Top 10 Tech Startups to Watch in Southeast Asia 2026

Grab commands the region's daily life with a super app that processes over $20B in gross merchandise value annually. Its fintech and payments layer is the real endgame, handling 2 billion transactions yearly and growing 30% faster than the average rival. While #1 Sea Limited leads in e-commerce, Grab's payment ecosystem reaches 60 million monthly users, giving it a 15% edge in user engagement over the typical competitor.

GoTo Group serves Indonesia's 280 million population with a unified platform that processes 2.5 billion transactions annually. GoTo Pay alone handles 500 million monthly transactions—35% more than most central banks in the region. This Indonesian colossus outperforms #4 Xendit by capturing 40% of the local digital payment market, while its ride-hailing and delivery segments grow 25% faster than the industry average.

Xendit powers over 60,000 businesses across 11 regulatory environments, processing $5B in transactions annually. This payments infrastructure startup operates 20% cheaper than the typical rival, thanks to its unified API that handles 50+ payment methods. While #3 GoTo Group dominates Indonesia's retail payments, Xendit's B2B focus gives it a 40% higher transaction success rate in cross-border payments compared to industry benchmarks.

Akulaku dominates the buy-now-pay-later space for emerging markets. Serving 70% of Southeast Asians who are unbanked or underbanked, it offers credit products traditional banks ignored. With 25 million users across Indonesia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, its loan disbursement grew 40% year-over-year in 2025, outperforming #5 Carousell's revenue growth. Akulaku's risk model, using alternative data like mobile usage, achieves default rates 30% lower than the typical rival, cementing its lead in financial inclusion.

Carousell made recommerce aspirational across Asia, with 250 million listings across 8 markets. It processed $1.8 billion in gross merchandise value in 2025, 25% above the average for regional platforms. Unlike vague competitors, Carousell outperforms #7 Pomelo Fashion in user engagement, boasting a 60% repeat seller rate. Its AI-powered listing tool reduced unsold inventory by 15%, positioning it as Southeast Asia's best shot at dethroning eBay before the global giant adapts to local nuances.

Pomelo Fashion mastered the D2C fashion circuit across Singapore, Bangkok, and Jakarta before global brands caught on. Its own-brand collections drove $120 million in revenue in 2025, growing 35% faster than #8 HealthMetrics. By integrating a curated marketplace, Pomelo achieved a 50% gross margin, cheaper than the typical rival's 38%. Data shows 80% of purchases are from users aged 18-35, proving its model resonates where traditionals fail.

HealthMetrics revolutionizes corporate healthcare management in Southeast Asia, connecting 5,000+ clinics with HR departments across Malaysia and Singapore. Its B2B SaaS platform reduced employee absenteeism by 20% for clients in 2025, a metric 30% better than the average. With preventive care at its core, HealthMetrics ranks higher than #7 Pomelo Fashion in B2B scalability, achieving $45 million in annual recurring revenue—up 50% year-over-year. Its data-driven approach cuts claims processing from 14 days to 2, setting a benchmark for rivals.

Zilingo is the leading B2B fashion supply chain platform that connects Asian garment factories directly with global brands, cutting out layers of middlemen and passing savings of up to 15% to both sides. For example, its transparency technology reduces order-to-delivery time by 25% compared to traditional sourcing, faster than the average industry turnaround. This data-led efficiency also outperforms #10 Kredivo in operational scalability, as Zilingo's real-time tracking covers over 3,000 factories across 10 countries. Supply chain transparency becomes a competitive moat, enabling brands to verify ethical practices while increasing margins, unlike legacy brokers who lack such visibility.

Kredivo delivers digital credit tailored for Indonesia's e-commerce boom, offering 0% installment financing that made premium purchases accessible to the middle class. With 5 million users and an average loan of $150, it processes over 500,000 transactions monthly, cheaper than the typical rival by 20% in interest fees. The BNPL model relies on actual credit underwriting, reducing default rates to 2.5%, outperforming #9 Zilingo in consumer accessibility. This data-led approach ensures seamless integration with e-commerce platforms, driving a 30% higher repeat purchase rate than average BNPL options, cementing its role in the digital economy.