Southeast Asia’s (SEA) dynamic entrepreneurial scene, fuelled by a booming tech startup ecosystem, is on the cusp of an exciting new phase, with investor interest at an all-time high. Projections from Statistics Research suggest that VC funding for the region will reach US$13.7 billion in 2025, while Citigroup forecasts a 10% increase in Asian tech funding this year. These trends signal a ripe opportunity for SEA-based startups, providing them with access to capital, talent, and global exposure to scale their solutions across various sectors.
This growing momentum will be on full display at GITEX ASIA x Ai Everything Singapore, Asia’s largest inaugural tech, startup, and digital investment event. Set to take place from 23 to 25 April 2025 at Marina Bay Sands, the event promises to amplify the region’s position as a global innovation and investment hub.
A key platform for collaboration and investment
The event is organised by Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and KAOUN International in affiliation with GITEX GLOBAL, the world’s largest tech show. Under the theme “Advancing Bold Partnerships in Asia,” it invites regional and international stakeholders to explore collaborative opportunities, discover cutting-edge breakthroughs, and unlock new markets and capital. At the heart of the event is North Star Asia, a dedicated space for showcasing innovation and facilitating connections.
North Star Asia brings together over 350 early-stage tech companies from 60-plus countries, including Series A+ startups from a wide range of sectors. In parallel, more than 250 global investors, collectively managing over US$200 billion in assets, will engage in a series of pre-arranged meetings designed to foster investment, partnerships, and growth opportunities.
The event also boasts a series of expert panels, where thought leaders will share their insights on the hottest trends in the global startup and investor ecosystems. Topics such as mergers and acquisitions (M&As), initial public offerings (IPOs), and the road to unicorn status will be covered. Yuki Shirato, Managing Director at Techstars Tokyo Accelerator, highlighted the strategic importance of Singapore, noting that it serves as a neutral ground for Western and Eastern companies to collaborate. “Southeast Asia is growing with increasing competition and a young population – and there is so much potential for startups to reach unicorn and decacorn status,” said Shirato.
AI driving the region’s growth
As artificial intelligence (AI) continues to reshape industries, its impact on Southeast Asia’s economic development is undeniable. A report from Kearney estimates that AI could contribute US$1 trillion to SEA’s GDP by 2030. Investors are taking note, with major funds such as the Vietnamese GenAI Fund and global players like 500 Global and Vertex Holdings making significant bets on the region’s AI acceleration.
Chua Kee Lock, CEO of Vertex Holdings, emphasised the region’s strength in applying AI to address local challenges across sectors such as fintech, healthcare, agriculture, and logistics. “SEA excels in applying AI technologies to solve regional challenges,” he said. “By bringing together startups and investors from across the region and beyond, GITEX ASIA facilitates the exchange of ideas across diverse regulatory environments, unlocking new possibilities for all.”
North Star Asia: The largest international startup showcase in Asia
North Star Asia will be the largest international startup and scaleup showcase in Asia, featuring a diverse range of exhibitors from over 50 countries. The event will also feature exclusive country spotlights, highlighting high-impact startups driving digital transformation and attracting investments.
Among the most anticipated exhibitors are Enfarm, a multi-award-winning Vietnamese agritech startup revolutionising sustainable farming with AI-powered tools, and ADT Global VN, a leader in AI-driven interactivity and virtual branding in Vietnam. Also making waves is XPANCEO, a UAE-based deep tech specialist developing the next generation of computing through wireless smart contact lenses with augmented reality capabilities. Roman Axelrod, XPANCEO’s founder, shared his excitement about the event, saying, “We’re particularly curious about this inaugural edition in Singapore, as we’ve seen how powerful the GITEX platform is at bringing together industry pioneers.”
Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem soars
Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem has reached new heights, with a combined market valuation of US$454 billion in H1 2024, the highest figure ever recorded. At GITEX ASIA, the region’s most promising startups will showcase their disruptive innovations across over 20 industry sectors, including biotech, cybersecurity, green tech, healthcare, and SaaS. The AI 100 – Powered by Nebius will feature 100 award-winning AI startups from 30 countries, while the Singapore 100, supported by SGTech and Ace.SG, will present the top 100 most promising local ventures.
North Star Asia will also host the Supernova Challenge, the world’s ultimate pitch competition, offering founders the chance to showcase their projects and compete for a share of a US$100,000 prize pool, alongside additional prizes from Nebius and JTC.
