Bangkok--25 Jul--WeeM Communications
SIPA reinforces “Innovative Merchant 2012: Thai IT Tycoon Search”with the collaboration of ATCI and Chulalongkorn University.New possibilities realized for the identification and development of software entrepreneurs.
Software Industry Promotion Agency (Public Organization) continues with the “Innovative Merchant 2012: Thai IT Tycoon Search” program to help educate and empower private entrepreneurs as software business marketeers on the way to becoming new tycoons. SIPA is now working with an industry giant ATCI, Chulalongkorn University and marketing academics of national acclaim on the development of intensive technical courses and workshops. A contest is launched to help trained participants realize their business dreams with direct access to joint investors through submission of their business plan. The five finalist teams will be granted funding and special business opportunities worth 1 Million Baht in total for each team.
Trirat Chatkaew, Director of Software Industry Promotion Agency (Public Organization), reveals, “SIPA has been running an ongoing project titled ‘Innovative Merchant 2012: Thai IT Tycoon Search’ to help enhance the overall capability and efficiency of the Thai software industry. The range of activity is broadened this year for more intensive experience and to increase the level of interest among participants. We are collaborating with the Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI) as they are one of the organizations with the largest number of members in Thailand’s software and hardware industries. Together, we can set in motion an onward drive towards continuous improvement in terms of knowledge. We are also working with the Faculty of Commerce and Accounting, Chulalongkorn University as they are reputable for their development of technical courses. Our lecturers will be individuals nationally recognized for their business administration and marketing skills who will share their expertise with participating entrepreneurs and members of the business sector.”
SIPA is intensifying the program to ensure trained entrepreneurs have access to actual business opportunities in the future. To this end, business plans are pitched directly to investors. Participants submitting their business plan to the contest and making their way to the five finalist teams will stand the chance of extra funding and special business opportunities. The contest is intended to help entrepreneurs succeed in their business even more quickly.
“SIPA believes that the software industry is an important wheel driving the economy and the competitiveness of a country. As this project has been implemented for some time now, we would like to add an element that intensifies it and encourages new entrepreneurs to become more active in terms of innovation and business plans. This will help generate income for them. It will possibly establish them as a new software tycoon as well, while at the same time contribute to the growth of the Thai software industry, The five finalist teams will be granted the fund with which to initiate their business, an overseas trip, a chance to be a part of domestic and international roadshows, and, an opportunity to discuss business with foreign investors. The collective value of these opportunities is approximately 1 Million Baht for each team.” says Trirat.
Adirek Patitas, Chairman of Association of Thai ICT Industry (ATCI), adds “Our members have more than 80% market share of the country’s ICT industry. Therefore, it is only natural that we recognize the significance of development and capability enhancement where management and marketing is concerned for the benefit of our member entrepreneurs. This has become particularly important as we are entering the ASEAN Economic Community or AEC three years from now.”
“The ‘Innovative Merchant 2012: Thai IT Tycoon Search’ program will communicate to the main target groups and attract to our activities computer engineering students, marketing and management majors, fresh graduates from those fields, mid-level executives whose job concerns management, marketing and computer, as well as general entrepreneurs and industrialists. So far we have had the Open House activity Which will be held in Bangkok. Chiang Mai and Khon Kaen, activity the Software Marketing Development activity and the Thai IT Tycoon 2012 Entrepreneur Orientation activity. Participants who have participated in all courses and registered their company are entitled to the proposal of business plans to investors and to participate in the Thai IT Tycoon 2012 Awards contest.”
Associate Professor Pasu Decharin, Ph.D., Dean of Faculty of Commerce and Accounting, Chulalongkorn University, shares, “We are taking part in the program by developing and implementing training on various subjects. Individuals of national acclaim will be invited as lecturers to share what they know about products, software, technology or innovation. We will also help the participants in the area of analysis and market planning. Training contents will include contribution from entrepreneurs in the software industry, professional marketeers and highly qualified faculty members. A certificate will be issued for successful participants who have completed the program.”
“We will begin with the foundation in different areas including business management, market analysis, IT-based market planning and software industry-specific training. Those will be followed by software business plan development with highly qualified trainers who will help alter the plan until participants can submit it to the contest. Presentation and fund promotion activities complete the program,” explains the Associate Professor.