Sasin x SCGC Fuel Startup Impact, Driving Sustainable Business at Bangkok Business Challenge 2025

Sasin School of Management, together with main sponsor SCG Chemicals (SCGC), a leading innovator in the polymer business and integrated solutions for sustainability, proudly launches the Bangkok Business Challenge (BBC) 2025 powered by SCGC. Now in its 23rd consecutive year, the competition is recognized as Asia’s longest-running global student startup competition. Held under the theme “Growing Impactful Ventures,” the competition provides a global platform for university students to showcase their entrepreneurial potential and pitch sustainable, innovation-driven business solutions. The program welcomes student teams from around the world, encouraging bold ideas that address economic, social, and environmental challenges. It also fosters networking, collaboration, and opportunities to scale their ventures on an international stage. The event will take place from May 22–24, 2025, at Sasin, Bangkok.

“At Sasin, we are committed to developing future leaders who can create real-world, sustainable impact. This year’s competition reflects the shifting priorities of the entrepreneurial landscape. Nearly 50% of the teams are focused on emerging sectors such as MedTech, HealthTech, Agri Tech, and AI—each offering innovative approaches to pressing global challenges for tomorrow’s world.” said Dibyendu Bose, Deputy Director of Strategy, Innovation & Impact at Sasin School of Management.

Dr. Suracha Udomsak, Chief Operations and Innovation Officer at SCGC, added: “At SCGC, we are committed to advancing polymer innovation and developing solutions that respond to megatrends while promoting sustainability. These efforts help strengthen the capabilities of various industries and contribute to improving quality of life for people in the region. We place strong emphasis on continuous research and development to keep pace with global shifts and changing lifestyles. This includes innovations such as environmentally friendly plastics, or Green Polymer, and our proprietary SMX™ technology, which enhances the performance of plastic resins, allowing for reduced material usage. Our collaboration with Sasin to co-host the Bangkok Business Challenge 2025 powered by SCGC is a model for innovation and solution development. It creates space and opportunity for ideas from diverse backgrounds to grow and transform into viable businesses. Startups are the starting point and a vital force in driving innovation in today’s complex business landscape. I encourage every team to take full advantage of this opportunity to build their potential and evolve into ventures that create real, global impact.”

This year, the Bangkok Business Challenge 2025 powered by SCGC received 308 team applications from around the world—an 11% increase from last year. These teams represent 82 academic institutions. Among these, 32 universities participating for the first time. The competition is honored to welcome a distinguished panel of highly experienced judges, who will evaluate and select the most outstanding teams with the strongest, most impactful business ideas. The top teams will receive the prestigious HM The King’s Award and the HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn’s Sustainability Award. Additionally, winning teams will receive cash prizes totaling over 42,000 USD (approximately 1,500,000 THB).

The 20 teams advancing to the semi-finals are:

1. 1. AI, Asian Institute of Management, Philippines
   2. AgriConnect, Ateneo de Manila University, Philippines
   3. Beyond Connected, Sasin School of Management, Thailand
   4. CELLECT Laboratories, University of Waterloo, Canada
   5. CERO, School of Integrated Innovation (ScII), Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
   6. DeliGence, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
   7. Edversity, Pak-Austria Fachhochschule: Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology, Pakistan
   8. HappEar, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
   9. Humimic Biosystems, University of Arkansas, United States of America
   10. inspecTD, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taiwan
   11. Joy to the world, Naresuan University, Thailand
   12. Krufarm, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand
   13. Krumap, Sasin School of Management, Thailand
   14. LOCOL, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
   15. MabLab, Harvard University, United States of America
   16. NeuroFore, Washington University in St. Louis, United States of America
   17. PinaClean, Shanghai Jiaotong University, China
   18. PowerBite, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Bangladesh
   19. Protenere, Thammasat University, Thailand
   20. PulseArk Technologies, University of Arkansas, United States of America

For those interested, further updates can be found at https://bbc.sasin.edu/2025, and Facebook: www.facebook.com/bangkokbusinesschallenge or email bbc@sasin.edu