NSTDA by Software Park Thailand organized a webinar as part of World Business Angel Investors Week 2022, coordinated globally by the World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF). The webinar which took place on 23 June 2022 was one of many global and local events held in 132 countries to share in-depth information on angel investment, startup economy, financial inclusion, gender quality, entrepreneurship and innovation under an overarching theme of “Business Transformation for Post-Pandemic Economies”.
In her welcome speech, NSTDA Executive Vice President Dr. Thitapha Smitinont in her capacity as the World Business Angel Investors Week 2022 country chair commented that angel investors play a vital role in the development of the economy by providing the capital to enterprises which contributes to economic growth and technological advances. Especially to startup companies, angel investors can offer both fund and guidance from their accumulated experience. NSTDA Technology Management Center (TMC) has been supporting angel investors through an establishment of WBAF Thailand Country Office which facilitates a critical financial mechanism to accelerate research and innovations to reach local and international markets. The WBAF Thailand Country Office has been collaborating with the public and private partners, including the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), the National Innovation Agency (NIA), the Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET) and Thailand Center of Excellence for Life Sciences (TCELS). In addition, the center launches a pitching & matching event for startups in collaboration with Thailand Business Angel Network (TBAN), runs NSTDA Acceleration Program for deep tech startups and operates NSTDA Investment Center (NIC) to make an investment in tech businesses.
NSTDA President Dr. Narong Sirilertworakul gave a keynote presentation on Thailand BCG Initiative for Post-pandemic Economies. The Bio-Circular-Green Economy (BCG) is Thailand’s national agenda for sustainable growth and inclusiveness. The model focuses on four strategic sectors, namely 1) agriculture and food, 2) wellness and medicine, 3) energy, materials and biochemicals, and 4) tourism and creative economy, and aims to achieve sustainability of resources and the environment, socioeconomic prosperity, sustainable economic growth, and self-reliance. A number of actions have been launched, including BCG policy, investment promotion measures, regulations on carbon credit, financial mechanism for carbon trading, infrastructure investment and the new innovation hub called the Eastern Economic Corridor of Innovation (EECi).
A conversation with Ms. Oranuch Lerdsuwankij, CEO & Co-founder of Techsauce Media, shed light on post-pandemic business transformation for startups; whereas a roundtable discussion on the way to promote BCG startup in Thailand had representatives from the public and private sectors - the National Innovation Agency, Thai Venture Capital Association, Thai Startup Trade Association and the Board of Investment - sharing their insights and perspectives.
The conference concluded with a roundtable discussion in which the president and board members of Thailand Business Angel Network (TBAN) offered angel perspective on BCG investment and a special interview of Dr. Warodom Khamphamchai, CEO & Co-founder of AltoTech Company Limited, on his strategy to grow his startup during the crisis.