From GITEX AI ASIA in Singapore to Google’s India Accelerator and $75,000 ISIF grants, these are the top Asia startup events 2026 summits and funding opportunities across Asia you need to know about right now.
Whether you’re navigating Asia startup events 2026 as a founder seeking capital, a startup looking for acceleration, or an investor wanting to meet Asia’s best entrepreneurs, April and May 2026 are packed with Asia startup events and unmissable opportunities and many deadlines are just weeks away.
What’s Happening Across Asia’s Startup Ecosystem: Asia Startup Events 2026
Asia startup events 2026 are arriving at a pivotal moment. Asia’s startup ecosystem is entering a pivotal stretch. After a funding recalibration in 2025, investors and founders alike are converging at major summits and accelerator programmes, signalling renewed momentum across startup grants Asia and Asia funding opportunities. From Singapore to Seoul, Bengaluru to Hong Kong, the next two months are loaded with events and grants that could change the trajectory of your company.
1. GITEX AI ASIA 2026 — 9–10 April, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
One of the top Asia startup events 2026, Asia’s largest tech, AI and startup summit Singapore is back. GITEX AI ASIA 2026 returns to Marina Bay Sands on 9–10 April 2026, bringing together 50,000+ innovators, 600+ enterprises and startups, 250+ investors, and participants from 110+ countries. Six platforms co-locate under one roof: AI Everything Singapore, Startups North Star Asia, GITEX Digi Health & Biotech, Global Data Centres Asia, GISEC Asia, and GITEX Quantum Expo Asia.
Registration is open at gitexasia.com.
2. Asia Startup Summit 2026 — 8 April, Singapore
Presented by the French Chamber of Commerce in Singapore in partnership with the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the Asia Startup Summit on 8 April focuses on corporate-startup partnerships across ASEAN. Key sessions cover scaling through strategic partnerships with panel discussions and curated business matching ideal for B2B startups targeting enterprise clients in Southeast Asia.
3. Google for Startups Accelerator India 2026 — Deadline 19 April
Google’s equity-free India Accelerator accepts applications until 19 April 2026 from Indian AI startups at Seed to Series A stage. Focus areas: Agentic AI, Multimodal AI, Physical AI, and Sovereign AI. Selected founders get Gemini and Gemma model access, Google DeepMind mentorship, and Cloud TPU credits. The cohort begins late June with a Bengaluru bootcamp and concludes with a Demo Day in October.
Apply at startup.google.com.
4. ISIF Asia Grants — Up to $75,000 | Deadline 24 April
The APNIC Foundation’s ISIF Asia grants offer USD 20,000, USD 50,000, and USD 75,000 for tech and digital innovation projects across Asia-Pacific. Applications close 24 April 2026. Focus areas include Internet infrastructure, IPv6 deployment, open-source digital public infrastructure, and applied digital innovation with measurable development impact. Startups, NGOs, and academia are all eligible.
5. Qualcomm QAIPI 2026 APAC — Up to $15,000 | Deadline 30 April
As we reported earlier, Qualcomm’s QAIPI 2026 gives edge AI startups in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea up to USD 15,000 in grants and patent support plus Snapdragon hardware and Qualcomm engineering mentorship. Apply before 30 April 2026.
6. AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge — $20,000 Prize | Finals May 2026, Singapore
Open to innovators aged 18–35 across Southeast Asia, the AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge offers a USD 20,000 prize pool for AI-driven social impact solutions. National winners advance to the Regional Grand Finals in Singapore in May 2026 — a strong launchpad for early-stage SEA founders seeking visibility and investor connections.
7. DealStreetAsia Asia PE Leadership Summit — 20 May, Hong Kong
DealStreetAsia’s inaugural Asia PE Leadership Summit arrives in Hong Kong on 20 May 2026, focused on private equity deal flow, LP-GP relationships, and cross-border capital deployment. Essential for growth-stage startups targeting Series B and beyond, and for VCs connecting with Asian LPs from Singapore, India, and Greater China.
8. Asia PE-VC Summit 2026 — 23–24 September, Singapore
Asia startup events 2026 include DealStreetAsia’s flagship summit returning to Singapore on 23–24 September 2026 with 4,000+ GPs, LPs, founders, and family offices. Founders who have raised at least a Series A from Southeast Asia, India, or Greater China can apply for founder passes. The 2025 edition drew 1,300+ delegates and 120+ speakers across five thematic tracks.
Key Deadlines for Asia Startup Events 2026: April–September 2026
- 8 April 2026 — Asia Startup Summit, Singapore
- 9–10 April 2026 — GITEX AI ASIA, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore
- 19 April 2026 — Google for Startups Accelerator India deadline
- 24 April 2026 — ISIF Asia Grants deadline (up to $75,000)
- 30 April 2026 — Qualcomm QAIPI 2026 APAC deadline (up to $15,000)
- May 2026 — AI Ready ASEAN Youth Challenge Finals, Singapore
- 20 May 2026 — Asia PE Leadership Summit, Hong Kong
- 23–24 September 2026 — Asia PE-VC Summit, Singapore
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the best startup events in Asia in April 2026?
A: The top Asian startup events in April 2026 are GITEX AI ASIA (9–10 April, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore) and the Asia Startup Summit (8 April, Singapore). GITEX brings 50,000+ attendees from 110+ countries, while the Asia Startup Summit connects founders with enterprise partners and investors across ASEAN.
Q: What grants are available for Asian startups in 2026?
A: Key startup grants open in Asia right now include ISIF Asia grants of up to USD 75,000 (deadline 24 April), Qualcomm QAIPI 2026 offering up to USD 15,000 for edge AI startups in Japan, Singapore, and South Korea (deadline 30 April), and Google’s equity-free India Accelerator (deadline 19 April). All three are open for applications now.
Q: How do I apply for the Google for Startups Accelerator India 2026?
A: Apply at startup.google.com/programs/accelerator/india before 19 April 2026. The programme is equity-free and targets Seed to Series A Indian startups working on Agentic AI, Multimodal AI, Physical AI, or Sovereign AI. Selected startups receive Google AI model access, DeepMind mentorship, and Cloud infrastructure credits for a three-month programme starting in Bengaluru in late June 2026.
How to Make the Most of Asia Startup Events 2026
With so many Asia startup events 2026 on the calendar, preparation is everything. Whether targeting startup grants Asia or pitching at major summits, register early and study each event’s criteria carefully. These Asia startup events 2026 are your best route to capital, connections, and credibility across the region.
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