Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem is expanding rapidly, yet persistent cross-border frictions continue to slow growth. Despite ASEAN’s progress in digital and trade integration, startups still face structural barriers that limit their ability to scale beyond domestic markets.

This whitepaper is the result of a collaborative effort between ATLAS (Accelerating Transformation & Linkage for Advancing Startups) and ERIA (Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia) as our continued mission to unlock Southeast Asia’s innovation potential and bridge borders for startup growth.

This whitepaper demonstrates our dedication to strengthening Southeast Asia’s startup ecosystem and addressing the critical challenges of cross-border growth. It reflects our shared commitment to fostering innovation, building resilient partnerships, and advancing inclusive regional development.