Singapore— Salesforce has expanded its startup program to Malaysia and the Philippines, extending the initiative to two additional Southeast Asian markets as part of its regional growth strategy.
The programme aims to provide startups in both countries with access to Salesforce’s ecosystem, including AI-powered products, mentorship initiatives, joint go-to-market opportunities, and a community designed to support early-stage companies as they build and scale.
With this expansion, the Salesforce Startup Program now operates in five markets: India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Sri Lanka.
Salesforce said the move reflects its assessment of Malaysia and the Philippines as startup ecosystems with strong growth potential.
Moreover, Malaysia’s startup sector has been supported by a national ambition to become a leading global startup hub by 2030. The country is also positioned as a regional gateway to Southeast Asia, China, and India, supported by a broad talent base and its location within ASEAN.
The Philippines, meanwhile, has seen increasing activity in its startup landscape, supported by a young, technology-oriented population, expanding mobile connectivity, and government-backed initiatives.
Additionally, the Philippine government recently announced PHP2.1 billion (US$ 35m) in funding for startups under the Innovative Startup Act and outlined a target of producing four unicorn companies and attracting US$10 billion in investments by 2030.
Since its launch in 2021, the Salesforce Startup Program has grown to support more than 435 startups, including over 230 companies described as AI-first. Participating companies have included CloudFiles, Xoxoday, Yellow.ai, and Trupeer.ai.
“With a thriving innovation ecosystem and a young, digitally-savvy talent pool, Malaysia and the Philippines are ideal launchpads for startups seeking to scale local ideas into global impact. The expansion of our Startup Program into these markets equips promising startups with the necessary support to solidify their business foundation, accelerate growth, and ultimately, find success at scale,” said Arundhati Bhattacharya, president and CEO, South and Southeast Asia, Salesforce.
Salesforce said both Malaysia and the Philippines continue to be important growth markets for the company. Organisations such as the University of Nottingham Malaysia, Maxicare, Converge ICT Solutions, and PLDT use Salesforce’s CRM and AI technologies.
In November 2025, Salesforce announced a strategic expansion in the Philippines, including the opening of a new office in Manila, aimed at supporting local businesses adopting its technologies.
