ASEAN Digital CoE Virtual Workshop: Accelerating Startup Expansion

ASEAN’s digital economy is accelerating, powered by record startup growth, rising investment flows, and an expanding pool of innovators. But while opportunities are vast, startups continue to face barriers in scaling across borders, from regulatory fragmentation to limited regional networks. The ASEAN Digital Centre of Excellence (CoE) is envisioned as a regional enabler for startups, governments, and investors. Its mission is to: ● Accelerate regional startup expansion ● Harmonise regulatory access ● Build intelligent digital infrastructure We’re excited to kick off this initiative to listen to stakeholders, gather insights, and co-develop the ASEAN Digital CoE, ensuring it reflects real market needs and supports the growth of our region’s startup ecosystem. In partnership with Cradle Fund and our ASEAN partners, we are committed to building a collaborative, evidence-based platform that empowers inclusive growth. 🔗 Join the conversation and be part of shaping the ASEAN Digital CoE: https://lnkd.in/gEtRAJdu 👉 Follow ASEAN Digital CoE Page for updates. Cradle Fund Startup Asean The ASEAN Secretariat GUIDE #ASEANCoE #CradleFund #GUIDE #DigitalEconomyASEAN #DigitalEconomy #RegionalGrowth #Innovation #PolicyInnovation #RegulatoryAlignment

From our whitepaper — "European Horizons: Pathways for Singaporean Business Expansion" — published earlier this year, here is a closer look at Europe’s innovation and startup ecosystem. 🔎 Europe is more than a historic business hub, it is a powerhouse for innovation and entrepreneurship!  Did you know these facts about Europe? 🤓 - The region is a global leader in innovation: 7 of the top 10 countries in the 2024 World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Global Innovation Index are European! 💡 - Strong academic foundations: Europe leads in scientific publications, public R&D investment and impactful research 🔬  - Possesses a vibrant startup ecosystem: In 2023 alone, Europe raised €53 billion in venture capital, with nearly half (€23.7B) channelled into sustainable startups 💰  - Multiple business hubs: Europe is home to thriving hubs like Berlin, Paris, Stockholm and Amsterdam 💼  - Central and Eastern Europe Spotlight: Success stories like Revolut and Grammarly showcase the potential emerging from Central and Eastern Europe 🌟 From fintech to sustainability, Europe offers a solid springboard for startups, investors and businesses looking to expand! 🤝 Interested to find out more? Delve into our whitepaper, "European Horizons: Pathways for Singaporean Business Expansion", developed in partnership with the Singapore Manufacturing Federation, in the links below. 👇🏼 🔗 Download the full whitepaper here: https://lnkd.in/gF3-qeYU 🔗 Read The Straits Times article here: https://lnkd.in/gKBD5HMQ #InnovationinEU #Whitepaper #SingaporeanBusinessExpansion #RothmanandRoman #winnningwithpurpose Zsofia Balatoni | Robert Romai | Katalin Makkai | Tashan Kassey Kalleichelven | Diana Estella Peter | Olivia-Mae Tan | Kaylene Wong

From startups and business associations to investors and policymakers, the ASEAN Digital CoE unites voices across the ecosystem to drive growth and strengthen collaboration in the region. If you are part of the ecosystem, we want to hear from you! The ASEAN Digital CoE is being co-developed as a regional enabler for startups, governments, and investors. Through stakeholder engagement across ASEAN, it will gather ground-level insights and co-create evidence-based solutions that support the region’s innovation ecosystem. This initiative is led in partnership by GUIDE and Cradle Fund, with the support of ASEAN partners, to create a collaborative platform for inclusive growth. 🔗 Join the conversation and help shape ASEAN’s digital future: https://lnkd.in/gEtRAJdu Cradle Fund Startup Asean The ASEAN Secretariat GUIDE #ASEANCoE #CradleFund #GUIDE #DigitalEconomyASEAN #DigitalEconomy #RegionalGrowth #Innovation #PolicyInnovation #RegulatoryAlignment

Cyprus has been ranked among the top countries worldwide for innovation in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025, released by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). The island climbed two places compared with 2024, continuing its upward trajectory in recent years, and now sits 25th out of 139 economies, earning the status of Innovation Leader, which recognises countries performing above expectations based on their level of development. #Cyprus #Startups #Innovation #Research https://lnkd.in/d9avFQYG

25th August 2025 🚀 Strengthening Malaysia’s Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Established on 9 December 2020, the Malaysian Entrepreneur Ecosystem Data Centre (MEEDC) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to advancing the aspirations of the Malaysia Entrepreneurship Policy (DKN 2030)launched on 11 July 2019 by the 7th Prime Minister, YAB Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad. At the helm of MEEDC is its President,Yang Mulia Tengku Khairul Adena Almarhum Yang Mulia Tengku Abdullah Almarhum Yang Amat Mulia Tengku Zainal Kharib Shah Ibni Almarhum Sultan Allaeiddin Suleiman Shah Alhaj descendant of His Royal Highness Sultan Allaeiddin Suleiman Shah Alhaj, the 5th Sultan of Selangor. MEEDC serves as a centralized platform to support, connect, and strengthen Malaysia’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. By driving innovation, collaboration, and growth, it empowers startups, SMEs, and entrepreneurs to thrive in a rapidly evolving landscape. 🔑 Key Features 1️⃣ Centralized Data Hub – Funding opportunities, market trends & regulatory updates 2️⃣ Support for Startups & SMEs – Mentorship, tools & training for every stage of growth 3️⃣ Collaborative Ecosystem – Connecting entrepreneurs, investors, incubators & agencies 4️⃣ Technology Integration – AI & data analytics for smarter market insights 5️⃣ Policy & Regulatory Support – Guidance on compliance & business ease 🎯 Objectives Position entrepreneurship as a key driver of economic growth Foster innovation & digital adoption across industries Attract domestic & foreign investments Bridge gaps in financing, mentorship & market access 🌍 Strategic Impact Aligned with the Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint (MyDIGITAL), MEEDC plays a pivotal role in empowering local talent, enhancing resilience, and positioning Malaysia as a regional hub for entrepreneurship. By nurturing a tech-driven and collaborative ecosystem, MEEDC contributes directly to the nation’s vision of sustainable and inclusive growth. 🌐 Website : https://meedc.org/

Marta Miraldes, Entrepreneur and Managing Partner at SBI Consulting, continued the discussion in Panel 2, “𝗦𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲 | 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗘𝘂𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗗𝗡𝗔, 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲 & 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗰𝘁”. She highlighted Portugal’s growing role as an #innovation hub, recalling that “#Lisbon ranked 12th among the world’s 100 emerging startup ecosystems and was named the European Capital of Innovation in 2024.” Portugal also climbed to 16th place in the European Innovation Scoreboard, consolidating its position as a “moderate innovator” with rapid growth. In her intervention, she stressed the importance of standards like 𝗡𝗣𝟰𝟱𝟵𝟱 – 𝗤𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘂𝗽𝘀, which, in her words, “helps startups stand out in an increasingly competitive market by combining #quality and #innovation as differentiating advantages.” This pioneering approach boosts #credibility with #investors and strengthens business communication, giving startups better chances to scale. She also presented initiatives such as 𝗖𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗻𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲.𝗽𝘁, an accelerator program that supports startups developing technological solutions for sustainability in construction, mobility, and retail. Beyond Portugal, these startups gain access to ecosystems in Helsinki, San Sebastian, and Marseille – opening doors to broader international networks. Marta Miraldes concluded with a clear message: “We support the life of a unicorn from start to finish, helping founders start, scale, and become global.” A vision that reflects Portugal’s potential to generate innovation with true European and global #impact. ▶️ 𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗤-𝗗𝗮𝘆 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗳𝗲𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟱 𝗼𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲: https://lnkd.in/dRHsrQZe #quidgest #qdayconference2025 #event #EU #digitaltransformation #future #entrepreneurship

Ahead of the Disrupt Asia conference, Prajeeth Balasubramaniam (BOVCapital), Sachindra Samararatne (ICTA), and Heminda Jayaweera (TRACE Sri Lanka) assess the state of Sri Lanka’s startup ecosystem. Beyond investment hurdles and regulatory gaps, they emphasise the urgent need for mindset shifts, stronger mentorship, and more robust incubator support. Strengthening these pillars, they argue, is key to making Sri Lankan startups globally competitive. Disrupt Asia is a startup-focused conference that aims to position Sri Lanka as a regional innovation hub. Various entrepreneurs, investors, and stakeholders from across the world are invited to help drive responsible disruption and accelerate ecosystem growth. The conference will be held from 17-20th September, 2025. Watch the Full Discussion → https://lnkd.in/d3RiMMdy An Echelon brand partnership with Disrupt Asia #Echelon #DisruptAsia #DisruptAsia2025 #InnovationReturns #StartupSriLanka #InvestInAsia #SouthAsiaNext

We had a good chat with Echelon ahead of Disrupt Asia Startup and innovation ecosystem building is a collaborative role and there can't be any undue competition. We need to look at even regional collaboration. We, as country should focus on deeptech startups, although it needs deep pockets. We need to focus on the domains we already have certain competitive advantage . Undergraduate startups have a higher likelihood of failure but that doesn't mean undergrads shouldn't focus on startups. Entrepreneurial skill helps at all levels. Someone with a few years industry experience will have a higher chance of succeeding. Startup entrepreneurs should understand the value of money and they should have some skin in the game! Mentorship is the key to success. #startup #innovation Sachindra Samararatne Prajeeth Balasubramaniam

🌐 Building Stronger Startups in ASEAN A thriving digital startup ecosystem needs more than just good ideas—it needs the right support systems. Here are the 5 pillars driving ASEAN digital startups: 1️⃣ Talent 2️⃣ Education 3️⃣ Funding 4️⃣ Connectedness 5️⃣ Legal Environment Together, these create the foundation for innovation, growth, and cross-border collaboration across the region. 📖 Source: Tech for Good Institute 🔗https://lnkd.in/gz2p8AqR ✨ Supercharge your growth—STARTUPVILLAGE Asia gives you free tools and affordable courses to build smarter, scale stronger, and lead with confidence. 🔗 https://lnkd.in/g8AnT_Y8

🌍 Africa is rising on the global innovation map! According to WIPO’s Global Innovation Index 2025, 10 Sub-Saharan African economies improved their rankings. From Mauritius leading in venture capital to Nigeria topping unicorn growth — Africa’s innovation story is one of resilience and momentum. 👉 Full article here: Read on Medium #IPAfricaInsight #AfricaInnovation #WIPO #Entrepreneurship #IntellectualProperty