Scaling Climate Tech Startups: Insights from Founders in Southeast Asia

Earth Venture Capital recently co-hosted a candid founder-led panel with Aquila and GetSolar, two startups tackling real challenges and successfully scaling climate tech startups across Singapore, Vietnam, and Malaysia.

The event, part of the Climate Hero Club – HCMC Chapter, included a speed match-making session that enabled nearly 100 targeted 1:1 conversations between founders, investors, and ecosystem players. The goal was clear: connect the right people, start the right conversations—and it worked.

Founder Panel: Scaling Climate Tech Across Southeast Asia

The highlight of the evening was the Founder Panel: Scaling Climate Tech Across SEA, featuring Bolong Chew (GetSolar.ai) and Stefano Pellegrino (Aquila.is). The discussion uncovered the realities of growing climate ventures in complex, diverse markets.

Key Takeaways on Scaling Climate Tech Startups

• Market fit over market size: Success depends on solving the right problem, not just targeting the largest market.

• Localized go-to-market strategies: Each country in Southeast Asia requires a tailored playbook to account for regulatory and cultural differences.

• Early traction through rapid iteration and strong local teams: Hiring locally helps build credibility and accelerates adoption.

• On-the-ground learning matters most: Founders must step out of the office, talk to customers, and experience the market firsthand.

  
  

These lessons highlight that scaling climate tech startups in Southeast Asia requires agility, local insight, and relentless focus on execution.

Investor Perspectives

The evening also featured an Investor Fireside Chat with Luke Nguyen (Earth Venture Capital), Vinnie Lauria (Golden Gate Ventures), and Binh Tran (AVV).

They shared that:

• Climate impact and financial returns can align, but emerging markets like Vietnam demand long-term commitment.

• Scalable solutions often combine hardware and software, with a clear customer value proposition.

• Ultimately, the founder remains the decisive factor—clarity of vision, deep insight, and commitment matter more than the idea itself.

  
  

The Path to Scaling Climate Tech in SEA

This event reinforced a vital message: Scaling climate tech startups in Southeast Asia is possible, but it requires local adaptation, resilience, and founder-driven vision. With the right mix of market fit, localized strategies, and committed founders, climate innovation can thrive in one of the fastest-growing regions of the world.

Ready to Scale Your Climate Tech Startup?

At Earth Venture Capital, we back bold founders driving the future of climate deep tech and scaling climate tech startups across Southeast Asia. If you’re building solutions that can transform industries and accelerate decarbonization, we want to hear from you.

👉 Pitch to us and explore how we can scale your vision together.👉 Connect with us on LinkedIn to stay updated on insights, portfolio news, and founder opportunities.