Bali, 27 September 2024: Demonstrating its commitment to empowering the startup ecosystem in ASEAN and East Asia, the ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC) successfully participated in the NextHub Global Summit 2024. Held at the Renaissance Nusa Dua, Bali, from 23 to 25 September 2024, the summit aimed to connect startups with international investors, offering essential funding and support to fuel their growth and success.

Kentaro Machii, Program Manager for the Startup Ecosystem at ERIA, emphasised the importance of this year’s summit, which, for the first time, included startups not only from Indonesia but also from Thailand and Malaysia.

‘The growth of startups increasingly depends on cross-border collaboration and regional cooperation. That is why this event aligns with the vision of E-DISC and presents an excellent opportunity to contribute to the development of the ASEAN-wide startup ecosystem,’ Machii noted.

The NextHub Global Summit, initially launched in 2015 by Indonesia’s Ministry of Communication and Information Technology (KOMINFO) and other stakeholders, was supported by E-DISC as a partner for this year’s event. The summit shares E-DISC’s mission of connecting regional startups with global players, particularly by introducing ASEAN-based startups at various stages of growth to international investors.

During the summit, the E-DISC team engaged with several forward-thinking startups, including Zi.Care, Blitz Electric Mobility, Dagangan, Chickin, Brick, Meeting.ai, Olsera, Soul Parking, Infinid, Duluin, and others. They also met key players in the startup ecosystem, such as Living Lab Ventures, KUMPUL, Impactto, Global Brain, AsiaPay Capital, BNI Ventures, MDI Ventures, and Tech in Asia. Through a series of intensive one-on-one meetings, E-DISC forged valuable connections that could lead to future collaborations. Additionally, the team had the opportunity to showcase E-DISC’s initiatives and programmes at their booth.

Looking ahead, E-DISC aims to foster further collaboration with tech ecosystem players by connecting startups with business and investment opportunities. To support this goal, E-DISC offers a membership programme designed to build a strong community of startup ecosystem stakeholders. The programme includes a diverse range of members, such as leading startups, venture capitalists, incubators, accelerators, government bodies, and other organisations from across ASEAN and East Asia. Together with its partners and members, E-DISC is eager to create impactful initiatives that will enhance cross-border collaboration within the region.