Bangkok--29 May--KASIKORNBANK
KBank and Workpoint Entertainment, is launching a new TV game show, "The Unicorn: Billion Dollar Startup", on June 2 for tech startups. This will be Thailand's first game show aimed at promoting the use of technology in private life and in business as contestants compete to be named Thailand's Top Tech Startup and win a million Baht.
KBank Senior Executive Vice President Mr. Patchara Samalapa notes that the use of technology in daily life is expanding to the point that all of us are becoming inevitably linked to technology. There are nearly 90 million mobile phone numbers in use in Thailand, well beyond the total population, evidencing extensive access to the internet with significant impact on daily life and on business services.
As a leader in digital banking, KBank promotes financial innovation and new business models utilizing digital technology. Those efforts include assisting and promoting tech startups and the creation of applications that simplify and enhance daily life. Competing in The Unicorn: Billion Dollar Startup will give startups the opportunity of sharing their knowledge and ability, while demonstrating the potential of their high-tech applications as they compete for the million Baht prize. The apps will be evaluated for the ability to answer to the needs of consumers by a panel of judges and the studio audience.
Mr. Chalakorn Panyashom, Chief Operation Officer at Workpoint Entertainment PCL, notes that name of the program, The Unicorn: Billion Dollar Startup, refers to the relatively new business term "unicorn": a tech startup that achieves a value of more than one billion dollars before going public, thus one that is hugely and rapidly successful. That idea inspired the groundbreaking concept of the game show. The innovative program will convey a knowledge of tech startups and share the hands-on experience of 12 entrepreneurs. Viewers following the show will cheer Thai tech startups on to become unicorns.
The Unicorn: Billion Dollar Startup will feature 12 excellent apps that address a number of everyday problems. Contestants will present the apps and respond to questions from the audience and judges. The judges are Mr. Patchara Samalapa, KBank Senior Executive Vice President; Mr. Patai Padungtin, founder of Builk Asia Co., Ltd., a principal technology evangelist in Thailand; Mr. Tiwa York, Head Coach/CEO Kaidee.com and 15-year veteran of Thai technology management; and Mr. Yod Chinsupakul, CEO & Co-Founder of Wongnai. The judges and audience will choose whether or not to download each app. After trying it out, they will decide whether to keep or delete the app. Scores will be tallied each week with three finalists reaching the final round.
In the final round, contestants will face five judges with expertise in various fields: Ms. Kattiya Indaravijaya, KBank President; Ms. Juthasree Kuvinichkul, Director and Co-Founder of Grab Taxi Thailand; Mr. Ariya Banomyong, Managing Director of Line Thailand; Mr. Chanond Ruangkritya, President and Chief Executive Officer of Ananda Development PCL.; and Mr. Thanapong Na Ranong, Managing Director of Beacon Venture Capital. The contestant garnering the most votes will be named Thailand's Top Tech Startup and win a cash prize of 1 million Baht.
Some of the applications enlivening the show and potentially making our lives easier include Piggipo, a receipts, payments and credit card management app; QueQ, an app for making reservations; and Storylog, a story-telling platform on which users can share stories instantly via Facebook. The Unicorn: Billion Dollar Startup, hosted by the talented Mr. Kathsepsawad Palakawong na Ayutthaya, AKA Na Nake, will debut June 2, 21:00-22:00 hours, on Workpoint Creative TV, Channel 23.
Mr. Patchara added that that the program will provide knowledge and inspiration to those with dreams of starting a tech firm, encouraging them to develop new applications to solve the problems and meet the needs of everyday life. Beyond entertainment, viewers will learn about new applications that can make their lives much easier.