ABSTRACT The survival of small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) depends on their adaptability and ability to successfully manage challenging circumstances in today's fast-paced business environment. Taking a Resource-Based Theory perspective, this study intends to analyse the relationship between Cross-Industry Strategic Collaborations and Crowdfunding as Firm Survival Drivers. This study also investigates how these elements interact through the mediating mechanism of Strategic Agility, as well as the moderating influence of Government Support in recent Pakistani crises. Primary data were acquired from 277 respondents working in SMEs in Pakistan's major cities, and hypotheses were tested with Smart PLS. The findings emphasise the significant roles that cross-industry collaborations and crowdsourcing play in determining SME survival during difficult times and emphasise their tangible contributions. The study also highlights the importance of strategic agility as a key mediator between strategic collaborations, crowdsourcing and firm survival. Furthermore, the inclusion of government support as a moderator enhances the link between strategic agility and firm survival, highlighting the significant function of institutional support. These results highlight the value of institutional support and strategic agility in enabling fruitful collaborations and crowdfunding activities to ensure SME survival and offer valuable insights on the resilience of SMEs.