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Primo: Timing Can Be as Important as Innovation

Vee Sirasoontorn reflected on Primo’s journey in building its loyalty platform, emphasizing that securing its first enterprise client was not simply a matter of luck—it was about recognizing the right market timing.

Primo partnered with the 1 at a pivotal moment when the organization was seeking new collaborators to expand its loyalty ecosystem beyond its traditional business network. By offering a solution that aligned precisely with this strategic transition, Primo successfully positioned itself as the ideal partner.

Another key lesson was that in the AI era, software alone is no longer enough.

Primo has integrated AI capabilities to analyze customer behavior and automatically generate marketing insights, enabling marketers to make faster, more informed decisions.

As Veer summarized:

“Data only becomes valuable when it can be transformed into better business decisions.”

Bridging the Missing Link Between Research and Commercial Success

Dr. Keita Ono pointed to another critical gap within Thailand’s innovation landscape.

While the country has established numerous universities and startup incubators, it still lacks sufficient accelerators capable of systematically transforming research into internationally scalable businesses.

To address this challenge, KX developed the Tech Bite program under its Spin-in Model, enabling corporations to unlock underutilized intellectual property (IP) and research assets by partnering with external startups to create entirely new businesses.

One compelling example is KX’s collaboration with Ajinomoto, which secured more than US$10 million in investment from the parent company within just three months.

The case demonstrates how effectively connecting research, technology, corporate partners, and entrepreneurs can dramatically shorten the path from innovation to market.

NIA’s 4G Framework: Supporting Startups from Laboratory to Global Markets

During the session, Pariwat introduced NIA’s comprehensive 4G Framework, designed to support startups throughout every stage of their growth journey.

The framework begins with Groom, helping entrepreneurs strengthen technological capabilities through laboratory access, intellectual property management, and technology transfer.

It then progresses to Grant, providing funding for prototypes, Minimum Viable Products (MVPs), and Proof-of-Concept projects across strategic industries including agriculture, food, healthcare, and Climate Tech.

The third stage, Growth, accelerates startups through specialized programs such as AGROWTH, Space-F, Climate X,and Future Move, preparing ventures for commercial expansion.

Finally, Global supports international market entry, connecting Thai startups with opportunities across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Europe, and beyond.

Pariwat also highlighted NIA’s evolving role—from a traditional grant provider to an active investment catalyst—bringing together public funding, private capital, and trust-based investment mechanisms to strengthen Thailand’s innovation ecosystem.

This strategic evolution reflects a broader commitment to providing entrepreneurs not only with financial resources but also with access to networks, strategic partnerships, and long-term growth opportunities.

Food Technologies: Reinventing the Future of Food

Japan’s globally respected food industry demands exceptional standards in quality, precision, and innovation—making it an ideal proving ground for breakthrough food technologies.

MUI Robotics Co., Ltd. demonstrated its proprietary “Sensory AI” platform, combining advanced sensors with artificial intelligence to replicate the human sense of smell for highly accurate odor detection and classification. The solution has applications across food manufacturing and environmental monitoring, and the company has already initiated commercial discussions with Japanese partners.

Plant Origin Food Co., Ltd. introduced an innovative process that transforms rice bran into premium plant-based protein, unlocking greater value from agricultural by-products. As demand for alternative proteins continues to accelerate globally, the company has received strong interest from Japanese partners and is preparing PoC projects aimed at product commercialization and joint product development.

The Hidden Investment Opportunities Behind the AI Boom

While artificial intelligence is often associated with software or large language models, Corporate Venture Capital investors are increasingly looking deeper into the infrastructure enabling AI itself.

Petch Wannissorn, Head of Corporate Venture Capital at Banpu CVC, explained that AI’s explosive growth is creating unprecedented demand for data centers.

Every new data center requires enormous amounts of electricity, advanced cooling systems, and resilient energy infrastructure—creating entirely new categories of innovation.

This insight underpins Banpu’s Energy Symphonics vision, which seeks to build an integrated energy ecosystem through its 3D Investment Strategy:

• Decentralization – Distributed energy generation
• Digitalization – AI and software-driven optimization
• Decarbonization – Lower carbon emissions

Consequently, Banpu is not only investing in companies developing AI itself but also in startups building the critical technologies that enable AI to scale efficiently, including:

• Advanced Cooling Systems
• Low-Power Semiconductors
• Intelligent Energy Management Systems
• Energy Management Platforms
• Data Center Infrastructure

These sectors represent emerging markets with immense growth potential and have become increasingly attractive investment themes for Corporate Venture Capital worldwide.

The New Era of CVC: Investing for Strategic Synergy

One message resonated consistently across all three organizations.

Today’s Corporate Venture Capital funds are no longer driven solely by financial returns.

Their primary objective is strategic return.

This means startups are increasingly evaluated on how effectively they can strengthen the parent company’s core business by:

• Improving operational efficiency
• Reducing costs
• Unlocking new markets
• Creating new products and services
• Accelerating business transformation into future industries

As a result, strategic synergy between startups and corporations has become a more important investment criterion than revenue growth alone.

For founders, this represents a fundamental shift: demonstrating how their innovation complements a corporation’s long-term strategy is now just as important as proving commercial traction.

How Thai Startups Can Capture the Next Wave of CVC Investment

Thailand has already produced promising startups across sectors such as FoodTech, HealthTech, and Medical Technology.

However, the panel agreed that one critical mindset still requires greater emphasis:

Think Global from Day One.

Founders should design technologies and business models capable of international expansion from the very beginning rather than treating global growth as a future objective.

Equally important is investing in Deep Tech—highly differentiated technologies that are difficult to replicate and capable of generating sustainable competitive advantage.

For Deep Tech ventures in particular, investors also expect a clearly defined technology roadmap supported by measurable, step-by-step validation.

Because these businesses typically require longer development cycles and significant capital, demonstrating tangible progress at every stage helps reduce investment risk while strengthening investor confidence.

A Shared Future: Growing Together

The discussions at SITE 2026 made one conclusion unmistakably clear.

Corporate Venture Capital has entered a new chapter.

No longer defined simply by financial investment, CVC is becoming a strategic platform that accelerates industrial transformation through collaboration, innovation, and shared growth.

In a world shaped by economic uncertainty, climate challenges, and the rapid advancement of AI, tomorrow’s investments will increasingly focus on technologies capable of delivering both sustainability and resilience—from Climate Tech and Clean Energy to Energy Security, AI Infrastructure, and Deep Tech.

For Thai startups, the opportunity has never been greater.

Yet attracting world-class Corporate Venture Capital requires more than visionary ideas. Founders must demonstrate that their technologies solve meaningful problems, integrate effectively with corporate ecosystems, and possess the scalability to compete on a global stage from the outset.

Ultimately, in today’s innovation economy, capital alone is no longer the greatest asset.

What both startups and Corporate Venture Capital investors are seeking is something far more valuable: the right partner to grow with.

Because the leaders of tomorrow will not simply be those with the most advanced technologies—they will be those who transform innovation into real-world impact, create lasting business value, and build a more sustainable future together.

From Preventive Health to a Better Quality of Life

As Japan navigates the complexities of a super-aging society, preventive healthcare technology has emerged as a high-potential frontier. Addressing this, VTK Inno Group Co., Ltd. showcases “Haruna”, a medical food innovation featuring 100% natural prebiotic vegetable powder. Specially formulated to balance gut microbiota, Haruna alleviates chronic constipation—a frequent health concern for the elderly, bedridden patients, and mobility-constrained individuals.

The true hallmark of Haruna lies in its rigorous clinical studies and scientific research. By aligning perfectly with the Japanese market’s exacting standards for safety and scientific validation, it stands as a prime example of how nutrition science can elevate life quality sustainably while generating profound economic value.

EdTech & Human Resources: Turning Knowledge into Corporate Assets

Japan’s shifting demographics also pose labor shortages and knowledge-transfer challenges, particularly in high-skill industrial and service sectors where specialized expertise is paramount. To bridge this gap, YVR Co., Ltd. introduces a cutting-edge Virtual Reality (VR) platform designed for immersive corporate training.

By simulating real-world operational scenarios, the platform digitizes and institutionalizes veteran expertise, overcoming traditional constraints of time, location, and instructional staff. This not only optimizes training costs but ensures a company’s vital institutional knowledge is preserved and seamlessly passed down, solving a critical pain point for modern Japanese enterprises.

Transforming Agricultural Waste into Materials of the Future

Embracing the circular economy, Evergen Technologies Co., Ltd. illustrates the power of converting domestic agricultural resources into premium bio-materials. Under their visionary brand “PiLeatha”, they have developed a plastic-free, chemical-safe leather alternative crafted from pineapple leaf fibers and natural rubber.

Boasting qualities that closely rival genuine leather, PiLeatha can be integrated into fashion, automotive interiors, and lifestyle products. This eco-innovation resonates deeply with the global ESG movement and Japanese corporations actively seeking sustainable materials to meet long-term carbon reduction targets.

The Future Is Not About AI—It Is About People

Perhaps the most important takeaway from the discussion had little to do with technology itself.

Thailand’s future will not be determined by the number of servers it owns or the number of AI models it develops. It will be shaped by the quality of the people who grow up in an increasingly digital world.

Creating an ecosystem that encourages experimentation, supports research, provides access to global knowledge, and protects intellectual property will be essential to nurturing the next generation of innovators and change makers.

Ultimately, AI may not replace humanity.

Instead, it may become one of the most powerful tools ever created to help people discover what they are truly capable of.

And for Thai startups, the defining question may no longer be “What can AI do?”

But rather:

“What kind of future can we create with AI—for Thailand and for the world?”

NICHA CCUS: Flipping Carbon from a Costly Liability to a Circular Revenue Stream

While carbon reduction is traditionally viewed as an expensive compliance burden, Pakorn  Intathep from NICHA CCUS turned the narrative on its head. He proved that carbon can become a lucrative revenue stream.

NICHA’s proprietary Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technology captures carbon directly from industrial exhaust stacks and converts it into a stable carbonate solution for localized use. This includes soil enrichment, wastewater treatment, or the manufacturing of low-carbon concrete. By deploying this process directly on-site, logistics costs are eliminated, slashing overall operational expenses to just one-third of traditional systems.

Furthermore, in partnership with PTT Group, NICHA is exploring marine restoration through ocean alkalization to combat ocean acidity. This pioneering initiative creates immense value by generating premium-grade carbon credits—brilliantly turning an environmental crisis into a circular financial windfall.

The Strategy of “Data & AI”: Answering the Tough Questions on Accuracy

During the session, moderator Ratchawoot posed a crucial, often uncomfortable question: “When clients ask exactly how accurate your AI or IoT is, and how many months they have to wait for results, how do you answer?” While many stumble here, these four GreenTech pioneers offered masterclasses in advanced data handling:

• NICHA CCUS employs molecular-level AI analysis (mole-to-mole) to evaluate carbon saturation points precisely, translating the data into an exact cost-per-kilowatt matrix.
• SEMPLY tackles the fragmented energy market by organizing disparate data standards into unified structural patterns. This allows AI to learn faster, driving highly accurate and rapid predictive forecasts.
• GEPP Sa-Ard emphasizes that the best data is usable data. Their systems are designed to make the frontline staff’s jobs easier without adding burdens, blending hard data with human intuition to foster genuine behavioral change.
• Merlinium shatters the traditional six-month data collection barrier through Edge Computing. By allowing sensors to calculate data instantly on-site, threats are neutralized long before a catastrophic breakdown occurs, while significantly reducing cloud data costs.

The Domino Effect: What Happens to Thai Businesses That Ignore Data Over the Next 3–5 Years?

To illustrate the stakes,Ruchvuth posed a hypothetical scenario: If a traditional service business—like a home repair company—chooses to ignore carbon footprints, skip smart sensors, and avoid recycling, relying solely on good craftsmanship, can it survive?

The panel’s collective response painted a stark reality for those resistant to change:

1. A Severe Loss of Competitiveness: No business operates in a vacuum; every company is a link in someone else’s value chain. As multinational corporations mandate strict carbon accounting, businesses without verifiable data will find themselves abruptly dropped from vendor lists.
2. Sunk Costs and Financial Penalties: With energy prices rising and regional neighbors like Malaysia already enforcing energy conservation laws and Carbon Taxes, inaction will turn carbon into a pure financial liability. Meanwhile, proactive competitors will monetize their carbon through credit trading.
3. Obsolescence via Predictive Ecosystems: The world is shifting from a “break-and-fix” culture to a “predict-and-prevent” model. Modern technicians armed with real-time data will service systems before the client even realizes a fault exists. Traditional businesses waiting around for a service call will simply find their market share gone.

The Blueprint for Survival: Quick Wins in the Sustainability Arena

In a cooling global economy, ESG compliance has shifted from a marketing luxury to a lean operational necessity. Data analytics and intelligent sensors are no longer optional—they are the tools required to survive.

For businesses seeking a “Quick Win,” the panel unanimously recommended starting with energy monitoring and management. It requires the lowest barrier to entry and yields immediate, undeniable returns reflected on the very first month’s utility bill.