Southeast Asia has a talent for making climate pledges sound like wedding vows: grand, emotional and frequently broken. Net-zero deadlines stretch to 2050 and beyond, yet coal still dominates several national grids, petrol motorbikes still choke the cities and mangroves still vanish faster than ministers can name them. Into that gap has stepped a scrappy generation of founders who would rather build than promise.
We combed e27’s startup database for climate tech companies founded between 2015 and 2026. The result is 30 startups worth watching. Some are flush: VFlowTech raised US$20.5 million for its vanadium flow batteries, and MediSun Energy closed an US$8.75 million seed round at a US$44 million valuation. Others survive on grants, angels and sheer stubbornness. Between them, they are turning chicken manure into coal substitutes, used cooking oil into biodiesel and idle backup batteries into revenue.
Also Read: Passing 1.5°C global warming: Performative ESG is no longer acceptable
None of them will save the planet alone. Collectively, though, they are a better barometer of the region’s climate ambition than any COP communiqué.
Energy, solar and storage
The region’s biggest emitter is its power sector, so the most capital has flowed here, led by VFlowTech’s US$20.5 million round.
1. VFlowTech
Builds vanadium redox flow batteries for long-duration energy storage.
- Founded: 2018
- Founders: Avishek Kumar, Arjun Bhattarai
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$3M pre-Series A (2021, led by Wavemaker); US$10M Series A (2023, led by Real Tech Holdings); US$20.5M (2025, led by Granite Asia)
2. GetSolar (formerly Solar AI Technologies)
Runs a rent-to-own rooftop solar programme for homes and SMEs.
- Founded: 2020
- Founders: Bolong Chew, Gérald Chablowski, Luke Ong
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: S$450K pre-seed (2020, ENGIE); US$1.5M seed (2023, led by Earth Venture Capital)
3. Verta Bioenergy
Turns farm and livestock waste into biomass pellets that replace coal in industrial boilers.
Also Read: NEU Battery Materials bags US$7.6M to mine lithium from the world’s least-loved battery
- Founded: Not disclosed (incubated under EDB’s Corporate Venture Launchpad)
- Founders: Jeremy Tan (co-founder and CEO)
- Headquarters: Singapore; plant in the Philippines
- Funding: S$1.1M (US$845K) seed (2025; ENGIE Factory, Wright Partners, AlphaGen VC)
4. Amplicity Energy
Software that turns idle backup batteries at industrial sites into grid revenue.
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Not disclosed
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$1M seed (2026, ENGIE-backed)
5. SolX Technologies
Provides digital energy services that promise electricity savings.
- Founded: 2022
- Founders: Sergius Santos, Matt Levin Tan, Bradley Cua
- Headquarters: Makati, Philippines
- Funding: US$780K seed (2024; UntroD Capital Asia, Leave A Nest, Real Tech Holdings, Foxmont)
6. Arysun Energy
Sells affordable solar starter kits to middle-class households.
Also Read: EVs to make up over half of Singapore vehicle sales in 2026, BMI says
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Ng Aik Phong (listed on e27 profile)
- Headquarters: Singapore; selling in Indonesia
- Funding: US$575K pre-seed (2025; First Move, Wavemaker Partners)
7. TailorTech
Power management system that cuts fuel use at off-grid generators.
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Brothers Ts. Dr Indera Shaiful Baharudin and Ts. Indera Shafiq
- Headquarters: Malaysia
- Funding: US$110K pre-seed (2024, Antler)
8. Altent Renewables
Converts wet waste into clean fuels.
- Founded: 2022
- Founders: Tan Wee Han (founder and CEO)
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: Not disclosed
E-mobility and clean logistics
Two-wheelers and delivery fleets are where the region’s transport transition will be won or lost, and charging infrastructure remains the bottleneck.
9. Blitz Electric Mobility
Operates an EV last-mile delivery fleet with AI routing and driver financing.
Also Read: VinFast’s ride-hailing arm Green SM takes on Jakarta’s ojek economy with e-scooters
- Founded: 2019 (operating since 2022)
- Founders: Saivya Chauhan
- Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Funding: US$2.6M seed, including extension (2024; Third Derivative, Iterative, ADB among backers); undisclosed pre-Series A led by Vynn Capital (2025)
10. ChargeSini
Builds and operates EV charging infrastructure.
- Founded: 2022
- Founders: James Goh and partners from the automotive and tech sectors
- Headquarters: Malaysia
- Funding: US$1.25M seed (2023, via pitchIN)
11. Aerion Motors
Building a premium e-motorcycle brand for Indonesia, with production planned for Q4 2026.
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Adrian Cheng (listed on e27 profile)
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$150K angel (2025)
Carbon accounting, carbon markets and climate finance
Disclosure rules are tightening across ASEAN exchanges, which has turned emissions data from a CSR nicety into a compliance product.
12. Unravel Carbon
AI carbon accounting software for enterprise supply chains.
- Founded: 2021
- Founders: Grace Sai, Marc Allen
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$7.38M seed (2022, led by Surge), taking total to US$8.75M; undisclosed round from Japan Energy Capital and TIS (2025)
13. CarbonEthics
Develops blue carbon, peatland and forest restoration projects.
- Founded: 2019
- Founders: Bimo Soewadji (Agung Bimo Listyanu), Jessica Novia
- Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Funding: US$220K pre-seed (2023; Spiral Ventures, Ecoxyztem); US$2.1M seed (2024, led by Intudo Ventures)
Also Read: EVs gain ground in the Philippines as fuel costs squeeze drivers
14. Refy
Asset-based financing for small and mid-scale green projects.
- Founded: 2023
- Founders: Ed Chin
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$525K pre-seed (2024, Wavemaker Impact)
15. CREX
Turns hotels’ sustainability data into AI-ready signals that drive bookings.
- Founded: Not disclosed (first round in 2022)
- Founders: Sam Hon (listed on e27 profile)
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$750K angel (2022); US$300K seed (2024)
16. Carbonwize
Audit-grade emissions reporting linked to green financing.
- Founded: 2022
- Founders: Natalie Lerthatasilp (listed on e27 profile)
- Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
- Funding: US$265K pre-seed (2023); about US$1.73M raised in total, per PitchBook
17. Carbon GPT
AI-driven greenhouse gas accounting across all scopes.
- Founded: Not disclosed (on e27 since 2024)
- Founders: Matthew Wong (listed on e27 profile)
- Headquarters: Malaysia
- Funding: US$20K Cradle Fund grant (2023); US$120K angel (2024)
Circular economy and waste
Waste is the least glamorous corner of climate tech and, arguably, the one with the fastest payback: methane from landfills and open burning is an immediate problem.
18. Rekosistem
End-to-end waste collection, sorting and material recovery.
- Founded: 2018 (formally launched 2021)
- Founders: Ernest Layman, Joshua Valentino
- Headquarters: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Funding: US$5M (2023, led by Skystar Capital); US$7M Series A (2025; led by Saratoga Investama Sedaya and K3 Ventures)
19. Remind
Collects and processes e-waste and recovers metals.
- Founded: 2020
- Founders: Muhammad Dzikri Ahira Soefihara
- Headquarters: Tangerang, Indonesia
- Funding: US$1.3M (2025; co-led by Bali Investment Club and BEENEXT, with Spiral Ventures)
20. GEPP Sa-Ard
Digital waste-tracking and trading platform for businesses.
- Founded: 2017
- Founders: Dome Boonyanurak, Mayuree Aroonwaranon
- Headquarters: Bangkok, Thailand
- Funding: US$300K pre-seed (2020); backers include Delta Electronics Thailand, depa and AIS The StartUp
21. Arus Oil
Collects used cooking oil and supplies it to biodiesel refineries.
- Founded: 2017
- Founders: Syazwan Majid
- Headquarters: Subang Jaya, Malaysia
- Funding: Pre-seed, angel, seed and debt rounds totalling about US$192K (2021–2023); 1337 Ventures Accelerator Fund (2025)
Food, agriculture and biomaterials
Agriculture and land use drive a large share of the region’s emissions, and these startups attack it from the farm, the feed trough and the lab.
Also Read: Sustainability reporting is not the goal. Better business decisions are
22. Agros
Solar-powered irrigation and soil products for horticulture farmers.
- Founded: 2019
- Founders: Max Nelen
- Headquarters: Singapore; operations in Indonesia
- Funding: US$2.7M pre-Series A (2023); US$4.25M Series A (2025; co-led by Gaia Impact, Schneider Electric Energy Access Asia, Wavemaker Impact)
23. Terra Oleo
Uses microbes to make palm oil and cocoa butter alternatives from agro-industrial waste.
- Founded: 2023
- Founders: Shen Ming Lee, Boon Uranukul, Min Hao Wong
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$3.1M (2025; ADB Ventures, Better Bite Ventures, Elev8.vc, The Radical Fund)
24. AgriG8
Credit platform that links rice-farmer loans to sustainable practices.
- Founded: 2021
- Founders: Aries Dwiputera, David Chen
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$900K seed (2024)
25. Virdalis
Duckweed-based protein for animal feed, as an alternative to soy.
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: JM Aujero (listed on e27 profile)
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$700K pre-seed (2026)
26. Cleantech and Beyond
Advanced functional materials for sustainability uses.
Also Read: N&E Innovations nets US$1.7M to turn cashew husk waste into fresh produce protection
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Not disclosed
- Headquarters: Thailand
- Funding: US$100K pre-seed (2024); US$50K seed (2025)
Water, buildings and efficiency
Cooling, desalination and industrial water treatment are energy hogs in the tropics, which makes efficiency a climate play in its own right.
27. MediSun Energy
Brine management and osmotic energy technology for desalination and heavy industry.
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Joseph Chua, Dusun Kim
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$8.75M seed (2024, led by Vynn Capital, at a US$44M valuation); further seed funding of about US$3M reported (2026)
28. Aprisium
Real-time contaminant detection, including PFAS, for water and industrial fluids.
- Founded: 2021
- Founders: Raghav Narayan, Dr Lars-Henrik Skjolding
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: US$800K seed (2023, Cocoon Capital); US$7M Series A (2024; led by Deep-Tech Venture Partners and Cocoon Capital)
29. BIZSU
Passive add-on that cuts air-conditioning energy use.
- Founded: 2019
- Founders: Brice Degeyter
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Funding: About US$250K angel (2021); US$100K angel (2025)
30. intlife
IoT and AI energy efficiency for homes and offices.
Also Read: Life Lab Resources grabs US$1M to turn food waste into aquaculture feed
- Founded: Not disclosed
- Founders: Kok Huang Er
- Headquarters: Malaysia
- Funding: US$25K Cradle Fund grant (2023)
What the list tells us
Read the headquarters lines and a lopsided map emerges. Seventeen of the 30 are based in Singapore, against five in Malaysia, four in Indonesia, three in Thailand and one in the Philippines. Vietnam, the region’s fastest-rising factory floor, does not appear at all. Singapore’s grants, incubators and corporate venture arms clearly work, but the city-state is not where most of the region’s emissions come from.
The cheques are also small. About half of these companies have yet to disclose a single round larger than US$1 million. A battery-swapping network or a desalination plant cannot be built on angel money. Until growth-stage investors back climate hardware with the conviction they once reserved for super apps, many of these founders will stay stuck proving the same pilot over and over.
The post Thirty climate tech startups in Southeast Asia that would rather build than pledge appeared first on e27.