ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council

What ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council does

The ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) is a non-profit regional organization established in 2015 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia at the proposal of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC), and serves as the official voice of young entrepreneurs in the ASEAN policy-making process. It operates as a federation of government-endorsed national young entrepreneur associations from all 10 ASEAN member states — Brunei (YEAB), Cambodia (YEAC), Indonesia (HIPMI), Laos (YEAL), Malaysia (MAYA), Myanmar (MYEA), Philippines (PYEA), Singapore (SBF), Thailand (Thailand YEC), and Vietnam (VYEA) — with 3 council members per country totaling 30 members, and holds a seat in ASEAN-BAC Joint Business Councils. Its mandate centers on policy advocacy, cross-border networking, and market connectivity for young entrepreneurs across the region.

The organization's core offerings revolve around three sub-brands and a flagship event program. AYEC, the parent council, was joined in 2016 by the ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association (AYEA), which focuses on entrepreneur-investor exchange, and in July 2021 by the ASEAN Young Women Entrepreneurs Club (AYWEC), a platform for women-owned businesses. The annual AYE Carnival, run since 2016 and rotating with ASEAN Chairmanship, is the only ASEAN programme under the economic pillar and features forums, expositions, and a Business Awards Programme. The annual award slate includes Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year (one per AMS), Top 20 by industry, ASEAN Young Entrepreneur Award: Technology & Innovation, and Most Outstanding ASEAN Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

AYEC's business model is event-driven and non-commercial in primary orientation. Monetization runs through the AYE Carnival ticketing — tiered from USD 150 (Council, Overseas Association) to RM 2,000 (Gala Nights) and RM 500 (Student, with a RM 150 promotional tier) — and corporate sponsorship from partners such as Malaysia Airlines, Sienna Design, Tone Music, BlackGrid, DG1, Baiduri Bank, and Imagine. Ticket sales and member onboarding are transacted via a DG1-powered e-commerce storefront at ayec.org, supported by standard Google OAuth, Facebook OAuth, and Google reCAPTCHA integrations. Marketing is delivered through the website, email newsletter, Instagram, blog content, press releases, the ABAC-AYEC Policy Dialogue Forum, and the AYEC Business & Entrepreneurship Dialogue Series. Governance is structured around an annually rotating AYEC Chairmanship that follows the ASEAN host country, with 2 Co-Chairs representing outgoing and incoming chairs, plus 2 elected seats (Treasurer and Secretary General). The Carnival's geographic rotation through ASEAN capitals — Malaysia 2016, Philippines 2017, Singapore 2018, Thailand 2019, Vietnam 2020 (virtual), Brunei 2021 (virtual), Cambodia 2022, and Malaysia again for the 10th anniversary in 2025 — represents the organization's primary operational cadence.

Name

ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council

Legal name

ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council

Website

https://ayec.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) is the official ASEAN policy voice for young entrepreneurs, federating 10 government-endorsed national associations across ASEAN into a 30-member council, an annual AYE Carnival, AYEA, and AYWEC for women entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Kuala Lumpur

HQ country

Malaysia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Event Registration Fees: Revenue generated from ticketed events including the AYE Carnival (AYEC Council tickets at USD 150, Overseas Association at USD 150, MAYA members at RM 800-1000, Local Association at RM 800-1200, Non-Members/Public at RM 1200-1800, Students at RM 500, Gala Nights & Awards at RM 2000).
2. Sponsorship and Partnerships: Corporate sponsorship from event partners and supporters including organizations like Sienna Design, Tone Music, BlackGrid, DG1, Malaysia Airlines, and others who sponsor the annual carnival events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

AYEC is a non-profit regional council that serves as the official policy voice of young entrepreneurs within ASEAN, coordinating a network of 10 government-endorsed national young entrepreneur associations (with 3 council members each, totaling 30 members). It organizes the annual AYE Carnival (since 2016) featuring forums, expositions, and business awards, and runs sub-initiatives AYEA (for entrepreneur-investor exchange) and AYWEC (for women entrepreneurs). Membership access and event tickets are sold through the AYEC website and via national associations.

Product overview

ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council (AYEC) operates as a platform organization with multiple interconnected products and services. The core offering consists of the AYEC network itself—a policy-making voice for young entrepreneurs across 10 ASEAN member states—supported by three sub-brands: AYEA (ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association) for investor-entrepreneur exchange, AYWEC (ASEAN Young Women Entrepreneurs Club) for female entrepreneurs, and the AYE Carnival as the flagship annual event featuring forums, expositions, and awards. The organization also offers tiered membership programs including AYEC Council membership (USD 150), Overseas Association membership, MAYA members (Basic and Platinum tiers), Local Association memberships (Basic and Premium), Non-Members/Public tiers (Basic and Premium), Student tickets, and Gala Night tickets. Additionally, a Blog platform provides news and press releases. The DG1-powered e-commerce platform enables ticket sales and member registrations.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• AYEC (ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Council) The official ASEAN-level council serving as the policy voice of young entrepreneurs in ASEAN, comprising a network of government-endorsed young entrepreneur associations from all 10 ASEAN Member States, with 3 council members per country (30 total). Coordinates cross-border policy advocacy, networking, and the annual AYE Carnival.
• AYEA (ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Association) An association formed under AYEC in 2016 to promote exchange and cooperation between young entrepreneurs and investors within ASEAN Member States, including investment matching, cross-border business cooperation, supplier connections, and market access.
• AYWEC (ASEAN Young Women Entrepreneurs Club) A voluntary socio-professional organisation of ASEAN young women entrepreneurs owning or managing businesses in all economic sectors, operating under AYEC since July 2021 to develop a strong women-owned business community and contribute to ASEAN socio-economic development.
• AYE Carnival (ASEAN Young Entrepreneurs Carnival) Annual flagship event of AYEC featuring a forum, exposition, and Business Awards Programme. First-of-its-kind Carnival and the only ASEAN programme under the economic pillar. Rotates through ASEAN Chairmanship host countries (10th edition held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in October 2025).
• AYEC Membership Program Tiered membership and event access program offering AYEC Council membership (USD 150), Overseas Association membership (USD 150), MAYA Members Basic/Platinum (RM 800-1,000), Local Association Basic/Premium (RM 800-1,200), Non-Members/Public Basic/Premium (RM 1,200-1,800), Student tickets (RM 500, promo RM 150), and Gala Nights & Awards Ceremony (RM 2,000, member RM 1,500). Includes access to Opening Ceremony, forums, welcome cocktail, factory visit, and gala dinner.

Quantifiable outcome

• Network spanning all 10 ASEAN Member States with government-endorsed national associations
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) CambodiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with GEN Cambodia for 7th AYE Carnival in 2022, co-hosting in Phnom Penh.
• Young Entrepreneurs Association of Brunei (YEAB)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Brunei in AYEC. Government-appointed representatives. Served as AYEC Chair 2021 and hosted 6th AYE Carnival virtually.
• Young Entrepreneurs Association of Cambodia (YEAC)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Cambodia in AYEC. Served as AYEC Chair 2022 and hosted 7th AYE Carnival in Phnom Penh.
• Himpunan Pengusaha Muda Indonesia (HIPMI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Indonesia in AYEC. Took over AYEC Chairmanship for 2023.
• Young Entrepreneurs Association of Laos (YEAL)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Laos in AYEC with government-appointed representatives.
• Malaysian Young Entrepreneurs ASEAN Association (MAYA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Malaysia in AYEC. Served as AYEC Chair 2015 and 2025. Hosted founding launch and 10th Anniversary.
• Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association (MYEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Myanmar in AYEC with government-appointed representatives.
• Philippines Young Entrepreneurs Association (PYEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing the Philippines in AYEC. Took over AYEC Chairmanship for 2026.
• Singapore Business Federation (SBF)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Singapore in AYEC.
• Thailand Young Entrepreneurs Chamber of CommercecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Thailand in AYEC. Hosted 4th AYE Carnival in Bangkok 2019.
• Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association (VYEA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015National association member representing Vietnam in AYEC. Hosted 5th AYE Carnival virtually in 2020.
• ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerASEAN-BAC proposed and endorsed AYEC to ASEAN Leaders in 2015. AYEC holds a seat in ASEAN-BAC Joint Business Councils (ASEAN-BAC JBCs) where proposals on young entrepreneurship are tabled. Joint ABAC-AYEC Policy Dialogue Forum (AAPDF) conducted annually.
• Sienna DesignsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and design partner for AYEC events including the 10th Anniversary Carnival 2025.
• Tone MusicsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for AYEC carnival events.
• BlackGridsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor and winner of Top 20 Young Entrepreneur Award for Digital Marketing in 2025.
• Malaysia AirlinessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerEvent sponsor for 10th AYEC Carnival 2025.
• DG1 (Website Provider)supportingTechnology or IntegrationWebsite development and technology provider for ayec.org platform including e-commerce functionality.
• Imagine (Lead Telecommunications Partner)supportingGTM or Marketing PartnerLead Telecommunications Partner for 6th AYE Carnival Brunei 2021 virtual event.
• YAM Tengku Arif BendaharasupportingOthersRoyal dignitary who presented awards at the 10th AYEC Carnival 2025 Gala & Awards Night.
• Tan Sri Nazir RazakcoreOthersChairman of ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2025. Presented Outstanding Entrepreneur of the Year Award at 10th AYEC Carnival.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Startup Grind: Startup Grind operates the world's largest startup community with events in 600+ chapters across 125+ countries, sharing AYEC's event-driven GTM and grassroots entrepreneur networking model. Both monetize through event ticket sales, sponsorships, and corporate partnerships, and compete for the same ASEAN founder mindshare.
• Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN): GEN runs the Global Entrepreneurship Week and Global Entrepreneurship Congress across 180+ countries, organizing flagship events and policy dialogues that mirror AYEC's carnival-plus-policy-advocacy model. AYEC formally partnered with GEN Cambodia for the 7th AYE Carnival 2022, evidencing direct operational and strategic overlap in mobilizing entrepreneurs through events and policy channels.

Broad incumbents

• Entrepreneurs' Organization (EO): EO is a global, peer-to-peer network of founders and entrepreneurs with active ASEAN chapters (Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand), offering member events, accelerators, and forums. EO's membership-fee-driven model and focus on founder peer exchange directly parallels AYEC's networking and capacity-building offerings at the regional ASEAN level.
• YPO (Young Presidents' Organization): YPO is a global peer network of CEOs and young presidents with chapters across ASEAN, providing forums, education, and networking at a higher executive tier. Both YPO and AYEC monetize through membership dues and chapter-level events for entrepreneur-leaders, but YPO focuses on established CEOs versus AYEC's 18-40 entrepreneur mandate.
• ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN-BAC): ASEAN-BAC is the parent incubator of AYEC — it proposed AYEC to ASEAN Leaders in 2015 and continues to incubate AYEC's policy work via the ABAC-AYEC Policy Dialogue Forum. ASEAN-BAC serves the broader private sector at the ASEAN Leaders' Summit while AYEC focuses specifically on the youth-vertical, making ASEAN-BAC both a parent and the closest incumbent peer.

Others

• World Economic Forum (WEF): WEF's New Champions community and Young Global Leaders program offer a parallel global platform for high-potential entrepreneurs and policy engagement. While WEF is far broader and more global, both WEF and AYEC convene entrepreneur cohorts with privileged policy access at the international institutional level.
• Youth Co:Lab (UNDP & Citi Foundation): Youth Co:Lab is UNDP and Citi Foundation's Asia-Pacific youth leadership and social entrepreneurship platform operating across 28 countries, including most of ASEAN. It directly competes for ASEAN youth-entrepreneur mindshare and DFI/corporate partnership funding through policy dialogue, capacity building, and accelerator programming.
• JA Worldwide (Junior Achievement): JA Worldwide is the largest youth entrepreneurship education organization globally, with active programs across ASEAN delivering entrepreneurship curricula in schools and universities. While JA focuses on early-stage education and AYEC on active young entrepreneurs, both address the ASEAN youth-business pipeline through structured programs and corporate partnerships.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC): ICC is the world's largest business association with national committees across ASEAN, providing policy advocacy, dispute resolution, and trade facilitation. AYEC's ASEAN-BAC policy mandate echoes ICC's model of institutional business-policy representation, though at a regional youth-focused vertical versus ICC's global generalist mandate.

Regional players

• APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC): ABAC serves as the official private-sector advisory body to APEC Leaders across 21 Asia-Pacific economies — the same institutional role AYEC plays within the narrower ASEAN framework. Both bodies monetize through policy forums, member-driven initiatives, and rotating chairmanships tied to their host economies' leadership cycles.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/aseanyec
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/asean-young-entrepreneurs-council

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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