Two homegrown companies, Bateriku and Respond.io, have earned places on the prestigious Forbes Asia 100 To Watch 2026 list.
The annual list highlights 100 promising startups and small businesses shaping the future of the Asia-Pacific region. This year, companies from 16 countries and territories were selected, with artificial intelligence emerging as one of the biggest trends.
For Malaysia, Bateriku and Respond.io stood out for using technology to solve very different problems, from helping stranded motorists to managing billions of customer messages worldwide.
Two Malaysian Companies Earn Forbes Asia Recognition
This is the sixth edition of the Forbes Asia 100 To Watch list, which appears in the September issue of the magazine and is sponsored by FedEx.
The selected companies are divided into 10 industry categories. India led the list with 19 companies, followed by Singapore with 15 companies and China with 10 companies.
Japan and South Korea each recorded nine companies, while Indonesia and Australia each had eight. Malaysia was represented by Bateriku and Respond.io.
Bateriku Is Changing How Malaysians Get Roadside Assistance
Founded in 2014, Shah Alam-based Bateriku was selected under the Consumer Technology category.
Led by CEO Azerol Faizi Zakaria Ansari, the company provides on-demand car battery replacement and roadside assistance through its mobile application, website and hotline.
Instead of leaving motorists to search for help when their vehicles break down, Bateriku connects them with an extensive support network across the country.
The company currently works with 1,000 mechanics and 2,000 partner repair shops and tow truck operators across 270 locations in Malaysia.
Its growth has also moved beyond Malaysia. In 2023, Bateriku expanded into Indonesia, marking an important step in its regional journey.
A year later, the company raised US$7.4 million, approximately RM30 million, in a Series B funding round. Its investors included Kumpulan Wang Persaraan (KWAP), Gobi Partners and VentureTECH.
The selection by Forbes Asia puts Bateriku alongside some of the most promising consumer technology companies in the region.
Respond.io Manages Billions Of Customer Messages
Kuala Lumpur-based Respond.io was recognised under the Enterprise Technology category.
Founded in 2017 and led by CEO Gerardo Salandra, the company helps businesses manage customer conversations from different communication platforms in one place.
Its software combines channels including WhatsApp, Instagram, TikTok, email and voice calls into a single inbox. This allows customer service and sales teams to respond to customers without constantly switching between applications.
Respond.io also uses AI tools to answer simple questions, organise customer information and direct more complicated conversations to human employees.
Today, the Malaysian company processes more than two billion messages every quarter for approximately 10,000 businesses across 180 countries.
In June 2026, Respond.io raised US$62.5 million, approximately RM254 million, in a Series B funding round from investors including Camber Partners and Endeavor Catalyst.
The company initially focused on regions where messaging applications play a major role in daily business, including Southeast Asia, Latin America and the Middle East. It now plans to use the latest funding to expand further into North America and Europe.
The Forbes Asia recognition shows how a company based in Kuala Lumpur has grown into a global platform serving thousands of businesses.
AI Becomes A Major Theme In Forbes Asia 2026
Artificial intelligence was one of the strongest themes in this year’s Forbes Asia 100 To Watch list.
Close to one-quarter of the selected businesses were enterprise technology companies offering AI-related services. Robotics was another fast-growing category, with 10 companies making the list.
Forbes Asia Editorial Director Rana Wehbe Watson said the selected startups and small businesses are leading the next wave of innovation across the region, with much of that growth powered by AI.
Some companies are helping SMEs introduce automation into their operations, while others are developing advanced robots for sectors such as eldercare and scientific research.
The 100 Companies Raised More Than US$2.4 Billion
The companies featured by Forbes Asia have collectively raised more than US$2.4 billion, approximately RM9.76 billion, in funding. Almost US$1 billion of that amount was raised in 2026 alone, reflecting strong investor confidence in emerging businesses across the Asia-Pacific region.
To qualify for consideration, companies must be privately owned, operate for profit and have their headquarters in the Asia-Pacific region.
As of 15 August 2026, eligible companies also needed to record annual revenue of no more than US$50 million and total funding of no more than US$100 million.
The companies were evaluated based on factors including innovation, business model, suitability for their markets, revenue growth, industry contribution and ability to attract funding.
For Bateriku and Respond.io, earning places on the Forbes Asia 100 To Watch list puts two Malaysian technology companies among some of the most exciting emerging businesses in the region.
Sources: 1 | 2
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