Southeast Asia

The Sustainability Network in Southeast Asia is built around the Ecothon programme, coordinated by HSF Vietnam, and the ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center (ASEIC) in close collaboration with partners in selected ASEAN countries.

1 Ecothon LA 2023
Ecothon in Lao PDR 2023

Ecothon (short for Eco-Entrepreneurs' Marathon) is a series of annual competitions for start-ups in the ASEAN region with innovative business ideas to tackle climate change. The programme includes intensive training, coaching, and mentoring sessions focusing on sustainable entrepreneurship, sustainable consumption and production (SCP), and circular economy. Since organising the first Ecothon in Cambodia in 2019, HSF Vietnam, ASEIC, and partners have provided technical support and networking opportunities to more than 250 sustainable start-ups and start-up support organisations in 7 countries in the region (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, and Vietnam).

2 Map Ecothon

Participating countries of the Ecothon network

In 2022 and 2023, in cooperation with the Seoul-based partner ASEIC, HSF Vietnam organised study trips for Ecothon start-ups as well as representatives from Ecothon focal ministries and local partners at the Global Start-Up Festival ComeUp in the Republic of Korea. The study trips brought members of the Ecothon network from different ASEAN countries together and enabled them to expand their network with like-minded innovators and entrepreneurs as well as impact investors from around the world.

3 Ecothon Alumni at ComeUp1

Ecothon networking at Come Up 2023

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