Daryl is currently an Investor at Trihill Capital, investing in early-stage startups across South-East Asia & Founder of The Next Batch.
He was previously at Hypotenuse AI (YC S20) and Deskimo (YC S21), wearing multiple hats across Growth, Product, Partnerships, Marketing and Analytics.
Guest Author: Daryl Lim
🇹🇭 as a tech ecosystem has always been personally interesting.
Despite boasting the second-largest GDP and 4th largest population in Southeast Asia, it’s surprising to note that #Thailand has one of the lowest numbers of startups in the region.
Thailand is home to approximately 180 startups (from Tech in Asia) Among them, several standout ventures caught my attention:
Flash Express – Founded in 2017, they are the first unicorn in Thailand and an integrated E-Commerce logistics service provider.
LINE MAN Wongnai – In 2010, four graduates from Chulalongkorn University’s engineering faculty founded Wongnai, an online restaurant review database. In 2020, Wongnai merged with Line Man, Line Corp’s delivery service in Thailand, forming Line Man Wongnai.
Rabbit Care – Marketplace for insurance and financial products. Operations span across Thailand, Vietnam and Singapore.
🚀 What are the opportunities in Thailand?
In recent years, Thailand has witnessed a remarkable surge in the development and adoption of HealthTech solutions, revolutionizing the healthcare landscape and enhancing accessibility, affordability, and quality of care. Notable examples include: Doctor A to Z & HD
🏥 Furthermore, they serve as a popular medical tourist destination with 3.5 million medical travellers visiting Thailand and generating a revenue of $820 million in 2019 – according to IQVIA
However, navigating Thailand’s startup ecosystem comes with its hurdles. From the scarcity of exit opportunities to mentorship gaps and regulatory complexities—like the absence of ESOP options—startups face multifaceted challenges.
⚙ What do you consider the most significant obstacle in navigating Thailand’s startup landscape?
PS. If anyone is looking to solve Thailand’s traffic problem, please lmk. Will Angel Invest.
Thanks Patcharapong (Can) Pilunowad, CFA & (Twwo) Pun Jaruthassanakul for being great hosts! Till next time 🇹🇭
