The hackathon contestants featured dynamic teams of 2 to 4 undergraduate or graduate students, all bursting with innovative ideas. Participants were tasked with developing and pitching their business projects exclusively in English. The competition had a robust structure, kicking off with a preliminary round where teams submitted provisional business projects via a snappy 5-minute video clip. The grand finale—a thrilling 2-day hackathon held at Bangkok University—saw teams fine-tune and pitch their complete business projects, addressing pain points, business solutions, business plans, and financials in meticulous detail.
The registration period began on 15 February 2024, with a grace period extending until 22 February 2024. Eager participants awaited the results with bated breath, which were unveiled on 29 February 2024. The finalists received intensive 2-day training sessions from 28 to 29 March 2024, which culminated in a much-anticipated awards ceremony on 29 March 2024.
The 1st prize winner walked away with 100,000 baht and a certificate, while the 2nd prize winner garnered 80,000 baht and a certificate. The team in 3rd place earned 50,000 baht and, yes, a certificate. Four honourable mention prizes of 10,000 baht each were also awarded, along with certificates for their commendable efforts.
Under the theme “Innovative Business Project,” the event saw an overwhelming response with 58 interested teams boasting over 230 students from 23 universities across 7 countries. Here’s a closer look at the teams that wowed the judges:
1st Prize: Team Glowco from Chulalongkorn University, who dazzled with their “Painless Home Use Cholesterol Screening Kit.”
2nd Prize: Team Workhard REPS from Petra Christian College, impressing everyone with their “Repurposed – Green Bin.”
3rd Prize: Team Surety from Singapore University of Social Sciences, standing out with their “Surety Menopause Management” project.
Honourable Mentions:
- Team PEER Lab from Hosei University – “Pineapple Leather”
- Team Excel In Stone from Asian Institute of Technology – “Thirsty Concrete”
- Team UGBN from Bangkok University, Chiang Mai University, King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, and King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi – “IoT-ULAP”
- Team League Apollo: Quick Tech from Bangkok University – “Innovative Business Idea”
The core triumph of this hackathon was in fostering essential skills for business project development and innovation, alongside building collaborative bridges between students, startups, and venture capitalists (VCs) in Thailand. This event also celebrated the collaborative spirit among students across Thailand and international universities with notable partners like the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund.
Brian Bordley from the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund shared, “Typically, the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund collaborates closely with leading universities, imparting knowledge and guidance on becoming a startup and cultivating an ecosystem where startup businesses can thrive. Over the past five years, we’ve welcomed over 200 startups from more than 30 countries worldwide, facilitating venture funding ranging from $200,000 to a million. We don’t just teach how to be a successful startup; we also provide the necessary funding resources to help startups flourish.”
This collaboration signals a transformative step for Bangkok University, evolving from a hub known for fostering SME entrepreneurs to grooming startups capable of crafting new, disruptive global businesses and services for consumers. Stay tuned for more exciting collaborations between Bangkok University and the Berkeley SkyDeck Fund as they gear up for the next hackathon.
This hackathon sounds like an amazing opportunity for students! The prizes are pretty generous too.
Sure, but I think it’s more about the experience and exposure than the money. The connections these students can make would be invaluable.
Yeah right, but what about the pressure on these students? They’re already stressed with their studies, adding this is just too much.
That’s a fair point. But for some students, this might be their break into the world of startups. It’s a balancing act, I guess.
Pressure is part of life. Better they learn it early. Plus, it’s probably more fulfilling than any theoretical coursework.
I’m impressed by the international participation! Seven countries? That’s a solid collaboration effort.
Yeah, but how many of those countries are really into startups? Bet it’s just the usual suspects leading the charge.
Give them some credit! It’s great to see global interest. Not every country may be a startup hub now, but events like this can change that.
Team Glowco’s ‘Painless Home Use Cholesterol Screening Kit’ is seriously cool. Medical innovations like these are way overdue!
Agreed! But can we trust such kits? How reliable are home medical screening tools compared to hospital equipment?
Technology has advanced a lot. These kits can be pretty reliable if developed accurately. Plus, they’re convenient!
Repurposed – Green Bin? I love environmentally conscious projects! We need more of these in the hackathon circuit.
True, but do these ideas actually see the light of day? Many great projects start but fizzle out due to lack of funding.
That’s where events like these step in. They provide the platform and sometimes the initial funding or exposure needed to make a difference.
I’m just wondering how intensive this training session was. Two days seems really tight to prep for a massive event like this.
Sometimes intensive is better. They probably packed in a lot of useful information and guidance into those two days.
The inclusion of VCs such as Berkeley SkyDeck Fund is a game-changer. Students get direct access to potential investors!
Exactly! It’s like hitting two birds with one stone: learning and potential funding.
While the hackathon is commendable, I still think our education system puts too much emphasis on entrepreneurship. Not everyone wants to be a startup founder!
That’s true, but it’s also about giving options. Students can choose what suits them. Isn’t it better to have the opportunity?
Providing options is fine. But the current focus is on pushing everyone towards entrepreneurship, which isn’t fair to those with other career aspirations.
Pineapple Leather? Now that’s innovative! Sustainable materials are the future.
Agreed! But how durable is this material? Will it hold up in everyday use?
Guess it depends on the manufacturing process. If they nail that, it could be a big hit.
Overall, this hackathon looks well-structured. Good foundation for students to showcase talent.
Yeah, but sometimes it feels like these events focus too much on winners. What about those who didn’t win but had great projects?
That’s always a challenge. Maybe more follow-up events could help bring more attention to all participants.
IoT-ULAP sounds intriguing. IoT projects have so much potential in today’s tech landscape.
True, but how secure are these IoT devices? Many come with serious cybersecurity concerns.
That’s definitely a valid concern. Hopefully, security is a top priority for such projects.
It’s inspiring to see Bangkok University evolving into a startup hub. What a significant change from just focusing on SMEs.
Absolutely! The shift to supporting startups is timely with global tech trends. Bangkok University is leading the way.
Why such focus on tech startups? We need more variety – like arts, social projects, etc.
Tech drives innovation and economy, but you’re right. Diversity in projects can lead to holistic progress.
Training from SkyDeck Fund is invaluable. The experience they bring can be transformative for these students.
Definitely. It’s not just about ideas but also execution, which they help with.
Amazing that 58 teams participated. Shows growing interest in hackathons and innovation.