Startups move faster with the right people
Building Thailand’s
Startup Community
Bangkok Startup Association brings together the founders, operators, investors,
and ecosystem builders shaping the future of startups in Thailand.
and ecosystem builders shaping the future of startups in Thailand.
It Started With One Question
During COVID-19, Ted Thetnaungsoe was going through the educational material from Y Combinator.
Lessons on how startups scale.
How founders think.
How companies go from zero to something real.
But one thought kept coming up. Why learn this alone?
What if founders in Bangkok could go through this journey together?
So Ted started organizing small meetups for entrepreneurs who wanted to learn, build, and share the journey.
No stage. No corporate panels. Just builders talking to builders.
YC Startup School Bangkok
In July 2022, the idea became real.
The YC Startup School Bangkok community was born. What started as a handful of curious founders quickly grew. A few people became dozens. Dozens became hundreds. Because something important was happening.
Founders in Thailand were looking for each other.
They wanted peers. They wanted real conversations. They wanted a community that understood the startup journey.
The Community Took Off
The meetups kept growing.
Builders kept showing up.
What started as YC Startup School meetups in Bangkok quickly turned into something bigger. More founders. More operators. More honest conversations about building companies.
Soon, the community had grown beyond the original format, and Y Combinator asked us to stop using their name and branding.
So we did.
The community became OUR Startup Community.
Built by entrepreneurs.
For entrepreneurs.
No gatekeepers.
No corporate agenda.
Just builders showing up for each other.
And the signal was clear. Thailand’s startup ecosystem wanted a place to connect.
Building Something Bigger
As the community grew, it became clear that this was more than a series of events. It was the foundation of something much bigger.
Thailand has the talent. The ambition. The raw potential to become one of the most exciting startup ecosystems in the world. Some even call it a future Silicon Valley of the East.
But potential alone changes nothing.
Builders need infrastructure.
They need access to real knowledge, trusted networks, aligned capital, and a platform that unites the ecosystem instead of fragmenting it.
At that pivotal moment, Ted founded one of Thailand’s most exciting startup incubators, [Venture Spark], and reached out to scale the community into something more structured and impactful.
Billy van der Loo answered the call and stepped in. Together with the honorary board, he defined the vision, core pillars, and strategic direction that would shape the next chapter.
That chapter became the Bangkok Startup Association
- a non-profit trade association built to support founders, connect key ecosystem players, and elevate Thailand’s startup landscape.
Today, the community stands
on strong foundations
Still founder-driven.
Still community-first.
But now operating with a bigger mission - to help build the ecosystem Thailand deserves.
50
+
curated community events hosted
~
200
founders, operators, and investors per event
1600
+
members in the LINE OpenChat
8000
+
email list
Our Mission
To help elevate Thailand into a
leading startup ecosystem in Asia
leading startup ecosystem in Asia
Our Mission
By 2036,
Thailand stands as one of Asia’s
leading startup ecosystems - globally respected
founder-driven, and structurally strong.
Bangkok is recognised as a launchpad for high-growth companies across Southeast Asia.
Thai founders build globally competitive companies from day one.
Capital flows efficiently between local and international investors.
Operators, mentors, and ecosystem leaders are deeply connected through high-trust networks.
Policy, the private sector, and founders move in alignment to accelerate innovation.
And
Bangkok Startup Association
is the
connective infrastructure
that helped make it happen.
How We Operate
01
Ecosystem Alignment
Unite founders, investors, operators, corporates, and policymakers through high-trust coordination and shared standards.
Less fragmentation
More collective momentum
02
Founder Infrastructure
Provide access to curated knowledge, networks, and capital pathways that accelerate company building.
Founders move faster
with fewer structural gaps
with fewer structural gaps
03
Capital & Opportunity Access
Bridge Thai founders with regional and global capital, partnerships, and market access.
Increased funding velocity
cross-border expansion
04
Standards & Signal
Elevate the quality bar of conversations, events, and ecosystem collaboration.
Thailand earns a reputation for
execution, not hype
execution, not hype
05
Long-Term Ecosystem Strength
Encourage founder recycling (mentorship, angel investment, reinvestment into the ecosystem).
Compounding ecosystem growth
over decades
over decades
Who This Community Is For
Founders First
Who is it for
Aspiring Founders
People with ideas who want inspiration, knowledge, and the right connections to start building.
Early-Stage Founders
Builders turning ideas into real companies and navigating the early journey of startup building.
Scaling Founders
Startups that have gained traction and are growing their teams, products, and markets.
and
Ecosystem Enablers
Who is it for
Investors
Venture capital firms, angel investors, private equity firms, incubators, accelerators, and other capital deployers supporting startup growth
Operators & Experts
Experienced builders and specialists who share knowledge, mentorship, and practical insights.
Partners
Government organizations, service providers, tech, and ecosystem partners helping startups succeed.
The People Behind BSA
Billy van der Loo
President
Alexander Avanth
Head of Events
Nikon James Gormley
Head of Partnerships
Simon Osborne
Head of Creative Strategy
Parin Kienthong (Tim)
Head of Legal
Ted Thetnaungsoe
Advisor
Tim Grassin
Advisor
Panda Punnotok
Advisor
Vincent Hosman
Advisor
Chowanond Klungpremchitt
Advisor
Charlie Withayachamnankul
Advisor
Pun Jaruthassanakul (Twwo)
Advisor
Matt Windsor
Advisor
Ed Lock
Advisor
Together with
volunteers
and
ecosystem partners
,
they shape the direction of the association.
What We’re Building
Our ambition
is simple
Thailand consistently ranked among top startup ecosystems in Asia.
Bangkok is recognised regionally as a founder hub.
Lots of Thai-born startups become global unicorns.
Through events, partnerships, and shared knowledge, BSA is building a community where founders can learn faster, connect deeper, and build stronger companies.
