For years, the promise of the ASEAN startup ecosystem has been hindered by fragmented regulations, funding gaps, and disconnected networks. A new, ambitious initiative, the ASEAN Digital Center of Excellence (COE), aims to finally solve this by building a truly integrated regional platform.

Neil Cheong, Co-founder of the venture studio GUIDE, joins us to share an inside look at this project. His firm is acting as an independent secretariat, gathering grassroots perspectives from across the region to design a platform that truly serves the needs of the ecosystem, from an AI-powered investor directory to a "soft landing zone" for regulatory harmonisation.

We discuss:

• The mission behind the new ASEAN Digital Center of Excellence (COE).

• The grassroots approach to designing a platform for the ecosystem, by the ecosystem.

• The most requested features, from an AI-powered directory to a regional mentor network.

• Why access to talent and knowledge is a bigger challenge than funding.

• The concept of a "soft landing zone" for regulatory harmonization.

For startup founders, VCs, and ecosystem builders in Southeast Asia, this is an inside look at the ambitious plan to build a more connected and seamless digital future.