Call for Proposals: One ASEAN Startup Award 2025

They are seeking exceptional startups working on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Zero Emission technologies while contributing to sustainable development in Thailand, Brunei Darussalam, and the Philippines.

Building on last year’s success, the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC) is going to host the One ASEAN Startup Award in 2025 to recognise, award, and promote the brightest innovators that are expected to grow rapidly and work on solving ASEAN-wide issues at the same time.

Through this initiative, E-DISC seeks to provide a platform to showcase innovative solutions from the ASEAN region and foster meaningful connections amongst startup ecosystem players. The goal is to drive positive impact, spur innovation, and improve the quality of life.

Objectives

• To discover and showcase ASEAN-based startups poised to become future role models
• To identify the opportunities and challenges faced by ASEAN startups

Award Categories

• AI
  • Open to startups leveraging artificial intelligence in creating transformative solutions across various industries to solve complex problems, enhance efficiency, and drive innovation.
• Zero Emission
  • Open to startups with solutions aimed at reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainability, including renewable energy solutions, energy efficiency, as well as carbon capture and utilisation.

Benefits

• Gain access to the E-DISC network to connect with key players in the ASEAN startup ecosystem, including national agencies from ASEAN member nations, venture capitalists (VCs), incubators, and large corporations.
• Receive an invitation to become an E-DISC research partner and contribute to report and white paper publication, including formulating policy recommendations.
• Pre-Event Prize: US$10,000 will be granted to the winner in each category as research funding, with a commitment to be an E-DISC research partner.
• Final-Event Prize: US$10,000 will be granted to the winner in each category as research funding, with a commitment to be an E-DISC research partner.

Target Countries

• Thailand, Philippines, Brunei Darussalam.

Eligibility Criteria

• Startups must currently have or plan to establish business operations in the target countries designated for each Pre-event. There are no restrictions on based on the location of their headquarters.
• Startups should be at the Pre-Seed to Series B stage, with well-developed ideas regarding their minimum viable product.
• Nominated startups must propose a research topic with a concrete action plan and show a willingness to work together with ERIA experts on research initiatives.

For more information, visit ERIA.