To bolster Thai startups' capability in their transition to sustainability while keeping pace with technological advancement, KASIKORNBANK (KBank) has launched KATALYST STARTUP LAUNCHPAD 2023 – a nine-week intensive program that aims to equip participants with world-class business solutions, free of charge. Aside from knowledge and multiple benefits for advancing business growth, learners will have a chance to showcase their projects and compete for cash prizes together with various business tools, worth more than 1 million Baht in total. Applications are open for aspiring learners with a focus on tech startups in the following industries: financial technology (FinTech), environment (ESG and green technology), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), health technology (HealthTech), and enterprise solutions. This initiative reinforces KBank's commitment to strengthening Thai startups to be a driving force in fostering a sustainable economy.
Ms. Kattiya Indaravijaya, KBank Chief Executive Officer, said, “Sustainability is a matter of paramount importance for everyone in today's world. The transition towards sustainability presents an opportunity for businesses to enjoy substantial growth. KBank is committed to fostering comprehensive support for Thai startups in terms of both funding and knowledge, enabling them to keep up with ever-evolving technology advancements. Prioritizing balanced sustainability in the environmental, social and governance (ESG) dimensions, the Bank aims to empower startups to meet the demands of the business sector and achieve sustainable growth."
Given its resolve, KBank has implemented KATALYST STARTUP LAUNCHPAD 2023 with the aim of boosting Thai startups' potential. This program is in its fourth consecutive year under the “Unleash Your Entrepreneurial Spirit for Sustainable Success" concept. The nine-week intensive learning course is intended to help startups improve their business operations and grow sustainably. It is packed with knowledge on building a startup through various means, from forming a work team to laying a business foundation and other ways to grow businesses, such as using the top two emerging technologies, namely artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML). A business management concept that recognizes the ESG criteria, which can be practically applied to the business, is also featured in the learning course to help participants seize new opportunities in the business trends of the future.
The content of the learning course under the KATALYST STARTUP LAUNCHPAD 2023 is supported by the research project led by Associate Professor Charles (Chuck) Eesley of Stanford University. Moreover, KBank has collaborated with various partners in offering the participants advice and recommendations from leading mentors in a diverse range of industries, both in Thailand and abroad, including executives from the Digital Economy Promotion Agency (DEPA), representatives from Amazon Web Services (AWS) and experts from KASIKORN Business-Technology Group (KBTG) and Beacon CV. These veterans will share their knowledge and experience to help the participants fully draw upon their own potential and teams. Moreover, AWS will provide AWS Activate credits to cover the participants' use of AWS service throughout the program.
The content of the learning course comprises knowledge that will help startups develop their capacities in a comprehensive manner, starting from the basics, such as how to find a business idea, to the analysis of customers' needs, development of competitive potential, brand building and product development. The learning course also features components of being an entrepreneur, marketing, financial management, business planning, presentation skills, and how to build networks and do business with the participants in the previous learning courses. During the final week of the program, startups with the most outstanding performance will be selected to present their work to the committee. The top three winners will receive cash prizes and benefits from partners of KATALYST by KBank in order to build their businesses. They will be given opportunities to collaborate with KBank on various business projects, including product development, to meet consumers' needs in the digital era.
All participants who have met the criteria of the course will be able to benefit from privileges and business tools worth a total of more than 1 million Baht. They will also be granted a certificate from KATALYST by KBank and a certificate of Stanford Online, which will serve to pave the way towards new opportunities for business networking with a number of leading companies in Thailand and foreign countries.
Ms. Kattiya noted the prominent feature of this course that the participants will learn and conduct real-world operations in all steps, with useful knowledge and techniques to be shared by experts in the fields of technologies, design and business undertakings to help them efficiently achieve success. Over the past three years, more than 100 Thai startup teams have completed this course, and many of them have applied the knowledge gained to bring greater success to their enterprises. This year, KBank is placing an emphasis on tech startups with products or prototype models that are ready to be launched in the areas of FinTech, ESG and green technology, artificial intelligence and machine learning, HealthTech, and enterprise solutions.
Interested persons may find more details of the course and qualifications of the applicants, and may apply for the course, at the KATALYST website – https://launchpad.klandingservice.com – or keep up with any news of the course at https://www.facebook.com/KATALYSTbyKBank. Applications are open now until July 31, 2023, and the course will run from September 4 to October 29, 2023.