Kuala Lumpur, 16 October 2025 — The ASEAN Sparks marked another milestone by wrapping up the Final Pitching Event at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre, Malaysia, showcasing the Top 20 Startups in the clean energy and climate technology sectors from ASEAN Member States.

Following the success of the first phase, Ignite, 30 startups advancing to the Catalyse phase completed a three-month intensive programme starting in August 2025. The ASEAN Sparks: Catalyse consists of workshops and mentoring sessions covering essential topics to accelerate their startup growth and establish sustainable businesses. The 30 participating startups completed the programme with strong commitment and high dedication.

By the end of the programme, 20 startups demonstrating promising progress were selected by the panel of judges through a pitching video assessment to join the Final Pitching event. Those startups that take the stage are:

At the 25th ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF-25) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, ASEAN Sparks: Catalyse took the stage with its Final Pitch, where clean energy and climate technology founders presented bold solutions to government stakeholders, regional leaders, and climate technology experts. Their passion and ingenuity highlighted the strength of ASEAN’s entrepreneurial spirit and its role in driving the region’s energy transition.

“Today celebrates a significant milestone in ASEAN’s efforts to advance clean energy innovation. The ASEAN Sparks Programme was created to accelerate the growth of clean energy and climate-tech startups, turning bright ideas into solutions that drive our transition toward a low-carbon and inclusive energy future. On behalf of the Project Steering Committee, I congratulate all finalists for reaching this stage. Your creativity and determination truly represent ASEAN’s spirit of innovation,” said Ir. Ts. Zulkiflee Umar, Director of Energy Efficiency & Conservation at the Energy Commission Malaysia, as the Chair of the Project Steering Committee.

Complementing the remarks, Dr. Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Head of Energy Modelling and Policy Planning (MPP) Department at ACE said,

"As we embark on the ASEAN Sparks Final Pitching Day, let us remember that what we are nurturing here extends far beyond individual startups. We are shaping an ecosystem of collaboration, resilience, and innovation that will power ASEAN’s sustainable future. To all the participating startups, congratulations on reaching this stage."

The pitching session was filled with impressive ideas and sharp delivery, with seven remarkable startups selected to advance to ASEAN Sparks: Elevate in Japan. This milestone marks not just recognition for the Top 7, but also a testament to the resilience, creativity, and potential of every founder who pitched — proving that ASEAN’s innovation ecosystem is ready to scale globally. The selected startups include:

Other than the Top 7 Finalists that will advance to the next phase, two startups were awarded from the audience voting and honorable mention; those two are Satuplatform and Agro Agape.

Since its first launch, ASEAN Sparks has attracted startups from across ASEAN Member States, providing them with an essential foundation to support their growth, navigate the Southeast Asian market, and contribute to the region's energy transition and climate commitments.

"ASEAN stands at a crossroads where rapid energy demand growth, climate vulnerabilities, and untapped renewable potential converge. Micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises are at the heart of addressing these challenges. Yet, many face the ‘innovation valley of death’ between research and commercialisation," said Noboru Zama, Industrial Development Expert at the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

In the Catalyse phase, the startups are equipped with the fundamentals through seven sessions of workshops that include:

• Business Strategy & Validation by Fajar Sastrowijoyo, Co-founder and CEO of Syntek Otomasi Indonesia.
• Market Expansion & Entry by Fathom Saulina, Director of SAKA Total Energy Management.
• Funding & Investment by Rebecca Chai, Venture Associate of Plug and Play Japan.
• Partnership & Governance by Architrandi Priambodo, Senior Energy Specialist of the Asian Development Bank.
• Sustainability & Impact by Dr. Renard Siew, Group Head of Corporate Sustainability of Yinson and President of the Malaysia Carbon Market Association (MCMA).
• Intellectual Property & Strategy by Dr. Ahmad Zulfikri Taning, Patent Engineer.
• Pitching & Communication by Mada Ayu Habsari, Chairwoman of Asosiasi Energi Surya Indonesia.

Naing Naing Linn, Head of Energy Efficiency and Conservation (EE&C) Department at the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), stated the organisation's commitment to provide support for startups to thrive in the ecosystem:

“Climate tech startups in ASEAN play a vital role in bridging innovation with implementation, and supporting their growth and empowerment will drive ASEAN’s transition to clean energy. Through ASEAN Sparks, we commit to equipping these startups with the necessary opportunities and resources to scale, connect, and create lasting impact for the region’s sustainable and clean energy future."

Through ASEAN Sparks, ACE, supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF)are working to bridge this gap by empowering clean energy and climate tech startups with the resources, networks, and support they need to scale solutions that will shape a sustainable and resilient future for the region.

About the Project Implementors

Japan-ASEAN Integrated Fund (JAIF) is a trust fund established by the Government of Japan to support ASEAN integration. JAIF holds a key role to bridge the gap in ASEAN and enhance its competitiveness. JAIF has supported projects in a variety of areas, including health, counter-terrorism, environment, outreach, disaster management, and economic integration. Learn more about JAIF on jaif.asean.org.

ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE) is an intergovernmental organisation within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) structure that represents the 10 ASEAN Member States' (AMS) interests in the energy sector. ACE serves as a think tank, catalyst, and knowledge hub for energy policy and development in the region. Learn more about ACE on aseanenergy.org.

United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) is a specialised agency of the United Nations dedicated to promoting and accelerating inclusive and sustainable industrial development in developing countries. Its mandate is to help countries achieve poverty reduction, inclusive globalisation, and environmental sustainability through industrial development. Learn more about UNIDO on unido.org.

Innovation Factory is a technology and innovation hub in Indonesia as a platform for innovation initiatives, where we enable key actors in the tech startup ecosystem to meet, collaborate and grow together. As Strategic Partners of the ASEAN Sparks, Innovation Factory and BLOCK71 are instrumental in delivering the full ASEAN Sparks experience: connecting stakeholders, enabling collaborations, and ensuring a seamless, impactful programme execution. Learn more about Innovation Factory & BLOCK71 Indonesia on innofactory.co and block71.co.

Media Contact

Amara Zahra Djamil, Junior Communication Officer, ASEAN Centre for Energy (amara.djamil@aseanenergy.org)

Melati Hendaryani, Community Manager, Innovation Factory & BLOCK71 Indonesia (mela@block71.co)