CMU Pioneers Thai Higher Education’s Entry into the Global Innovation and Startup Arena
2 May 2025
Corporate Communication and Alumni Relations Center (CCARC)
Chiang Mai University has partnered with Raisewell Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based VC Impact Fund, to establish a mechanism for advancing university research and startups, while fostering a dynamic innovation ecosystem in Thailand with global reach. The collaboration will provide opportunities for more than 400 faculty members, researchers, and students to engage with industry experts to support over 100 startups through a growth acceleration program focused on the global tech market. The initiative aims to position Thai technology on the international stage, cultivate unicorn startups from Thai universities, and generate an estimated 80 billion baht in economic and societal impact.
Chiang Mai University’s Innovation Management Office and Science and Technology Park (STeP) have achieved a significant milestone in advancing innovation and entrepreneurship within Thai universities through a strategic partnership with Raisewell Ventures. This marks the first-ever collaboration between a Thai university and Raisewell Ventures, a Silicon Valley-based VC Impact Fund founded and led by Ms. Jeep Kline—a faculty member at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business and Thai expert in impact investing. With over 20 years of experience in Silicon Valley, Ms. Kline has successfully managed four venture funds and held executive roles at the World Bank and Intel Corporation. This groundbreaking partnership aims to accelerate the commercialization of research and innovation by integrating Thai startups and deep-tech ventures into the global innovation ecosystem. Chiang Mai University will serve as a gateway, linking Thai research and entrepreneurial talent with international funding. The collaboration is set to foster the creation of spin-off companies and high-potential tech enterprises led by Thai researchers, elevating Thailand’s presence on the world innovation stage.
Professor Dr. Pongruk Sribanditmongkol, CMU President, emphasized that the partnership with Raisewell Ventures represents a significant milestone in the university’s efforts to engage with world-class experts and global networks, particularly in the area of impact funding. This collaboration aligns with CMU’s vision to be a national leader in innovation, focused on generating sustainable social and economic impact. It will open new avenues for researchers and startups to access international capital and innovation ecosystems.
Chiang Mai University also aims to serve as the ‘innovation gateway’ for Thai universities, bridging them with global funding networks and leading experts. Over the past decade, CMU has demonstrated its innovation capacity by driving more than 2,600 research and innovation projects in partnership with industry, supporting
465 startup companies, and contributing over 20 billion baht in economic value—underscoring the strength of its institutional innovation support mechanisms.
The collaboration aims to support 400 researchers, students, and entrepreneurs in advancing technology and innovation on the global stage, while propelling at least five deep-tech projects into international markets and guiding 100 Thai startups through a structured, market-driven innovation and commercialization process.
The agreement was officially signed during “IMO Day: CMU x Raisewell,” held at the Science and Technology Park (STeP) on April 25th, 2025. The event drew over 500 attendees and showcased innovation projects from more than 30 researchers and startups. A highlight of the day was a keynote lecture by Ms. Jeep Kline titled “From Chiang Mai to Global: Opportunities for Local Innovation and Startups in a Dynamic Global Era”, which inspired a renewed vision for advancing Thailand’s innovation ecosystem onto the global stage.