On Wednesday, Malaysia officially launched the Startup ASEAN platform, a digital hub aimed at helping startups across Southeast Asia connect, grow, and succeed.
The platform was created by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI) and is being run by Cradle Fund Sdn Bhd (Cradle). This launch is part of Malaysia’s goal to boost innovation and economic growth in the region during its 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship, MOSTI said in a statement.
Unlike the earlier test phase, this full launch means the platform is now fully up and running with all key features in place.
Startup ASEAN is designed to be a one-stop hub where startups can find business opportunities, connect with investors, get funding, develop talent, and access useful information about the startup ecosystem in the region.
“Malaysia is honored to chair ASEAN in 2025 and take the lead in building a truly integrated and empowered regional startup ecosystem,
“The Startup ASEAN platform is more than a digital gateway; it is a strategic enabler designed through collaboration with all ASEAN Member States to address fragmented access to market, funding, talent and data,” said Chang Lih Kang, Minister of MOSTI.
He said this launch is the first major achievement under the ASEAN Startup Technology Ignite 2025 initiative.
“I would like to commend Cradle for its focal role in driving this initiative with all other ASEAN Member States,
“Through this platform, we are not only unlocking new opportunities for collaboration across the region but also creating greater access for Malaysian startups to expand, scale and thrive in ASEAN and beyond,” he added.
Meanwhile, Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN, said today they witnessed the official launch of Startup ASEAN, a transformative initiative designed to serve as the centralized hub for all startups across the region.
“By seamlessly connecting entrepreneurs, investors, government institutions, and ecosystem builders across our Member States, this platform embodies ASEAN’s unwavering commitment to deepening regional integration while unlocking unprecedented opportunities through technology and innovation,” he added.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, CEO of Cradle, said that Cradle is proud to lead this project and help ASEAN grow through innovation.
“The platform is beyond technology itself. It is about creating opportunities within the startup ecosystem, strengthening partnerships and unlocking the potential of our ASEAN startups,
“In addition to the regional database, the platform will host regional programs aimed at strengthening cross-border collaboration among all ASEAN Member States and dialogue partners such as South Korea and China,” he added.
The ASEAN Startup Initiative, approved in 2023, chose Cradle, under MOSTI’s direction, to lead its rollout.
The goal of the initiative is to create startup-friendly policies, improve the startup ecosystem, and run regional programs and partnerships that make a real impact.
As the ASEAN Chair in 2025, Malaysia’s leadership in the ASEAN Technology Startup Ignite program shows a clear strategy to make the country a regional center for innovation.
The launch event was held in a hybrid format and included a special Startup ASEAN video tour, which showcased startup success stories and the cultural diversity of all ASEAN countries.
At the same time, Cradle hosted a session called ASEAN Cross Connect, where 10 experienced global mentors from across ASEAN were matched with startups from the region to help them grow.
Cradle said it will keep working closely with all ASEAN member countries to make the platform even better—by improving access to markets, investment opportunities, and sharing knowledge.
Read more- Cyber Unicorn Cyera Acquires Otterize to Tackle Cloud Identity Sprawl
