At CSII, the entrepreneurial journey doesn’t end at graduation - it evolves. Our alumni continue to grow their ventures, and as a result, expand across borders and take bold steps in global innovation arenas.
Indeed, one of our guiding beliefs has always been: Once BAScii, always BAScii. Through our special "Bangkok-Seoul Soft Market Landing Program", jointly organized by the School of Integrated Innovation (CSII) and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA), we’re proud to support alumni like the SOPet team, as well as Doorae, CERO and Eyequila, as they represent Thailand and CSII on the international stage. Here’s a firsthand look at their recent journey through Korea’s startup ecosystem as part of the “Try Everything 2025” program.
Written by: Chawin Viriyasopon, BAScii001 Alumni and Co-Founder & CEO of SOPet
Day 1 – 8 Sep: Immersing into Seoul’s Startup Ecosystem
Our journey began with a warm introduction to the Seoul Startup Hub, one of Korea’s most dynamic innovation centers supporting early-stage companies across multiple industries. The sessions gave us a comprehensive overview of Korea’s startup ecosystem, including the government’s strong support for entrepreneurship, tech innovation, and cross-border collaboration.
We joined a facility tour to explore various incubation spaces. The day continued with one-on-one mentoring sessions, allowing SOPet to discuss our AI-driven veterinary ecosystem with Korean startup advisors and investors. At last, we wrapped up the day with an in-depth session on Korea’s startup landscape, exploring the country’s policy frameworks, investor dynamics, and inspiring presentations from successful Korean startups - giving us a clearer picture of the possibilities and innovation ecosystem in Korea.
Day 2 – 9 Sep: Learning Business Etiquette & Pitching at Demoday
The second day centered on the Seoul Startup Hub — an essential program for any startup looking to enter the Korean market. We explored the key trends shaping Seoul’s startup culture and gained insights into the strong government support that fuels innovation across the ecosystem.
Later, SOPet participated in a Demoday, where startups showcased their innovations to a panel of Korean judges and mentors. We introduced VetAI, our intelligent veterinary co-pilot that assists pet owners and veterinarians through AI-based health analysis and product recommendation. The networking session with judges afterward allowed us to gain valuable feedback and connect with potential Korean collaborators in the pet healthcare and AI sectors.
Day 3 – 10 Sep: Exploring Support Systems & Corporate Collaboration
Day 3 took us to the Asan Nanum Foundation, a key organization that plays an important role in supporting foreign entrepreneurs and startups aiming to grow in Korea. We learned about the various incentives, visa programs, both - co-working spaces and legal assistance, as well as partnership opportunities available to help international founders establish their presence in the Korean market.
Throughout the visit, our Korean hosts introduced us to Korea’s startup support ecosystem - from incentive programs that encourage international collaboration to visa pathways created specifically for entrepreneurs.
The team also showcased their co-working and incubation spaces, which provide an ideal environment for early-stage companies to develop, test, and scale their ideas while connecting with mentors and investors.
Day 4 & 5 – 11 & 12 Sep: Showcasing SOPet at the Try Everything Booth
The final two days were dedicated to the Try Everything exhibition, where SOPet proudly hosted its own booth alongside innovative startups from around the world. It was an amazing opportunity to showcase our AI-powered pet health platform to investors, accelerators, and tech enthusiasts from diverse backgrounds.
Leading brands and venture capital firms showed strong interest in SOPet, and a major Korean news channel invited me - honored as the only Thai founder - for an interview, making it a truly memorable highlight of the event.
Throughout the exhibition, we built meaningful connections with Korean startup founders, potential distribution partners, and AI solution providers, paving the way for future collaborations in pet health data, AI learning models, and cross-border product integration.
Reflections
Evidently participating in the Try Everything Program was a deep immersion into one of the world’s most vibrant and forward-thinking innovation ecosystems. From engaging discussions with startup founders and venture capitalists to exchanging insights with policymakers and tech leaders, every moment highlighted how Korea has successfully built a thriving environment where ideas are nurtured, collaborations are encouraged, and technology is at the heart of progress.
For SOPet, this experience with Bangkok-Seoul Soft Market Landing Program reinforced our belief in the power of cross-border innovation. We left Seoul with new partnerships, insights, and ideas on how to localize our technology for the Korean market — particularly in the fields of pet health AI and veterinary solutions platforms.
Hence we would like to express our sincere gratitude to the School of Integrated Innovation (CSII) and the Seoul Business Agency (SBA) for organizing such an inspiring and well-structured program. Special thanks to Dr. Ronnakorn Vaiyavuth and the CSII representatives for their care, guidance, and continuous support throughout this eye-opening journey.
SOPet is excited to build upon these connections and play our part in strengthening Thailand–Korea innovation ties. We are committed to helping Thailand grow through global collaboration — empowering veterinarians, pet owners, and the broader pet health ecosystem with intelligent, accessible, and compassionate technology.