Business Daily Media

Men's Weekly

.

NIA Unveils 2025 Startup Trends: AI, Green Tech, and FinTech Set to Soar as Thailand Drives Global Growth Ambitions

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 6 February 2025 - The Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation (MHESI), through the National Innovation Agency (Public Organisation) or NIA, has revealed an overview of Thailand's startup growth for 2024.

The data shows a consistent upward trajectory, with a cumulative growth rate of 3.3% since 2021, reinforcing Thailand's position as one of the world's most startup-friendly hubs.

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA)
Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA)

As we step into 2025, startups face a dynamic landscape marked by economic fluctuations, evolving consumer behaviours, and the rapid emergence of new technologies. Amid these challenges, three key technology sectors are poised for significant growth and investment opportunities: Artificial Intelligence (AI); Sustainability Technologies, including Green Tech, CleanTech, and Climate Tech; and Financial Technologies (FinTech).

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), stated that over the past year, Thailand has been home to approximately 2,100 startups, comprising 700 in the pre-seed stage and 1,400 in the go-to-market or growth stage. When compared to other countries in Southeast Asia, Thai startups have demonstrated consistent growth, with seed-stage funding increasing by 4% year-on-year and a cumulative growth rate of 3.3% since 2021.

According to the Global Startup Ecosystem Index published last year by StartupBlink—a leading global hub for startup ecosystem data—Thailand ranked 54th globally and 4th in Southeast Asia, following Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia. This reflects the significant progress of Thailand's startup ecosystem, which is increasingly recognised on the global stage as one of the region's emerging hubs for entrepreneurial ventures.

One of the key challenges for Thailand's startup ecosystem lies in the rapid expansion of Data Centres, with the country emerging as a prime destination for both domestic and global investors. Positioned as the region's new "Digital Economy Hub," Thailand's data centre capacity has surged by over 54% in the past three years, ranking third in ASEAN, following Singapore and Malaysia. Projections for 2024–2027 estimate that Thailand could attract around 260 billion baht in data centre investments.

However, to fully capitalise on this growth, Thailand must accelerate talent development to meet market demands and establish robust, long-term policies that inspire investor confidence. These efforts are critical in fostering a sustainable ecosystem that aligns with the broader challenges of the AI-driven society, the need for upskilling and reskilling the workforce, and the global shift towards ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles. Embracing ESG not only ensures sustainable business practices but also positions Thailand competitively within the evolving global economic landscape.

Looking ahead to 2025, both in Thailand and globally, the startup landscape is set to be driven by transformative technologies that promise significant growth potential. These key trends include:

Artificial Intelligence (AI): AI is rapidly revolutionising industries, with Generative AI at the forefront due to its versatility across sectors. This technology fuels continuous, efficient innovation by creating new content, solutions, and processes. Additionally, the rise of AI Agentic Systems—capable of autonomous thinking, analysis, and decision-making—marks a major leap forward. These systems excel at managing complex tasks and solving multidimensional problems, with over 70% of business leaders and investors confident in their potential to transform operations, from strategic planning and production to customer service. AI Agents not only enhance responsiveness to market demands but also significantly reduce resource consumption, making them an essential asset for future-focused organisations.

Sustainability Technologies (Green Tech, CleanTech, and Climate Tech): As environmental challenges intensify, businesses are increasingly prioritising ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) principles, while consumers demand eco-friendly, socially responsible products and services. This shift is propelling the global environmental tech market towards exponential growth, with forecasts predicting an average annual increase of nearly 25% over the next decade. Innovative solutions addressing clean energy, waste management, and sustainable products are driving this momentum. For startups to succeed in this space, it's critical to develop business models that balance profitability with positive environmental and social impact.

Financial Technology (FinTech): In Southeast Asia, FinTech continues to dominate the investment landscape, securing an impressive 26% of seed funding in 2024—the highest across all sectors—followed closely by blockchain technologies at 20%. This underscores the sector's resilience and attractiveness, fuelled by innovations in digital payments, decentralised finance, and blockchain applications.

In an era defined by rapid technological change, agility is key. Startups must cultivate adaptability, building flexible systems that can pivot in response to evolving market conditions. This dynamic approach not only strengthens business foundations but also ensures sustained growth and scalability in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Dr. Krithpaka emphasised that in 2025, under its role as Thailand's "Focal Conductor of Innovation," the National Innovation Agency (NIA) remains committed to fostering and accelerating the growth of startups through its extensive mechanisms and networks. The agency will focus particularly on the development of "Impact Tech"—technologies designed to create positive economic and social impacts, reinforcing Thailand's global image and recognition as an "Innovation Nation."

NIA's support framework spans the entire startup journey, from inception to international market expansion guided by the strategic pillars of Groom -> Grant -> Growth -> Global.

GROOM (Knowledge Incubation & Network Building): This phase nurtures entrepreneurial capabilities through the NIA Academy, offering comprehensive courses in collaboration with strategic partners and self-paced learning via online platforms like MOOCs. Additionally, the Startup Thailand League plays a pivotal role in enhancing innovation skills among university students, equipping them with entrepreneurial mindsets and preparing them to transition from academic environments to the real-world startup ecosystem.

GRANT (Funding Support): NIA provides diverse forms of non-repayable grants tailored to stimulate innovative business development. These grants support both economic drivers—such as national innovation business promotion platforms and regional innovation ecosystems—and social impact projects, including the 'Innovation Village' initiative and urban and community-focused programmes.

For startups aiming to scale rapidly and penetrate new markets, the National Innovation Agency (NIA) offers robust opportunities to drive business growth under the GROWTH pillar. This is achieved through a suite of tailored incubation and acceleration programmes across four key sectors: Food Technology – via the flagship SPACE-F programme, designed to nurture food-tech startups towards global competitiveness; Agricultural Technology – through the AGROWTH initiative, focusing on innovations that revolutionise modern agriculture; Health Technology – supporting startups that develop cutting-edge health and medical solutions. Climate Technology – fostering sustainable innovations that address climate change and environmental challenges.

To inspire and showcase outstanding innovation success stories, NIA runs the "Nin Mangkorn" project, a platform highlighting transformative ventures. This initiative has evolved into "Nin Mangkorn 10X," with a bold mission to propel high-potential entrepreneurs into capital markets, targeting revenues of no less than 100 million baht within three years.

Under the GLOBAL pillar, NIA is committed to expanding Thailand's startup footprint on the international stage through the establishment of a Global Startup Hub. This initiative facilitates cross-border market access, strategic partnerships, and international networking. NIA has forged strong alliances with key global ecosystems, including Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and the Nordic countries, creating a dynamic bridge for Thai startups to thrive in diverse markets.

In addition to its growth and global expansion strategies, the National Innovation Agency (NIA) is actively fostering investment opportunities through mechanisms such as Corporate Co-Funding, in partnership with the Thai Venture Capital Association (TVCA). This initiative provides co-investment funding of up to 10 million baht to support high-potential startups.

Complementing this effort are key government and industry bodies offering robust financial support: The Board of Investment (BOI) promotes promising startups with incentives ranging from 20 to 50 million baht, particularly for those in the Pre-Series A+ stage and beyond; The One Innovation Fund, managed by the Federation of Thai Industries (FTI), offers substantial backing with a total fund allocation of 1 billion baht to accelerate industrial innovation; and Beacon Venture Capital has launched the Beacon Impact Fund, focusing on investments aligned with Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles, with an initial fund of 1.2 billion baht.

Moreover, the upcoming "Startup Promotion and Development Act" or the long-waited "Startup Act", a landmark legislative framework is set to play a pivotal role in solidifying Thailand's startup landscape. The Act will introduce comprehensive measures to support entrepreneurship, attract investment, and create a more conducive environment for startups to thrive, marking a significant milestone in the evolution of Thailand as a leading innovation-driven economy.


Hashtag: #NIA #NationalInnovationAgency


The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

News from Asia

XCoffee Launches the Region’s First AI-Powered Smart Robotic Beverage

SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 10 October 2025 - XCoffee, a Singapore-based beverage technology company, unveiled the latest evolution of its AI-powered smart robotic beverage, reinforcing ...

Jollibee Group Named Among Top Global Restaurant Brands for Sustainability Perception Value

Jollibee Group also ranked #1 in Brand Finance 2025 Sustainability Perceptions Index among all Philippine companies MANILA, PHILIPPINES - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 October 2025 - Jollibee Group...

The G-DRAGON 2025 WORLD TOUR [ÜBERMENSCH] IN HANOI - Day 2 Tickets Now On Sale At 8Wonder Ocean City

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 10 October 2025 - The Vietnamese music scene is experiencing an unprecedented seismic event: G-DRAGON has assented to fan demands, officially announcing...

XIXILI Unveils Pinktober Campaign in Honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 October 2025 - For XIXILI, support is more than a design principle; it is a mission woven into every seam. In conjunction with Breast Cancer A...

Haikou, China: Where the City Becomes a Stage, and Art Belongs to All

HAIKOU, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 October 2025 - From September 28 to October 8, Haikou, the capital of China's Hainan Province, won global attention with its colorful public art activi...

VinFast sets national record, surpasses 100,000 vehicles sold in just three quarters

HANOI, VIETNAM - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 October 2025 - VinFast has officially become the first automobile brand in Vietnam to surpass 100,000 vehicle sales within the first three quarters o...

Linyi international sourcing conference enhances global trade links

LINYI, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 October 2025 - The 3rd Linyi Trade City International Sourcing Conference for Belt and Road Cooperation kickstarted a global trade extravaganza on Oct 1...

CGTN:How China is empowering women and advancing 'her power'

BEIJING, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 11 October 2025 - An article published by CGTN highlights China's upcoming Global Leaders' Meeting on Women in Beijing, marking 30 years since the 1995 B...

B.Grimm Power Joins Hands with Sawasdee Seoul Thai Festival 2025

Celebrating Thai Culture and Soft Power on the Global Stage While Highlighting the Success of Korea’s Clean Energy Transformation BANGKOK, THAILAND - Media OutReach Newswire - 9 October 2025 - B.G...

VIVANT Launches Wine App to Enable Wine Lovers with AI-Powered Sommelier Guidance

New app pairs with VIVANT’s award-winning precision wine accessories to enable smart wine ecosystem SINGAPORE - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 October 2025 - VIVANT, a pioneer in wine temperature t...

Qantas to Serve Nan’s Davidson Plum Cookie

Lake Macquarie, NSW (Awabakal Country): From a single mother’s kitchen bench to supermarket shelves, Wiradjuri entrepreneur Terri-Ann “Tezzi” Dani...

Minns Labor Government shutting down the Business Connect program

The NSW Opposition is concerned that the Labor government will shut down a support program that has assisted New South Wales businesses. In a media ...

Samsara Eco appoints Dr. Lars Kissau as General Manager for Asia

Australian biotech innovator Samsara Eco has announced the appointment of Dr Lars Kissau as its first General Manager of Asia. Based in Singapore...

From the first bounce to the final siren - small business lessons from the AFL Grand Final

The AFL Grand Final is one of the most anticipated days on the sporting calendar. This Saturday, the Geelong Cats and Brisbane Lions will battle i...

Australia’s top finance leaders recognised as CFO role expands

Amid surging regulatory demands and rapidly evolving industry, Australia’s most influential Chief Financial Officers will be honoured at the inaug...

Why outdated security leaves small businesses exposed to crime

Small and medium businesses in Australia are under increasing pressure to address security gaps that criminals readily exploit. An unlocked door, an...