and impact over the next two years, and a strong leadership team dedicated to long-term sustainability.
Applications submitted before 21:29 IST on 30 June 2025 will be considered for the 2025 cohort. For more details and to apply, visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation.
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About DBS
DBS is a leading financial services group in Asia with a presence in 19 markets. Headquartered and listed in Singapore, DBS is in the three key Asian axes of growth: Greater China, Southeast Asia, and South Asia. The bank's "AA-" and "Aa1" credit ratings are among the highest in the world. In 2025, CRISIL Ratings reaffirmed its ‘CRISIL AAA/Stable’ rating on the corporate credit facility of DBS Bank India Ltd (DBIL). The rating on the certificate of deposits programme was also reaffirmed at ‘CRISIL A1+’.
Recognised for its global leadership, DBS has been named “World’s Best Bank” by Global Finance, “World’s Best Bank” by Euromoney and “Global Bank of the Year” by The Banker. The bank is at the forefront of leveraging digital technology to shape the future of banking, having been named “World’s Best Digital Bank” by Euromoney and the world’s “Most Innovative in Digital Banking” by The Banker. In addition, DBS has been accorded the “Safest Bank in Asia“ award by Global Finance for 16 consecutive years from 2009 to 2024. In 2025, DBS Bank India was recognised as the Best Bank for Corporate Banking and Best Bank for Corporate Cash Management in India by CRISIL - Coalition Greenwich. Reinforcing its commitment to responsible banking and business practices, DBS was also named Best Bank for Sustainable Finance – India by Global Finance in 2024 and Best Bank for Diversity & Inclusion – India by Euromoney in 2024.
DBS Bank has been present in India for 30 years, opening its first office in Mumbai in 1994. DBS Bank India Limited is the first among the large foreign banks in India to start operating as a wholly owned, locally incorporated subsidiary of a leading global bank. As a trusted partner, DBS provides a range of banking services for large, medium, and small enterprises and individual consumers in India, focusing on a seamless customer experience that helps them ‘Live more, Bank less’. In November 2020, Lakshmi Vilas Bank was merged with DBS Bank India Limited. DBS Bank India is now present in ~350 locations in 19 Indian states.
With its extensive network of operations in Asia and emphasis on engaging and empowering its staff, DBS presents exciting career opportunities. For more information, please visit www.dbs.com.
About DBS Foundation
Established in 2014, DBS Foundation is committed to uplifting lives and livelihoods of those in need. It provides essential needs to the underprivileged, and fosters inclusion by equipping the underserved with financial and digital literacy skills. It also nurtures innovative social enterprises that create positive impact. It aims to bring hope to those with less today, so no one is left behind and we can all face the future with confidence.
In 2024, DBS committed up to SGD 1 billion dollars over the next decade to support vulnerable communities. It also pledged to contribute 1.5 million employee volunteer hours over the same period.
Together with an ecosystem of like-minded partners, DBS Foundation seeks to create impact that goes
beyond banking, beyond borders, and beyond generations.
For more information, please visit: www.dbs.com/dbsfoundation
Media Contacts:
DBS Bank India
Rohini Rego
rohinirego@dbs.com
99305 49207
Adfactors PR
Kashni Kadakia
kashni.kadakia@adfactorspr.com
9820562269
