If there was ever a course that captured the true spirit of the Feastival of Ideas, it was this one.

Fresh off the energy of the “Cream of the Crop” panel, the stage transformed into a launchpad for something extraordinary: Four incredible women founders from across ASEAN and Australia took the mic to share how they’re driving change in the green economy, tackling sustainability, circular design, and innovation with purpose. Each pitch proved that transformation doesn’t need permission, just ambition.

This was Generation Next: Pitch à la Carte, a showcase of innovation served hot from the future.

Each team had just a few minutes to share their story, their solution, and their heart, but what they delivered was far more than pitches. It was proof that the next generation of founders isn’t waiting for permission. They’re already building.

The Spark

Backed by the ASEAN–Australia Centre and delivered by HEX, the Generation Next 2025 program empowers women founders across Southeast Asia and Australia to scale their impact globally and drive sustainable economic growth.

This initiative builds on Australia’s strong regional partnerships, aligning with the ASEAN–Australia Centre’s mission to strengthen long-term regional ties, promote innovation-led trade, and empower women founders who are leading in areas like sustainability, the green economy, digital innovation, and circular design. You can learn more about the program and the inspiring founders behind it in the Generation Next 2025 blog.

At HEXPO 2025, four standout founders from the Generation Next cohort took the stage to represent their countries and their causes, showing what happens when innovation meets purpose and collaboration transcends borders

The Pitchers

From Cambodia, Chau Lon Molika of Prohose Oficial showcased how her venture is tackling plastic waste while empowering local farmers through sustainable packaging solutions. Representing the Philippines, Mica (Monica Carmeli) Martirez of Rezbin Waste Technology Inc. redefined recycling with smart collection systems that turn waste into opportunity. Over in Indonesia, Falasifah of ALBITEC (PT Alga Bioteknologi Indonesia) shared how her team is innovating with green tech and spirulina-based solutions to power a more sustainable future. Meanwhile, Pasinee Tangsuriyapaisan of Enable Earth Co., Ltd. (Australia/Thailand) led the charge in environmental innovation, bridging purpose and profit through circular economy principles.

Each founder stepped up not just with a pitch, but with a purpose, to change how their communities live, work, and care for the planet.

The Energy

Each team brought something different to the table, different accents, different ideas, but the same fire. You could feel the pride, the nerves, and the belief in every word. It wasn’t about competition; it was about contribution.

As their slides flashed and their pitches unfolded, the audience leaned forward. Not because they were judging, but because they were curious. These weren’t polished, corporate founders. They were students, dreamers, and doers, people with dirt under their nails and vision in their eyes.

They spoke about waste, nutrition, access, and empowerment, the kind of issues that can’t wait another decade for someone else to solve.

The Aftertaste

When the last pitch ended, the applause was different. It wasn’t polite; it was electric. Everyone knew they’d just witnessed something rare, raw potential, served real.

Generation Next wasn’t just a showcase. It was a reminder that innovation doesn’t belong to Silicon Valley or big budgets. It belongs to anyone willing to start where they are and build for the world they want to see.

From Phnom Penh to Melbourne, from Jakarta to Manila, these young founders are proof that the next generation isn’t just ready for the future, they’re already shaping it.

At HEX, we’re proud to help them amplify their voices, connect their communities, and turn ideas into impact. Because the Feastival of Ideas doesn’t stop at inspiration. It ends where it always should, with action.

🍽️ Next on the plate: HEXPO 2025 Speaker Series: Scott Millar on The Power of Gen Z in the Workforce.