Bangkok: Team PineaPPle Jam from Chulalongkorn University clinched the first prize for their 'Odora' smart dog bed innovation at the STARTUP THAILAND LEAGUE 2026, which commenced in Bangkok. The event aims to ignite the entrepreneurial potential of student innovators from the central and eastern regions.
According to Thai News Agency, the National Innovation Agency (NIA), under the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation (MHESI), is organizing the STARTUP THAILAND LEAGUE 2026: REGIONAL PITCHING competition. This initiative seeks to identify leading startups across the nation. The first regional finale focused on the Central and Eastern regions, selecting five teams to advance to the national championship in June 2026. Students from 28 universities participated, with 138 teams presenting their innovative projects. Participating institutions included Chulalongkorn University, Thammasat University, and King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang, among others.
The competition atmosphere was described as lively and intense, with teams competing in themes such as Agriculture, Food and Herb; Medical and Health; Energy, Environment and EV; Travel and Soft Power; Industry; Lifestyle/Business Service; and FinTech. The winning team, PineaPPle Jam, impressed judges with "Odora," a smart bed for dogs designed to distribute pressure and reduce the risk of osteoarthritis, while an app tracks health and sleep behavior.
The first runner-up prize was awarded to Team The Rain from King Mongkut's University of Technology North Bangkok. Their project involved an innovative rainwater-powered electricity generation system for high-rise buildings, offering a clean energy alternative for urban areas. The second runner-up prize went to three teams: Team LuXene from Kasetsart University for their bio-lubricant technology from industrial waste, Team POWER IS POWER from King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang for enhancing solar cell efficiency, and Team Siberian from Mahidol University for their 'Urformance' running equipment designed for hot and humid climates.
These five teams will represent their regions in the national finals at SITE 2026 in Siam Paragon, Bangkok. Dr. Kritphaka Boonfueng, Director of NIA, highlighted that the Startup Thailand League, initiated in 2017, aims to develop startups into new economic drivers. This effort involves collaboration between government, private sectors, and educational institutions to foster entrepreneurship, leading to business incubation and development processes aimed at international markets. Since its inception, the program has expanded from 28 to 50 universities, with over 73,000 student participants and more than 4,000 startup ideas generated.
The Startup Thailand League 2026: Regional Pitching competition will continue with Stage 2 in the Northeast region at Khon Kaen University, Stage 3 in the Northern region at Chiang Mai University, and the final stage in the Southern region at Prince of Songkla University. The top three winners from each region will qualify for the national championship.