NXPO, in collaboration with King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), organized a Collaborative Bootcamp as part of “The Reverse Innovation Journey: Innovating from Real-World Challenges” at True Digital Park. The program aimed to prepare and strengthen the capabilities of participating startups in addressing real industrial challenges.
In her opening remarks, Dr. Karantarat Nakwa, Assistant to the President of NXPO, emphasized the importance of the reverse pitching mechanism in ensuring that innovation development is aligned with actual market demand. She noted that NXPO has piloted this model to enable startups to receive real problem statements directly from industry, thereby fostering the creation of sustainable, innovation-driven businesses. She also expressed appreciation to the project team, industry partners, and participants for their continued collaboration throughout the initiative.
The morning session featured a lecture on government funding mechanisms delivered by Dr. Sanat Wongthawethong, Manager of the Technology and Innovation-Based Enterprise Development Fund (TED Fund). He introduced the fund’s key financial support programs, particularly the TED Youth Startup scheme, which offers grants ranging from 150,000 to 1,500,000 THB.
Additional presentations were delivered by the project advisory team and representatives from the TED Fellow network, coordinated by KMITL Research and Innovation Services (KRIS). Speakers included Assist. Prof. Dr. Rutchanee Gullayanon, Executive Vice President for Innovation and Global Engagement at KMITL, and Dr. Apiwat Thongprasert, Managing Director of VISUP Co., Ltd. They provided guidance on funding eligibility, mentoring support, and application timelines to help participants effectively navigate the innovation support ecosystem.
In the afternoon, participants engaged in intensive sessions on “Business Negotiation” and “Pitching Preparation for Demo Day,” designed to enhance their skills in negotiating partnerships and presenting innovative business concepts to investors and corporate stakeholders.
The bootcamp forms part of The Reverse Innovation Journey, an initiative developed by NXPO to pilot a collaborative model between large corporations and startups, with universities serving as intermediaries and KMITL acting as the project advisor. Leading corporate partners contributing innovation challenges include Bangchak Corporation, Central Retail, and Krungthai Bank. More than 30 startups, students, and researchers submitted proposals to participate in the program.
Earlier phases of the project featured a Reverse Pitching session, where industry partners presented real business challenges and startups were selected for collaborative innovation development. Selected teams then joined the Collaborative Bootcamp—conducted in both online and onsite formats—to deepen their business understanding and co-develop solutions with large enterprises. The project will conclude with The Reverse Innovation Summit, scheduled to take place on 25 April 2026.
