A new cross-border initiative to develop a structured Malaysia–Indonesia start-up support and market access platform was unveiled at the Creative Exchange Jakarta event on May 15.
Jointly led by Malaysia’s Satu Creative and Indonesia’s Gerakan 1000 Startup Digital, the initiative is positioned as a step towards promoting regional expansion and integration. Organisers say the platform will provide founders with the tools and connections needed to navigate diverse Asean markets while deepening cross-border start-up collaboration.
The initiative was launched at Creative Exchange Jakarta, a half-day forum attended by more than 80 start-up founders, investors, ecosystem enablers and government representatives from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and Singapore. Themed “Fuelling Asean Digital Startups with Purpose,” the event focused on advancing sustainable, impact-driven innovation across the region.
“We are at a pivotal moment where a new generation of founders is reshaping Southeast Asia’s innovation landscape not just through technology, but by addressing systemic challenges with intent and impact. Sustainable innovation requires more than capital. It demands connected ecosystems built on trust, collaboration, and shared intelligence. Platforms like Creative Exchange play a vital role in enabling that strategic convergence,” said Sonny Hendra Sudaryana, acting director of the Directorate of Digital Ecosystems Development at Indonesia’s Ministry of Communications and Digital Affairs (Komdigi) in his keynote address, outlining Indonesia’s vision for a digitally resilient regional start-up ecosystem.
Satu Creative CEO Ahmad Azuar Zainuddin said the platform reflects the organisation’s mission to create inclusive growth opportunities for start-ups across Asean.
“We believe that innovation should not only be scalable, but meaningful. Creative Exchange Jakarta reflects our vision to foster inclusive platforms where founders, funders, and ecosystem leaders can co-create solutions that address shared regional challenges,” said Azuar.
“By building bridges between Malaysia and Indonesia, we are accelerating a more connected, resilient, and impact-driven start-up landscape in Southeast Asia.”
Jakarta-based start-up ecosystem builder, KUMPUL vice president of programmes’ Mia Aulia said start-ups need more than just financial support to grow.
“Founders need more than funding. They need environments that understand the complexity of their growth journeys,” said Mia.
“At KUMPUL, we focus on enabling those environments by linking local ecosystems with national and regional infrastructure. Collaboration across markets like Malaysia and Indonesia is essential if we want to build startups that are not only scalable, but sustainable.”
A panel discussion led by Saddan Husain, business analyst and accelerator start-up programme officer at Telkom Indonesia, stressed the importance of cross-border institutional partnerships, talent pipelines and blended capital strategies to support long-term growth.
Source: The Edge Malaysia
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<p>Time: 2024 By: Ministry of Industry and Trade</p>
