ASEAN Sparks: Catalyse Calls for Startups to Drive Impact across ASEAN

  

The second phase of ASEAN Sparks, Catalyse, officially started with the open call for clean energy and climate tech startups until 20 July 2025! Consisting of extensive workshops and mentoring sessions in August until October 2025, Catalyse aims to support startups in achieving exponential growth and opens a path for startups to pitch their innovation in the international stage of ASEAN Energy Business Forum 2025.

The ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), in partnership with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), supported by the Japan-ASEAN Integration Fund (JAIF) and the Ministry Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) of Japan, has officially opened applications for the next phase of its startup accelerator programme, ASEAN Sparks: Catalyse. The programme targets startups across Southeast Asia working on energy efficiency, renewable energy, clean energy, and other climate technology innovators in ASEAN.

Following the successful completion of the first phase, Ignite, which engaged 40 early-stage startups in foundational workshops and mentoring, ASEAN Sparks: Catalyse serves as the next critical step in the program journey.

"Many startups in ASEAN face limited access to the support they deserve, making it difficult for them to transition from early-stage development to commercial success," said Dr Zulfikar Yurnaidi, Acting Manager of Energy Efficiency and Conservation (CEE) Department, of the ASEAN Centre for Energy.

He added, "Catalyse is designed to address these gaps between the startups and the support from the whole energy ecosystem stakeholders. Another important goal of the programme is to strengthen the capacity of local stakeholders to foster a sustainable climate technology innovation ecosystem."

While Ignite focused on helping startups refine their business fundamentals and validate their energy solutions, Catalyse offers a deeper, more targeted accelerator experience for more mature startups. Over the course of three months, selected startups will benefit from:

1. Extensive workshop sessions covering key topics from business strategy and market expansion to IP strategy and social impact.

2. In-depth development with dedicated mentors, tailored to each startup's needs.

3. Pitch at the ASEAN Energy Business Forum (AEBF) 2025, where the 20 selected startups will present their solutions to a high-level audience of energy policymakers, investors, and industry leaders.

This second phase ensures that startups not only build on the insights gained during Ignite but also gain the strategic tools and exposure needed to scale regionally and beyond.

ASEAN Sparks: Catalyse is calling for startups in the pre-seed to pre-series A stage to join the movement and shape the future of ASEAN's energy ecosystem.

Visit go.aseanenergy.org/ApplySPARKS for more details and reserve your spot in the programme.

About Innovation Factory

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. 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. 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. 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.