Mekong startups look to bolster opportunities through forum
Mekong startups look to bolster opportunities through forum
Mekong startups are looking for new ways to create value and allow technological innovation to work better for people and markets in the region.
This is the sentiment of the sector according to Ms Souphaphone, an organiser of the recently held two-day Second Mekong Startup Ecosystem Summit.
The summit brought together some of the biggest actors in the startup ecosystems of Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Myanmar, all thought to be able to bring a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of each country's individual entrepreneurial landscape.
The summit was a part of the US State Department's TIGERs@Mekong initiative supported by the Mekong Business Initiative and the Asian Development Bank.
The event is also strongly supported by the Lao National Chamber and Commerce and Industry, led by Keovisouk Dalasane, the founder of 108.jobs and one of the first web-entrepreneurs in Laos.
Organisers say Mekong startups are reshaping industries in the region, including tourism, transportation, education and agriculture.
However, they also suggest that for the founders of these startups to survive and grow, they will need a backbone of entrepreneurship programmes with investors and mentors to support them.
In recent years, many organisations and activities have provided support to startups, such as accelerators, co-working spaces, mentor activities, startup competitions, meet-ups, and a variety of training, which has seen new startups expanding throughout the region.
Even more exciting are the increasing number of connections being made between people and organisations across regional borders, for example, a startup in Cambodia teaming up with a business partner in Myanmar to develop a new education technology company.
Another tech startup in Myanmar has built a global team of software developers, many of whom are from Vietnam.
The Champions of Thailand's ecosystem is another example of one of the participants that is trying to support and connect with other ecosystems at the Summit.
Many of the new and growing investment angel groups are also looking beyond their home countries for investment opportunities.
The TohLao Coworking Space in Laos has launched its Mekong�s Next Top Mentors Project aiming to enhance regional startup networks to be single market investors while encouraging entrepreneurs to make contributions for the next programme and to gain more insight into regiona l markets.
The project should also help to increase startups in the region seek a variety of new opportunities in preparation for doing business.
