Catalysing the growth of Thai tech start-ups

Singapore-based media company e27, which is focused on expanding Asia’s technology start-up ecosystem, has collaborated with the Thai start-up community, Hubba Thailand, in arranging “Echelon Ignite Thailand 2013”, which takes place this Thursday and Friday at Bangkok University. 

The collaboration is an attempt to catalyse the growth of technology start-ups and businesses in Thailand, and to connect this community of innovators and entrepreneurs, said the organisers.

The event provides the platform and experience for opening doors for Thai start-ups and enabling them to realise their full potential. By connecting with local and regional influencers, the delegates will be inspired to take their business to the next level, and make valuable connections with speakers and trainers, and with each other, said Thaddeus Koh, co-founder and chief operating officer of e27.

Ultimately, he said, e27 wants the events to be a platform and tech resource for start-ups in Asia, and to connect the region together. 

Echelon Ignite will feature international speakers and coordinators working together with local speakers and coordinators to really address what is happening both locally in Thailand, regionally in Asia, and globally, he said. 

“We want start-ups to be challenged and inspired to take on the world after they’ve spent the two days at Echelon Ignite,” he added.

One more thing to look out for at the event will be the pitching session to Japanese venture company Global Brain. The start-up that most impresses the company will represent Thailand at this year’s “Global Brain Alliance Forum” in December.

The event organisers are confident of achieving their goals through the international speakers and coordinators they have attracted, said Koh, who mentioned by way of example Ray Chan from 9GAG and Khailee Ng from 500 Startups, who will share their insights as successful start-up founders and investors.

There are now many innovators and entrepreneurs in the rest of Asia, which has a growing interest in Thai businesses, technology and culture, he said.

“We hope to see Thai start-ups positively impacted through the business insights that will be shared, and the connections that will be made. Many of our speakers and coordinators are either successful founders or investors, who have plenty of experience. They have tasted both successes and failures, and their experience is valuable to anyone that wants to learn from their journeys as entrepreneurs,” he added.

Koh also said Thailand could be considered similar to other countries in Asia in terms of regional Internet trends. 

Major cities have a growing broadband penetration and mobile uptake in terms of smart phones and tablets, so from a technology point of view, Thailand “is definitely as current as countries like Indonesia and Malaysia”, he said.

Start-ups are also similar in that they attempt to create social mobile apps and are developing more e-commerce platforms. 

The strength of Thai start-ups, he said, definitely lies in their creativity when it comes to solving problems and building products. 

 

Entrepreneurial resilience

However, there is also a certain resilience and tenacity in Thailand’s entrepreneurs, who work hard and were able to weather the Asian financial crisis. Another strength is the community that has developed. 

With co-working spaces like Hubba Thailand and a growing number of tech media and community groups, a type of unity is growing in Thailand and coming together to offer innovative solutions and businesses to the Thai and Asian markets, he explained.

“As far as opportunities go, 2012 only saw Builk represent Thailand at [the main] Echelon [event]. This year, we saw four Thai start-ups in the top 50, and two making it to the top 10. These start-ups – Stamp, Noonswoon, HipFlat and Infinit Closet – show just how far Thailand’s start-up ecosystem has grown in a year, and how much opportunity there is in Thailand when it comes to ideas, community and great talent,” said Koh.

He acknowledged, however, that every growing opportunity runs the risk of becoming a bubble. There will be many who try to “talk the walk” but don’t “walk the talk”. Ultimately, that’s why e27 organises events like Echelon and Echelon Ignite, and also works with partners like Hubba Thailand. 

“We know that starting a business is risky and full of hard work; we face it every day, as well. The events that we organise are not meant to give you a silver bullet to reach success; no event can claim that. 

“But what we can claim is that because we do our absolute best to create a great event and platform, and support start-ups with knowledge, resources and access to fantastic mentors, we help to open doors that may have been closed, and we equip start-ups with knowledge and skills through respectable speakers and trainers. 

“As long as we are all sincere about building great businesses, growing industries through truly unique and game-changing products and services, and do not take short cuts, we can all build a sustainable industry for start-ups, not just in Thailand, but also for Asia,” said e27’s co-founder.