The Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), through its agency Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (Cradle), has officially launched the Cradle LIVE! Startup ASEAN Summit 2025, set to take place from 3–5 November 2025 in Kuala Lumpur.
Carrying the theme “Scaling Startups Beyond Borders”, the summit marks a historic milestone as the first ASEAN tech startup conference under Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025. Recognised as one of the nation’s Priority Economic Deliverables (PEDs), the event is expected to draw more than 3,000 participants including startups, investors, and policymakers from all 10 ASEAN Member States and beyond.
Highlighting Malaysia’s leadership role, YB Tuan Chang Lih Kang, Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said the summit builds upon the successful launch of the Startup ASEAN platform in June, a regional gateway designed to connect and empower startups.
“This summit represents a collective commitment to build an integrated ASEAN startup ecosystem — one that lowers barriers for founders to expand, fosters trust among regional investors, and positions our homegrown innovations to compete on the global stage,” said YB Chang.
Cradle’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, emphasised the people-first design of the event.
“What makes the Startup ASEAN Summit unique is the way it’s built around the founders, builders, and risk-takers who are shaping our region’s future. We are curating connections that would otherwise take months or years to build, opening doors for startups to scale beyond borders,” he said.
The summit has already attracted Alliance Bank as its Title Sponsor, reinforcing the private sector’s commitment to entrepreneurship.
Alliance Bank Group CEO, Kellee Kam, said the bank’s involvement reflects its long-standing partnership with Cradle in nurturing Malaysia’s startup landscape.
“Over the years, we have worked closely together to empower young entrepreneurs, with the BizSmart® Challenge serving as a prime example. We’re excited to build on that success through this summit,” Kellee noted.
Adding a global dimension, international ecosystem partners will also be featured. Croatia’s first unicorn, Infobip, will debut its globally renowned developer conference in Southeast Asia through Startup ASEAN x Infobip Shift. Meanwhile, the Korea-ASEAN AI Youth Festa, funded by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund and implemented by Korea’s National IT Industry Promotion Agency (NIPA), will promote AI-driven innovation and sustainable development across ASEAN and Korea.
Infobip’s Developer Experience Director, Ivan Brezak Brkan, said, “After successful editions in Croatia and Miami, Shift has become a global platform for developers and builders. Partnering with Cradle to bring it to Kuala Lumpur marks a new chapter for Southeast Asia’s tech community.”
Anchored on Cradle LIVE!, Cradle’s year-round startup engagement platform, the summit is structured around three signature experiences:
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Day 1 – IGNITE (Heritage Valley, Kuala Lumpur): Showcasing Malaysia’s homegrown champions and over 100 Cradle grant alumni.
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Day 2 – CONNECT (JioSpace, Petaling Jaya): Featuring regional startup pavilions, Startup ASEAN x Infobip Shift, and the Korea-ASEAN AI Youth Festa.
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Day 3 – ELEVATE (Zepp Kuala Lumpur): The grand finale with headline keynotes, high-level panels, showcases, and world-class performances.
Registration for the Cradle LIVE! Startup ASEAN Summit 2025 has been open since early September. Organisers are encouraging participants to secure their places early at www.cradle.com.my/cradlelive.