Young companies from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong honoured for innovation, sustainability and global scalability.
The 2025 Emerging Enterprise Awards spotlighted seven fast-growing companies shaping Asia’s innovation landscape, underscoring the region’s growing appetite for sustainability, technology and cross-border expansion.
Celebrating Southeast Asia’s Most Promising Young Enterprises
Seven companies from Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong clinched top honours at the 2025 Emerging Enterprise Awards on Nov 20, an annual programme by The Business Times and OCBC Bank. Now in its 18th year, the awards recognise businesses under 10 years old demonstrating innovation, resilience and strong regional scalability.
This year saw nearly 600 applications across diverse industries, with more than one-third coming from Hong Kong, Indonesia and Malaysia. From that pool, 30 finalists emerged, and three companies ultimately won the main Emerging Enterprise Award:
- Evo Commerce (Singapore)
- Mesh Bio (Singapore)
- Dodo Ventures (Malaysia)
Spotlight on the Emerging Enterprise Award Winners
Evo Commerce, known for its flagship grooming and beauty brand Stryv, impressed judges with its blend of affordability and product innovation. With 17 retail outlets across Singapore and Malaysia and a growing online footprint in Hong Kong, the brand plans to expand into Indonesia, Taiwan, the Philippines and Thailand.
Mesh Bio, a health-tech firm, is transforming chronic disease management through automation and predictive analytics. Its Dara Health Intelligence Platform integrates patient data to support clinical decisions, while its HealthVector Diabetes device uses digital twin technology to predict chronic kidney disease in diabetic patients.
From Malaysia, Dodo Ventures has redefined acne care with Dododots—a stylish line of pimple patches that has gained traction across Asia-Pacific, the Gulf Cooperation Council, North America and Latin America.
Sustainability Takes Centre Stage
Sustainability emerged as a core theme at the awards ceremony held at JW Marriott Singapore South Beach. The Emerging Enterprise Sustainability Award went to three companies leading the green transition:
- Hydroleap (Singapore): Chemical-free industrial wastewater treatment using electro-coagulation and electro-oxidation.
- Green Environmental Engineering (Malaysia): Integrated solutions for renewable energy, carbon capture, waste-to-energy and pollution control.
- My Care Healthcare (Hong Kong): Produces specialised food and utensils for seniors with swallowing disorders, while minimising waste through eco-efficient production.
These companies demonstrate that environmental responsibility and commercial growth can progress hand in hand.
Recognising AI-Driven Innovation
The Most Promising Start-up Award was awarded to Hivebotics, a Singapore AI robotics firm. Its standout invention, the Abluo autonomous restroom-cleaning robot, can clean toilets in just five minutes and is part of a broader suite of multifunctional facility management solutions. The award honours start-ups with high commercial viability and long-term scalability.
Support to Accelerate Regional Expansion
Winners of the Emerging Enterprise Award and Sustainability Award categories will receive a two-year interest-free term loan of up to S$200,000 (or local currency equivalent) from OCBC, plus a consulting package worth S$15,000 from RSM Singapore. The Most Promising Start-up Award winner receives a similar loan worth up to S$100,000. All honourees will also be featured across BT’s multimedia platforms.
BT editor Chen Huifen praised the high calibre of submissions, while OCBC’s Christie Chu lauded the entrepreneurs’ courage and disciplined execution. Senior Minister of State Low Yen Ling emphasised that the awards act as a launchpad for early-stage enterprises ready to scale globally—especially as sustainability becomes central to modern business models.
The 2025 Emerging Enterprise Awards highlight Southeast Asia’s dynamic innovation ecosystem, offering a promising outlook for entrepreneurs in Singapore, Malaysia and neighbouring regions. For Indonesians and Singaporeans watching regional start-up trends, these winners signal where the next wave of technological, sustainable and global-ready businesses is headed.
Sources: The Business Times (2025) , Straits Times (2025)
Keywords: Emerging Enterprise 2025, Evo Commerce, Mesh Bio, Dodo Ventures, Sustainability Award, Hivebotics
