TECH PLANTER Thailand 2026 Demo Day is Happening this Saturday!

Chief judge

Dr. Kihoko Tokue, Education Research Institute Head, Leave a Nest Co., Ltd 

Raised across five countries, she earned a Ph.D. in ecology and joined Leave a Nest in 2011. After launching the International Development Division, she led global expansion efforts, establishing Leave a Nest Malaysia in 2013 and becoming its Managing Director. She joined the ASEAN Young Leaders Summit in 2015 and became Managing Director of Leave a Nest Singapore in 2016. In 2019, she signed an MoU with Enterprise Singapore to support startups. She leads the TECH PLANTER program in Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand, and actively fosters international collaboration through bilingual communication, holding a Grade A in the UN English Proficiency Test.

Dr. Dieter Trau, Professor, Faculty at the School of Management (SOM), Asian Institute of Technology (AIT)

Prof. Dr. Dieter Trau is an Adjunct Professor at the School of Management, Asian Institute of Technology, contributing expertise in entrepreneurship, medical engineering
and bio-nanotechnology. He holds an engineering degree in chemical and bioengineering from Aachen University of Applied Sciences and a Ph.D. in chemistry from HKUST. Previously, he was a tenured Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore and served as AIT’s Dean of Engineering and Founding Director of its
Entrepreneurship Center. A serial entrepreneur, he has founded and co-founded several biotechnology and diagnostics ventures in Germany and Singapore.

Prof. Dr. Siripon Anantawaraskul, Vice Dean for Research Affairs and Innovation, Kasetsart University

Prof. Dr. Siripon Anantawaraskul is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Kasetsart University, Thailand. He obtained his Ph.D. and M.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from McGill University, Canada, and specializes in polymer reaction engineering, polyolefin structure characterization, process modeling, and AI applications in polymer engineering. His research integrates advanced computational modeling, machine learning, and chemical engineering to develop next-generation polymer materials and manufacturing processes. With nearly 60 publications in leading international journals, Prof. Siripon has established himself as a leading expert in polymer science and engineering, actively bridging academic research with industrial innovation and advanced manufacturing.

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng, Executive Director, (National Innovation Agency (NIA)

Dr. Krithpaka Boonfueng is the Executive Director of the National Innovation Agency (NIA), Thailand. She is a visionary leader in shaping the national innovation ecosystem, driving strategic initiatives that empower deep-tech startups and foster public-private collaborations to accelerate the country's innovation-driven economy.

Dr. Wanwipa (Jeab) S. , Venture Partner, Vectors Capital

Dr. Wanwipa is a seasoned ClimateTech investor and sustainability champion. With a strong background in science with a BS from MIT and a PhD. from Princeton and a passion for innovation, she has successfully bridged the gap between research and real-world impact. Her academic career includes leading bio- and chemical technology studies, resulting in publications in leading journals and receipt of Mitsui Chemicals Award (TECH PLANTER Thailand 2019). She honed her skills in corporate innovation at RISE, fostering entrepreneurship and leading technology incubation programs. Currently at Vectors Capital, Dr. Wanwipa manages the entire investment process for ClimateTech startups (Pre-Seed to Series A). Her focus areas encompass renewables, storage, hydrogen, EV infrastructure, CCUS, and sustainable fuels.

Dr. Apiwat Thongprasert, Managing Director. VISUP Company Limited

Dr. Apiwat Thongprasert is Managing Director of VISUP Co., Ltd., a deep-tech venture builder under VISTEC that helps transform research into commercialization. He works
with researchers, industry, and investors to support ventures in biotech, advanced materials, medical devices, IoT, and AI. He holds a Ph.D. in Technopreneurship and
Innovation Management from Chulalongkorn University and has a background in engineering, IoT, RFID, and semiconductors, with experience in bridging research and
commercialization.

Mr. Kosei Konno, Manager, Japan Tobacco Inc.

Charles Konno is a serial entrepreneur born in Beijing and raised in Los Angeles. He graduated from Peking University and Waseda University before joining Japan Tobacco (JT), where he worked in finance and international M&A. He currently leads venture building, new business development, and fund management in the wellness and food & beverage sectors. With extensive experience across the U.S., ASEAN, China, the Middle East, and East Africa, he specializes in innovation and cross-border business development. He is fluent in Japanese, English, and Chinese.

Mr. Akihiro ISUMI, Senior Technology Strategist, Soken Chemical & Engineering Co., Ltd.

Soken Group is a research-driven polymer manufacturer, specializing in a wide range of technologies from plant design to polymer development, including adhesives, particulates, coatings, and biomass materials. They actively seek collaboration opportunities such as technical partnerships and investments to leverage their diverse manufacturing technologies.
Mr. Akihiro ISUMI, a Senior Technology Strategist, has extensive experience in material development for regenerative medicine within the pharmaceutical industry. He primarily focuses on biotechnology, medical, and materials development. Additionally, drawing from his experience as the General Manager directing international business at a medical device venture, he explores startups with scalable business models.

Mr. Norio Asahara, Regional R&D Director, Ezaki Glico Co. Ltd.

Glico manufactures not only confectionery and ice cream, but also a wide range of food categories such as beverages, dairy products, processed foods and baby milk powder. Mr. ASAHARA is the director of research and development in Glico Asia Pacific. He is looking for new research partners as well as technical support, investment and opportunities for various collaborations such as buying of new ingredients. He is responsible for new business in Asia  Pacific.

Dr. Claudia Fujita, Senior Research Engineer, Taisei Corporation

Claudia was born in Germany and studied Water Management with a specialization in groundwater management. A study-abroad experience in Japan inspired her to pursue a career there and challenge herself in a new environment. Since joining Taisei Corporation, she has worked on a wide range of environmental, energy, and underground construction technologies, gaining experience in both research and construction. Passionate about connecting Japan’s technological strengths with global innovation, she is now based at Taisei’s Innovation Hub in Singapore, building bridges between Japan and Southeast Asia through technology, innovation, and collaboration.

Mr. Junki Ishii, Growth Manager, UntroD Asia Capital / Assistant Manager, Iwatani Singapore

Junki joined Iwatani Singapore in 2020, where he engaged in the trading of inorganic chemical raw materials such as rare earths. He currently serves as an Assistant Manager at the company and is seconded to UntroD Asia Capital as a Growth Manager. He is currently focusing on new business development through collaboration and investment with startups. Leveraging his deep expertise in chemistry, he is dedicated to evaluating technological potentials and driving open innovation. He holds a Master's degree in Chemistry from the Graduate School of Tokyo University of Science, where he conducted research on photocatalysts.

For more information about TECH PLANTER Thailand 2026, please visit:

https://techplanter.lne.st/thailand/thailand2026/