Strathclyde Program Readies 26 Thai MedTech Founders to Negotiate Global Deals
TILSNA and Strathclyde finish MedTech Catalyst Cohort 1, training 26 Thai healthtech founders to pitch, negotiate, and secure global investment deals.
- The Technology and Innovation in Life Sciences National Agency (TILSNA) and the University of Strathclyde co-organized an accelerator program for 26 Thai MedTech founders.
- The program was designed to equip founders from scientific backgrounds with crucial business skills in finance, valuation, and M&A strategies needed for global expansion.
- Training culminated in a simulated investment committee where founders pitched to a panel of global investors and corporate acquirers to practice for real-world deal negotiations.
From Scientific Breakthroughs to Global Deal-Making
In the rapidly expanding healthtech and medical technology sectors, world-class scientific research is only the entry ticket.
To scale beyond domestic markets and integrate into the global healthcare system, science-driven startups must master institutional finance, valuation dynamics, and M&A exit strategies.
Addressing this vital transition, twenty-six Thai MedTech founders completed the MedTech Catalyst Cohort 1 accelerator in Bangkok.
Co-organized by the Technology and Innovation in Life Sciences National Agency (TILSNA) and the Hunter Centre for Entrepreneurship, Strategy and Innovation at the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, the three-day program focused on founders whose backgrounds rooted in scientific laboratories rather than finance departments.
The intensive curriculum was designed to prepare these innovators to negotiate joint ventures, raise venture capital, and build long-term value for international buyers.
“Thailand has excellent scientific capabilities in health and wellness. However, transforming these discoveries into scalable, fundable companies requires more than just a great product - it needs strong business fundamentals and strategic investment.” Mr. Preecha Bhandtivej, Honorary Board Member, TILSNA
Financial Architecture and Non-Dilutive Growth
The program divided participants into two distinct tracks: pre-revenue startups preparing for their first institutional seed round, and growth-stage companies structuring Series A or Series B expansion. Moving away from standard lecture formats, most of the accelerator was spent on active simulations.
Founders converted traditional business plans into rigorous financial models.
They mapped capitalization tables, calculated unit economics, and articulated health-economic valuations required by corporate healthcare buyers.
Through simulated due diligence exercises, founders practiced securing growth capital without unnecessarily surrendering equity or operational governance.
“We have great innovations in Thailand. TILSNA’s role is to help build the partnerships and financial readiness needed to bring these discoveries from the lab to the global health system. This program is a vital step in showing our founders exactly what the global market will demand of them.” Jittiporn Thammajinda, Ph.D., Chief Executive Officer, TILSNA
Real Scrutiny from International Investors
The accelerator concluded with a simulated investment committee where founders presented their final pitches to a panel of global investors and corporate acquirers. Led by distinguished faculty members
including Professor Julian Taylor (Head of Strathclyde’s Southeast Asia Hub), Professor Duncan Graham (Executive Dean of Science at Strathclyde and co-founder of Renishaw Diagnostics), Dr. Phil Considine (Director of Executive Development at the Hunter Centre),
and investor Lisl Macdonald (Founder of Spring and Atlas) - the panel delivered candid, real-time verdicts.
