The Market for Alternative Investment (MAI) and the National Innovation Agency (NIA) have joined forces to support startups and mid-sized firms wishing to list on the MAI or trade on the Live platform.
The MAI and the NIA have set up Innovation Driven Enterprise (IDE), a training programme designed to increase efficiency of business management, business development and business strategy for startups and small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
The IDE will promote digital development, software, IT and technological innovation among startups that have operated for at least two years.
Startups are required to have at least 20 million baht worth of registered capital. The training programme will begin this Friday.
MAI president Prapan Charoenprawat said about 50 companies have expressed interest in joining the programme, of which 15 could meet the listing requirements of the MAI and 35 have high potential to trade on the Live platform.
Ookbee and Wongnai are identified as companies having the potential for an MAI listing.
Live is a platform for startup trading based on the concept of blockchain technology. Live is expected to launch in this year's first quarter and be managed by the Stock Exchange of Thailand.
Since startup businesses have high investment risk, investors using this trading platform will have to be accredited and are required to have shrewd investment knowledge.
The NIA will also extend and provide funding to SMEs, startups and general businesses for consultation on 10 professional careers deemed to have importance for business expansion in the future.
The project is called "Mind Credit", which has already offered consulting in four professional careers during 2017-18.
Business developers will receive about 1 million baht and can choose up to three consultants each from 10 career choices.
The 10 career choices are business law and registering or applying for business licences from the government; property rights; financial, accounting and investment; business development and management; marketing; industrial standards; engineering design and innovative design; information technology; logistics; and international trade.
