22 startups from across the ASEAN region and the Republic of Korea have been selected as finalists for the Korea – ASEAN AI Development & Startup Competition 2025, also known as AI Youth Festa 2025.
The competition, one of the projects under the Korea – ASEAN Digital Innovation Flagship Project (KADIF), funded by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund through the Government of Korea, seeks to advance the growth of the regional AI startup ecosystem and contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Implemented by the National IT Industry Promotion Agency of Korea (NIPA) in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat and Cradle Fund Sdn. Bhd. (Cradle) under Malaysia’s Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), the initiative reaffirms the shared commitment of ASEAN and Korea to accelerate digital cooperation and inclusive technological advancement.
In line with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, the program exemplifies the country’s continued leadership in driving regional collaboration, entrepreneurship and innovation under the ASEAN Startup Initiative (ASI). It also supports Malaysia’s broader vision to strengthen ASEAN’s digital economy through partnerships that unite technology, sustainability and human capital development.
Following a rigorous two-stage evaluation process comprising document review and pitching assessment, two startups from each ASEAN Member State and the Republic of Korea were selected, representing a diverse range of emerging innovators across sectors such as education technology, digital health, fintech, and artificial intelligence for sustainability.
The selected teams embarked on an intensive eight-week acceleration program from September to October 2025, led by the Korean accelerator Y&ARCHER, featuring tailored mentoring, investor readiness training, and global market access support.
The program will culminate in the AI Youth Festa 2025 Demo Day and Winners Announcement, held in conjunction with the Startup ASEAN Summit from Nov 3 to 5, 2025 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Norman Matthieu Vanhaecke, Group Chief Executive Officer of Cradle, stated, “As Malaysia assumes the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, we are committed to driving regional innovation and entrepreneurship through technology leadership. Across ASEAN, more than 750 AI-driven startups are shaping emerging industries, with Malaysia contributing nearly 200 of these ventures, including rising players such as Aonic, UrbanMetry, and Mesolitica, who are leading advancements in industrial automation, geospatial intelligence, and language technology.
“With AI-related startup investments growing since 2019 and more than MYR4.2 billion committed by Microsoft and Google to strengthen Malaysia’s AI and data-centre infrastructure, the nation is emerging as a regional hub for ethical and sustainable technological growth.
Cradle’s role under MOSTI continues to focus on nurturing AI-led startups, strengthening cross- border collaboration, and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals through responsible and inclusive innovation,” he added.
“The AI Youth Festa serves as an important platform to deepen collaboration between Korea and ASEAN in advancing digital innovation. By connecting young entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds, we are cultivating an ecosystem of cooperation, knowledge exchange and shared growth that reflects our collective aspiration for a sustainable digital future,” said Sungwoo Shin, Project Lead of NIPA.
The Korea–ASEAN AI Development & Startup Competition 2025 forms part of the Plan of Action to Implement the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2026-2030) and aligns with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), reflecting a shared
vision of connectivity, inclusivity and innovation. Through this initiative, participating agencies reaffirm their commitment to fostering a digitally empowered ASEAN–Korea community built on partnership and sustainable development.
The AI Youth Festa 2025 Demo Day will be held on 4 November 2025 at AICB. Participation is open to startups, investors and regional ecosystem partners.