Corporate Social Responsibility as a Strategic Tool for Sustainable Growth: A Comparative Study of Startups in India and Southeast Asia

Emerging market startups are increasingly turning to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategic means for sustainable growth. The increasing complexity of socio-economic contexts of India and Southeast Asia requires a greater understanding of CSR models are embedded into entrepreneurial ecosystems. The practices have moved from a compliance-based to an innovation-driven model that adds value to enterprises over the long term. This study used a mixed-methods design integrating structured surveys, semi-structured interviews, and secondary data analysis in 60 startups, 30 from India and 30 from Southeast Asia. The results were higher integration in Indian startups by virtue of regulatory requirements, and Southeast Asian startups exhibited varied CSR patterns shaped by socio-cultural and institutional contexts. Tellingly, some of the key metrics like employee retention, trust scores, and revenue growth were correlated positively with robust CSR alignment. Industry-wise, clean energy and healthcare turned out to be CSR leaders. CSR becomes a key driver of both social influence and business robustness.