On 22–23 January 2025, the Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB) hosted the inaugural Brunei Startup Summit at the Rizqun International Hotel, Bandar Seri Begawan. The two-day event gathered local and international startups, entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers to exchange insights on how to strengthen Brunei’s emerging startup ecosystem and connect it to regional opportunities.

Brunei’s digital momentum

Brunei Darussalam is at a pivotal moment in its economic transition. While oil and gas remain central, non-oil and gas sectors now account for over half of GDP, signaling progress in diversification. Digital adoption provides a strong foundation:

• 98% of the population is connected to the internet, with mobile penetration exceeding 137 subscriptions per 100 inhabitants.
• Around 76% of Bruneians already use e-commerce, whether for shopping, bills, or banking, with the market projected to grow by more than 10% annually through 2025.
• The country is home for approximately 179 startups, with 28 founded in the past five years. Although modest compared to neighbors, this growth signals rising entrepreneurial activity.
• In the Global Innovation Index 2022, Brunei ranked 92nd of 132 economies, indicating that while infrastructure and inputs are strong, innovation outputs still have room to grow.

These data points underline why collaboration matters, connectivity and demand are already in place, but financing, talent development, and market access require coordinated action.

Key takeaways from the discussion

One of the key sessions on Day 2 was the panel “Collaborative Ecosystems as the New Engine of Growth” featuring Ester Widya (VP of Business & Marketing at KUMPUL), Najla Zamri (Senior Manager, Scouting at Antler Malaysia), and Kentaro Machii (Program Manager on Startup Ecosystem, ERIA), the session was led by Reuben Chin (Head of Programme Management at Brunei Economic Development Board (BEDB).

On the topic, Ester shares perspectives from Indonesia’s fast-growing and emerging entrepreneurship landscape. Over the past decade, KUMPUL as leading ecosystem enabler in Indonesia have reached more than 52,000 startups and 82,000 MSMEs across 40+ cities, and been supported by multi-stakeholder as strategic partner of KUMPUL, spanning from government, industry, investors, and Global agencies across Asia-pacific. This best practice insight from KUMPUL shows that Collaboration can be a New Engine for the growth of  the current stage of Brunei’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.

The discussion emphasized that no single actor can build a sustainable startup ecosystem alone. It need a collaborative ecosystem that shares same vision and mission

• Government as a catalyst. Policy and regulation need to focus not only on creating startups but ensuring their long-term survival.
• Collaborative financing. Co-investment schemes, such as Brunei’s Startup Catalyst Fund, are essential to bridge early-stage funding gaps.
• Talent as a foundation. High internet penetration must be matched with strong digital skills to turn users into innovators.
• Cross-border partnerships. Regional examples show that startups designed for global markets from the beginning scale faster and attract more support.

For KUMPUL, it was a great opportunity for us to share concrete lessons from our long time experience in building collaborative ecosystems in Indonesia and Beyond. In economies where digital adoption is high but ecosystems are still maturing, the ability to work across sectors and borders may determine how quickly startups move from local promise to regional impact.

Grow Locally, Expand Globally with KUMPUL

KUMPUL accelerates growth by connecting entrepreneurs with strategic networks, exclusive resources, and expert insights. As Indonesia’s leading entrepreneurship ecosystem enabler, KUMPUL strengthens local communities while facilitating two-way global market access, helping international businesses tap into Indonesia’s dynamic ecosystem and supporting local entrepreneurs in expanding worldwide. Through impactful collaborations with key industry players, KUMPUL empowers entrepreneurs to scale efficiently, compete globally, and drive meaningful impact.

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