Meta today announced the launch of its Small Business Growth Academy across Asia-Pacific – a new programme designed to help small businesses move from small to scale by using digital and AI-enabled tools to find customers, improve productivity, and grow across borders.
Delivered in partnership with governments, chambers of commerce, and local programme partners, the Small Business Growth Academy will provide practical training on Meta products, including AI-enabled advertising tools, Reels, WhatsApp for Business, cross-border commerce, and Meta Business Agent. The programme will initially run across 12 countries in the Asia-Pacific, with the aim of supporting thousands of small businesses through a combination of in-person workshops, scaled learning modules, and partner-led training.
Addressing the opportunity — and the gap #
Small businesses are a critical engine of APAC’s digital economy, but many continue to face barriers when adopting new technologies — including limited time, skills gaps, and concerns about data privacy.
Research from Deloitte’s AI For Business: APAC Trends found that small and medium businesses across the region are already embracing AI, but need more support to unlock its full potential:
78% of SMBs surveyed across Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Thailand, and Vietnam already use at least one AI tool82% plan to adopt more AI tools in the near future73% agree AI tools help level the playing field with larger businesses86% say AI tools enhance productivity and reduce costs
The Small Business Growth Academy is designed to bridge the gap between interest and adoption – giving businesses the confidence and skills to put these tools to work.
Building practical skills for growth #
“At Meta, we see every day how small businesses in the Asia-Pacific region use our AI-enabled products and tools, such as advertising solutions and Business Agents, to reach new customers and grow across markets,” said Beth Ann Eliason-Lim, Director Public Policy Strategy APAC, at Meta.* “Our AI-powered Business Agents, for example, allow businesses to respond to customers instantly across Messenger, WhatsApp and Instagram – helping them provide always-on support without needing to scale their teams. The Small Business Growth Academy is about giving more businesses and entrepreneurs the practical skills and support they need to adopt tools like our Business Agents confidently, compete more effectively, and take part in the opportunities being created by the AI and the digital economy.”*
The programme will focus on three core areas:
SMB empowerment– helping business owners to use Meta platforms to connect with customers and grow their businesses.** AI adoption**– supporting small businesses to use AI-enabled tools to improve advertising, automate customer interactions, boost productivity, and reach new markets.Public-private partnership– working with governments, chambers of commerce, civil society organisations, and agencies to provide localized training solutions and support
What participants will learn #
Training content will include modules on generating leads across Meta technologies, optimising campaigns with Advantage+, creating ads that comply with Meta advertising policies, using Reels to reach business goals, elevating business strategies with WhatsApp for Business, maximising international sales through cross-border commerce tools, and using Meta Business Agent to support business growth.
Building on Meta’s commitment to small business #
The Small Business Growth Academy builds on Meta’s ongoing work to support small businesses across APAC through digital skills training, business education, and tools that help entrepreneurs connect with customers – locally and globally.