Entrepreneurship in diverse markets

A group of 30 students from Kent Ridge Hall participated in a 10-day SFI trip to Bangkok and Khao Yai, Thailand, in December 2024. This trip was led by Ms Claire Cheong, Resident Fellow at Kent Ridge Hall and Head of International and Impact-focused Programmes at NUS Enterprise Academy. Conducted in collaboration with Chulalongkorn University, the blend of educational start-up and pitching workshops, cultural explorations, and experiential learning focused on merging diverse perspectives on entrepreneurship in the region, while visits to established startups provided valuable real-world context to entrepreneurial theories. 

A cornerstone of the SFI trip was an emphasis on collaborative learning, where students from NUS and Chulalongkorn University worked together in two key workshops designed to deepen students' entrepreneurial skills, namely, a "Startup 101 Workshop" led by Ms Nattinee Dora Sae-Ho, CEO and Founder of Thrive Venture Builder, and a "Pitching Workshop" on the art of presentation that was conducted by Paul Meyers, Founder of Asia Founder Coaching. Through these workshops, participants tackled real-world challenges by crafting business solutions that were not only innovative but also responsive to the nuanced needs of diverse markets. The trip culminated in a Demo Day, where the participants combined their newly gleaned knowledge and experiences to pitch business ideas with a focus on SDGs to a panel.

Another component of the SFI trip involved deep cultural immersion, where students had the hands-on opportunity to engage with the rich traditions of Thailand, such as a Thai dessert-making session, learning traditional Thai dance, and a visit to the iconic Wat Arun in Bangkok.

The programme also included extensive field trips in the Khao Yai district, where students learned about sustainable practices and how eco-tourism has manifested in the region. They interacted and interviewed the locals where they learnt about their problems and struggles. After which, they came up with ideas and solutions to help tackle these real-world problems.

A visit to the Sai Sook Wildlife Learning Center and an eye-opening perusal of its popsicle offerings, inspired by local wildlife, offered the students valuable insights into the synergies between wildlife conservation and entrepreneurship.

For Jorja Poon, a second-year undergraduate from NUS Business, the visit to Sai Sook Wildlife Learning Center at Khao Yai was particularly impactful.

“We got to learn about the journey of the founder, Mr Somchai Rattanakorn, how he and his girlfriend started this venture because of their passion for wildlife and ice-creams. He shared with us on the struggles he faced and how he is planning to overcome them, and how he plans to expand his business,” Jorja shared.

“It was a very eye-opening experience to interact directly with an entrepreneur and get a first-hand experience on how they run their business,” she added.

Extracted from original article: https://news.nus.edu.sg/southeast-asia-friendship-initiative-uncovering-perspectives-on-education-and-entrepreneurship/