Top 15 Grants for AI Startups in Asia in 2025
As the AI landscape evolves, numerous funding opportunities emerge to support the growth of startups in Asia. In 2025, various grants are available, especially for innovative AI-focused initiatives. Here’s a detailed list of the Top 15 Grants for AI Startups in Asia for 2025, including eligibility criteria, target regions, grant amounts, and links for further information.
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1. Google for Startups Women Founders Fund
Grant Amount: $100,000 (equity-free cash award)
Target Region: India, Japan, and Korea
Target Startups: Women-founded AI startups
Number of Recipients: 6 startups
Focus: Promotes gender equality in the AI field and encourages the development of unbiased AI products.
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2. Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific
Fund Amount: $15 million
Target Region: Asia-Pacific
Target Organizations: Non-profits, public interest organizations, social enterprises
Focus: AI skills training for workers, especially in underserved communities. This initiative is led by the Asian Venture Philanthropy Network in collaboration with Google.org and the Asian Development Bank.
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3. Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) Grants
Support Level: Up to 30% funding for projects that adopt AI and data analytics
Focus: Helps achieve business objectives such as strategy and decision-making. This funding also supports applied research projects in AI and data analytics within Singapore’s financial sector.
4. Digital Edge Funding
Funding Amount: $1.6 billion (not solely grants, venture funding)
Region: Singapore
Focus: Expanding AI-ready data centers across the Asia-Pacific region. This large-scale investment highlights the importance of infrastructure that supports AI development.
5. AI-Driven FinTech Funding in Asia
Projected Funding: $65.5 billion in 2025
Focus: Targeting AI-driven FinTech companies in Asia, with key countries like India, China, Singapore, and Israel leading the way. While not specific grants, this projection indicates substantial investor interest in the fintech and AI sectors.
6. GenAI Fund
Focus: Aims at generative AI startups in Southeast Asia, offering early-stage funding through various avenues such as angel and seed funding. Offers amounts varying from $1,000 to $1 million based on the funding stage.
7. 4YFN Top AI Startups
Focus: 4YFN highlights standout AI startups and often features grant opportunities reflecting the interests of investors and stakeholders within various industries. The showcased startups represent diverse sectors including digital health and fintech.
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8. Taiwan’s National Development Council Grants
Target Startups: AI startups focusing on R&D and application development
Focus: Promoting AI innovation through funding aimed at facilitating projects that can enhance industry competitiveness and create jobs.
9. Indian Government’s Digital India Initiative Grants
Focus: This initiative provides various funding opportunities to tech startups in India, particularly those leveraging AI to solve local issues. Grants can support product development and innovation initiatives.
10. Chinese AI Innovation Grants
Focus: Provides funding for AI startups and research entities that contribute to national goals in AI research and development aligned with China’s AI ambitions.
11. Startup Grant Program (Singapore)
Funding Amount: Up to 50% support for eligible startups
Focus: Designed to support early-stage companies leveraging AI for product development and market entry.
12. Southeast Asia’s AI for Good Grants
Focus: Grants targeting non-profit organizations and startups focused on using AI for social good in Southeast Asia. Projects that emphasize social innovation, education, and healthcare are prioritized.
13. Philippines’ DOST Grants for Technological Innovation
Focus: Supports AI startups that are part of technological innovations aimed at improving public service delivery and economic development in the Philippines.
14. Australian Government's AI Startup Fund
Funding Amount: Grants from AUD 20,000 to AUD 200,000
Focus: Supports innovative Australian AI startups capable of making significant contributions to the tech landscape.
15. ASEAN Smart Cities Network Funding
Focus: Offers grants to startups that contribute to smart city initiatives using AI technologies. Grant recipients are expected to address urban development challenges through innovative solutions.
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FAQ
Q: What grant does Google offer specifically for women-founded AI startups in Asia?
A: The Google for Startups Women Founders Fund offers a $100,000 equity-free cash award to women-founded AI startups in India, Japan, and Korea. Learn more about the fund.
Q: How much funding does the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund provide?
A: The Google.org AI Opportunity Fund allocates $15 million to non-profits and organizations in the Asia-Pacific region that focus on AI skills training, especially for underserved communities. Discover more about the opportunity.
Q: What kind of financial support does the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) provide?
A: The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) offers up to 30% support for projects adopting AI and data analytics, helping startups achieve their business objectives. Find out more about MAS grants.
Q: What is the trend for AI-driven FinTech funding in Asia for 2025?
A: AI-driven FinTech funding in Asia is projected to reach $65.5 billion in 2025, indicating significant growth in this sector. Read more on the projected funding.
Q: Are there any recent trends in venture funding for AI startups in Asia?
A: There has been a 28% drop in venture funding for AI startups in Asia in Q4 2024, highlighting challenges in securing funding amid economic pressures. Explore the trends.
Q: What funding options are available for early-stage generative AI startups in Southeast Asia?
A: Early-stage generative AI startups can access varied funding ranging from angel investments of $1,000 to seed funding up to $1 million in Southeast Asia. Learn more about opportunities for GenAI startups.
Q: How does the Digital Edge funding initiative support AI infrastructure?
A: Digital Edge is investing $1.6 billion to expand AI-ready data centers across Asia-Pacific, although this funding is not directed at startups. Read more about Digital Edge.
Q: What recent developments occurred for AI startups with Y Combinator?
A: While primarily US-based, Y Combinator has funded several AI startups, showcasing successful models worth noting for Asia-based founders. Discover Y Combinator-funded startups.
Q: What is the focus of the AI startup scene in Asia as of 2025?
A: The AI startup scene in Asia is focusing on sectors including digital health, green tech, and finance, creating numerous opportunities for new ventures. Examine the 4YFN awards highlighting trends.
Q: What do AI startups need to consider regarding the shifting funding landscape in Asia?
A: AI startups should be aware of the decreased venture funding and the emerging focus on specific sectors like FinTech and skills development, which may influence their fundraising strategies. Stay informed on funding trends.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
