Southeast Asia
Market
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) encompasses Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam — countries with a multitude of ethnicities and languages but tied together by culture, business networks, trade relationships, and shared resources. Southeast Asia is the world’s fifth-largest economy and has enjoyed remarkable economic progress in recent years. Much of its growth is due to an expanding labor force and increasing urbanization, making this highly diverse region a key focus for many companies across industries.
Facts & Figures
About Southeast Asia
$3.11 Trillion
Southeast Asia’s
GDP in 2020
Network of growing megacitites with
75 Million people in the 10 largest citites
One of the world’s fastest-growing internet
markets with 70.8% internet penetration
14
Home to 14 unicorns, including
Lazada and Zalora, who have German roots!
Source: Statista (2021), The Straits Times (2021)
Southeast Asia Snapshot Report
Opportunities
for German Startups
Southeast Asia is a rapidly developing region with a growing talent pool, open business culture, and progressive regulatory systems that make it attractive for business expansion.
Key Industries Include
Enterprise Tech
IoT
FinTech
LogTech
HealthTech
Smart City
Industry 4.0
Main Startup Hubs
in Southeast Asia
Singapore
Ranked as the 2nd most innovative country by Bloomberg, Singapore is renowned for its advanced digital and innovation hubs. The city-state houses 80 of the world’s top 100 tech companies, making it highly attractive for top tech talent.
Thailand
Southeast Asia’s second-largest city, Bangkok, houses Thailand’s largest financial institutions and key seaports, making it a hub for FinTech, FoodTech, and manufacturing innovation. E-commerce is also a significant sector due to the country’s high internet penetration rate.
Malaysia
Ranked as the 11th emerging startup ecosystem in the world, Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur is the birthplace of several big-name startups such as Carsome. It is one of the pioneering trailblazers for Southeast Asia’s digital economy and an ideal location for startup incubation.
Indonesia
Indonesia is Southeast Asia’s biggest economy and is home to several unicorns including GO-JEK, Traveloka, and Tokopedia that are disrupting local, regional, and global economies across sectors. The city’s conducive environment allows owners to run a trial of their products before expanding business across the region.
Philippines
With an average of 10h 56min spent online daily, no other nation is more digitally engaged. The country’s well-established outsourcing industry gives startup founders an experienced talent pool to draw from. Most of the country’s startups are based in Manila, with FinTech, enterprise tech, and InfoTech startups making up a significant share.
Vietnam
Vietnam’s emergence as a startup hub received a boost when foreign and domestic investors signaled their intent to invest $815 million in startups, reflecting a belief that it could rival Indonesia as Southeast Asia’s growth market for tech investments. As part of efforts to become an innovation center, Ho Chi Minh City recently approved a proposal to fund 1,000 startup projects by 2025.
What Others Say
Programs We Offer in Southeast Asia
Market Access Program
The Market Access program helps startups to enter Asia with the support of our expert mentors and local team. Startups get access to and enter the identified target markets in Asia, and the program length will be individualized according to their company’s needs.
Singapore Market Discovery AI Program
Local Partners
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