GenAI ASEAN Monthly Newsletter – January 2026

📢 The GenAI ASEAN Monthly Newsletter is an initiative by GenAI Fund to keep you informed about the latest trends, breakthroughs, and developments in Generative AI across Southeast Asia. Each month, we curate key highlights including 💰 investments, 📰 policy shifts, 🚀 startup innovations, and 🤝 impactful collaborations shaping the GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN.

In January 2026, GenAI Fund kicked off the new year with a series of high-impact events and strategic engagements. From fostering enterprise-startup collaboration at Tasco Innovation Day to facilitating a pivotal dialogue with Vietnam’s Minister of Science and Technology and delivering strategic AI training to the nation’s judiciary, the month was packed with milestones that reinforce our commitment to building a robust and dynamic AI ecosystem in the region.

Together, these milestones highlight how GenAI Fund and its partners are strengthening the bridge between startups and enterprises, driving AI from pilot to production across Asia.

Key Highlights for January 2026

1️⃣ Recap: Tasco Innovation Day 2026 (January 15)

📜 Summary of what happened:

On January 15, 2026, GenAI Fund partnered with Tasco to host Tasco Innovation Day 2026 in Hanoi, an event dedicated to connecting the best startups with Vietnam’s leading mobility companies to solve real-world problems. The event drew over 600 registrations and featured more than 100 startups. A key highlight was the official signing of a strategic partnership between Tasco and GenAI Fund, alongside Zalo and BytePlus, to accelerate innovation in the mobility sector. The day also included 71 private 1:1 business matching meetings and an exhibition showcasing 100+ startups from over 15 markets.

🔎 Why this matters to the GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:

This partnership provides startups with a direct pathway to collaborate with Tasco’s extensive ecosystem, demonstrating a powerful model for enterprise-startup synergy. The success of the business matching sessions underscores the immense potential that is unlocked when the right startups are connected with the right business leaders to solve specific, real-world challenges. The global nature of the event also highlights the increasing importance of cross-border collaboration in driving the future of AI in the region.

📌 Read more: HERE

2️⃣ Insightful Dialogue with the Minister of Science and Technology

📜 Summary of what happened:

GenAI Fund had the privilege of hosting an intimate dialogue between Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung and selected Vietnamese AI startups. The Minister shared his vision for Vietnam’s AI ecosystem, emphasizing that a startup’s greatest asset is its ability to identify and solve the right problems. He called on large corporations to act as the “first customers” for startups, providing them with a real-world environment to test and refine their solutions. The Minister also stressed the importance of focusing on localized, creative applications of AI to address specific challenges within Vietnam’s economy and society.

🔎 Why this matters to the GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:

This dialogue signals a significant shift in the Vietnamese government’s approach to supporting AI startups, moving from a focus on funding to a focus on creating a supportive

environment for experimentation and iteration. This new direction, which prioritizes sandbox-first, local application, and the development of “mini-unicorns,” aligns perfectly with GenAI Fund’s mission to foster a vibrant and sustainable AI ecosystem in Southeast Asia.

📌 Read more: HERE

3️⃣ AI Meets Vietnam’s Justice System

📜 Summary of what happened:

Earlier this month, GenAI Fund Partner Laura Nguyen delivered a strategic AI training session to the Supreme People’s Court of Vietnam, reaching over 10,000 government officials across 400 court locations. The program, titled “Raising Awareness & Mastering AI for Court Operations,” was a critical step in implementing Politburo Resolution 57 on national digital transformation. The training covered the fundamentals of AI, the importance of data sovereignty in court operations, and the practical application of AI-powered virtual assistants in the legal field.

🔎 Why this matters to the GenAI ecosystem in ASEAN:

This initiative demonstrates the growing recognition of AI’s potential to transform the public sector in Vietnam. By equipping the judiciary with the knowledge and tools to leverage AI effectively, GenAI Fund is helping to build a more efficient, transparent, and accessible justice system. This engagement also highlights the importance of a human-centric and law-governed approach to AI deployment, ensuring that the technology is used to serve the people and uphold the rule of law.

📌 Read more: HERE

4️⃣ Upcoming: GenAI Builders Meetup (Pre-Tet Edition)

In collaboration with Pharmacity, we’re excited to kick off the first GenAI Builders Meetup of the year! This special Pre-Tet edition will bring together founders, engineers, and AI talents for an afternoon of grassroots-style conversations and community-driven support.

🗓️ Date: February 10th, 2026

🕓 Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

📍 Venue: HCMC. Pharmacity Office

What to Expect:

Collaborate with Pharmacity: Connect directly with the Pharmacity team to explore the intersection of AI, retail, and healthcare.

🔷 Round-Robin Introductions: Share what you’re building, your challenges, and the support you need.

🔷 Pure Grassroots Exchange: Engage in unfiltered, real-world discussions with fellow builders.

🔷 Deep Networking: Forge genuine connections with the people driving Vietnam’s AI ecosystem.

This meetup series is a key part of the larger initiative leading to the GOI Summit in October 2026 – an AI conference gathering top AI leaders, researchers, and tech pioneers in SEA. These monthly syncs serve as building blocks to strengthen the community and partnerships as we head toward the summit.

📌 Register 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗙𝗲𝗯𝗿𝘂𝗮𝗿𝘆 𝟲𝘁𝗵: HERE

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🎉 As we approach Lunar New Year, we hope you’ll take time to celebrate with your beloved ones and recharge with family and loved ones. Come back refreshed and full of energy. We have an exciting year ahead for the GenAI ecosystem in Southeast Asia! 

Stay tuned for the next edition of the GenAI ASEAN Monthly Newsletter. 

Let’s keep building the region’s AI future — together. 💪✨

#GenAIFund #AI #DigitalTransformation #Vietnam