ASEAN Sparks: Ignite Wraps Up First Phase, Showcasing 40 Startups Advancing Renewable Energy & Climate Tech in Southeast Asia
The ASEAN Sparks: Ignite programme has successfully concluded its inaugural phase, held from 11 to 13 June 2025. Supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and implemented by the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and strategic partnership with Innovation Factory and BLOCK71 Indonesia, the programme aims to accelerate early-stage clean energy startups contributing to ASEAN’s energy transition and climate action goals.
Over the three-day online boot camp, 40 promising startups from eight ASEAN Member States — Indonesia, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia, and Myanmar — participated in intensive workshops, mentoring sessions, and expert consultations designed to refine their business models and energy solutions. Notably, the cohort featured a strong gender balance, with 54% of the startups having female co-founding teams and 46% male, reflecting the region’s growing diversity and inclusivity in energy innovation leadership.
The programme opened with welcoming remarks from the Energy Commission of Malaysia, Norazrin Rupadi and First Secretary of the Japan Mission to ASEAN, SAITO Mizuki, the Chair and Co-Chair of the Project Steering Committee.
