Southeast Asia is entering a pivotal stage in its green economy transition. The region is rich in technology and solutions, but progress now depends on the ability to integrate, scale, and finance them across power, industry, mobility, nature, and cities. The transition is no longer a set of isolated opportunities. It is a systems challenge and a systems opportunity that will shape the region’s competitiveness and resilience.
This year’s Southeast Asia Green Economy Landscape builds on our inaugural study of six countries and maps 1,089 startups and SMEs across seven key sectors. From this, we identify 260 innovation opportunities that reveal where momentum is forming and where targeted interventions could unlock significant climate and economic gains.
A clear insight emerges: Sectors do not advance in parallel. They advance in relation to one another. When grids, data, permitting, and finance align, progress accelerates. Increasingly, AI and digital tools are enabling this shift by improving measurement, forecasting, optimisation, and implementation.
Across the region, startups and SMEs are becoming the integration layer of the transition. They bridge data gaps, digitise and optimise processes, solve last mile challenges, and help de-risk capital. They are the connective tissue of the green economy and an essential part of Southeast Asia’s capacity to scale solutions.
This Landscape offers a grounded view of where Southeast Asia stands today and the pathways that can drive its next wave of green innovation.
As a catalyst for sustainable growth, Padang and Co is committed to supporting this transition and helping build a regenerative, inclusive, and future-ready region. We are looking for collaborators for future editions and hosts of ecosystem events; recommendations for great startups, projects and partnerships to spotlight; and importantly to take things to the next level, for you to invest or partner with us to develop programmes.
We welcome your feedback and suggestions. Please send us an email.
Adam A. Lyle, Executive Chairman
Derrick Chiang, CEO
