The Rise of Green Entrepreneurship in South and Southeast Asia: Drivers, Barriers, and Policy Implications

South and Southeast Asia’s green entrepreneurship landscape represents a dynamic convergence of economic opportunity and environmental necessity, with the sector poised to unlock $120 billion in economic value and 900,000 jobs by 2030 (Bain & Company et al., 2025). This research examines the complex ecosystem driving sustainable business innovation across emerging Asian economies, where climate vulnerability intersects with unprecedented market potential. Analysis reveals three transformational forces: policy advancements like ASEAN’s Unified Payment Framework, technological innovations in bioeconomy and renewable energy, and demographic pressures from a youth-dominated population demanding sustainable solutions. Despite 43% growth in green investments since 2024 (Bain & Company et al., 2025), persistent barriers include financing gaps exceeding $50 billion (“Barriers to Green Entrepreneurship,” 2020), regulatory fragmentation across 10+ jurisdictions (“Drivers and Barriers to a Green Economy,” 2021), and technical knowledge deficits affecting 62.5% of entrepreneurs (Tweve & Masalu, 2024). The study argues that scalable green entrepreneurship requires integrated policy frameworks bridging bioeconomy development, grid modernization, and EV ecosystem acceleration while addressing region-specific challenges through blended finance mechanisms, carbon market integration, and AI-enabled sustainability solutions. With the bioeconomy projected to reach $30 trillion by 2050 (Bain & Company et al., 2025), strategic interventions could position Asia as the epicenter of green business innovation.