Salesforce said on Tuesday it has expanded its Startup Program into Malaysia and the Philippines, aiming to deepen its presence in Southeast Asia by offering early-stage firms access to its products, partner ecosystem and go-to-market support.
The U.S. software company said the program will provide eligible startups in the two markets with access to AI-enabled Salesforce products, mentorship, community support and joint go-to-market opportunities through its ecosystem and marketplaces.
With the move, Salesforce’s Startup Program now operates in five markets: India, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Sri Lanka, it said.
Salesforce pointed to Malaysia’s ambition to become a leading global startup ecosystem by 2030, citing a state-led strategy and the country’s position as a gateway to regional markets. It also highlighted the Philippines’ young, digitally engaged population and improving mobile connectivity, alongside government backing.
The Philippine government has announced 2.1 billion pesos ($36 million) in funding for startups under the Innovative Startup Act and set targets to produce four unicorns and attract $10 billion in investments by 2030, Salesforce said.
The Startup Program, launched in 2021, now supports more than 435 startups globally, including more than 230 “AI-first” startups, Salesforce said, citing CloudFiles, Xoxoday, Yellow.ai and Trupeer.ai as examples.
“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,” Arundhati Bhattacharya, president and chief executive for South and Southeast Asia at Salesforce, said in a statement.
Salesforce also said Malaysia and the Philippines remain growth markets for the company, with organisations including University of Nottingham Malaysia, Maxicare, Converge ICT Solutions and PLDT using its CRM and AI tools. It added that it opened a new office in Manila in November 2025 as part of its Philippines expansion.
Startups based in Malaysia and the Philippines can apply via the program’s website, with applications reviewed weekly, Salesforce said.
Business News Asia
