This Feb 16-18 sees the return of the The mai Bangkok Business Challenge® @Sasin2017, an intercollegiate post-graduate start-up venture plan competition hosted by mai (Thailand Stock Exchange’s Market for Alternative Investment) and the Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University. Now in its 15th year, the competition invites post-graduate entrepreneur teams to pitch their business ideas under the theme “Seeds of Success for a Sustainable Business.”

Aiming to encourage an entrepreneurial spirit among post-graduate students, the competition also provides a platform for students to network with those from similar programs abroad, as well as with potential business partners and investors who are interested in upcoming start-ups.

During the three-day competition, the 16 semi-finalists, who have been narrowed down from the 70 teams around the world that sent in submissions, will compete for the grand prize. Among them are representatives from top universities including University of Cambridge, Cornell University, The University of Oregon, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Queensland University of Technology, Asian Institute of Management and more, with Thailand’s representatives from Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration.

This year’s competition also includes the first ever Thailand Track Round, in which five Thai teams will pitch their business plans on Feb 16 to compete for a US$3,000 prize and a place in the semi-finals with the other 15 teams. The five Thailand Track Teams include representatives from King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi, Mahidol University, Chulalongkorn University, Naresuan University and Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration.

The winning team will receive the prestigious H.M. The King’s Award, kindly bestowed by His Majesty, the late King Bhumibol Adulyadej, along with cash prizes valued at more than US$58,000. Other prizes up for grabs include the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhon’s Sustainability Award for those business plans with outstanding social and environmental responsibility, while The Houston Technology Center-Asia Innovation Award rewards quality in innovation.

Launched in 2002 and initially named the Bangkok Business Challenge (BBC), this competition began as the 20-year celebration of the Sasin program and focused solely on local students. After Market for Alternative Investment (mai) joined in 2007, the competition changed its name and began welcoming entrants from universities around the globe, making it the only global start-up competition for post-graduate students in Thailand.

For those who are interested in startups and business innovation, the competition the competition is free to the public, and will be held at Sasin Graduate Institute of Business Administration of Chulalongkorn University.

For details, visit bbc.sasin.edu, email: [email protected], #sasinbbc2017

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