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At last year’s Echelon tech conference, LINE’s managing director for Thailand, Ariya Banomyong, asked the startup community, “What are we disrupting and who are we doing it for?” Ariya, and lots of other Thai entrepreneurs, are asking those in the tech scene to challenge themselves to solve real problems, not just focus on revenue and profit.
Ariya would be happy to know that this appeal to address real world issues through entrepreneurship is at the core of the mai Bangkok Business Challenge @ Sasin.
The mai Bangkok Business Challenge @ Sasin has been encouraging MBA students to think out of the box since 2002. The yearly competition aims to instill the entrepreneurial spirit, foster stronger networks, match startups with potential partners and investors and bring sustainability concerns to the forefront of commercial ventures.
Each year teams from business administration programs all over the world compete for Thailand’s coveted H.M. The King’s Award, plus the chance to win up to 46,000 USD in cash.
With the support of the Stock Exchange of Thailand’s Market for Alternative Investment, and Thailand’s top business school, Sasin, this competition is reaching new heights in 2016.
Sasin’s team, Hygia Sanitation
The 16 semi-finalist teams hail from the United States, France, Taiwan, Philippines, Thailand, India, Indonesia, Denmark, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Australia. They will compete on February 11-13, 2016 at the Sasin campus in the heart of downtown Bangkok.
The teams’ projects focus on innovation in such areas as women’s health, food safety, recycling, infant health, and sanitation. We’re pretty sure this would make LINE Thailand’s MD very proud.
The judges – top entrepreneurs, professionals and investors – choose the most attractive new venture based on written business plans, live presentations and venture exhibits.
Sounds a little more intense than The Face, don’t you think? And it’s fair to say the objectives of this competition are much more lofty. Although, we’re not sure which will be more cutthroat. A group of would-be supermodels or would-be billionaires/social activists?
On the first day of the competition the teams will deliver a 99 second pitch. Yes, elevator pitches do matter, and a good one could be just the thing standing between you and your own successful startup venture. (Duly noted.)
The Semi-final Round, Sustainability Award Round and Play-off Round Competition will take place on Day 2 followed by the Final Round on Day 3 February 13, with the winners announced at Sasin and broadcast live on The Money Channel.
For more information about the mai Bangkok Business Challenge @ Sasin and to keep up with the competition and the winners click here.
