NAKHON PHANOM, 26 June 2018: Five local entrepreneurs from Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam earned spots in this year’s Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) programme.
The five startup accelerator finalists, chosen from a field of 19 candidates, are attending the Mekong Tourism Forum, this week in Nakhon Phanom, to present their solutions and explore industry partnerships.
They will reconvene this October, concurrent with ITB Asia in Singapore, to pitch investors and compete for innovation grants up to USD10,000.
Startup finalists present at MTF
BambooLao (Lao PDR) produces reusable bamboo straws to replace single-use plastic straws.
Ecohost (Vietnam) improves the local homestay experience, improving the management of homestays and local activities while making them easier to book.
Go Explore (Vietnam) organizes “workation” programs aimed at international and domestic remote workers.
Sidesbag (Cambodia) is a mobile application enabling airline passengers to purchase available luggage allowance from fellow travellers.
VDEs (Vietnam) connects event planners with event venues and makes them bookable through their database.
Now in its second year, the MIST Startup Accelerator teaches business fundamentals to early stage travel and hospitality startups based in the Mekong Region, while connecting them with industry and investors.
Asian Development Bank, Australian Government, and the six-government Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office (Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam) jointly support the project.
“There is no doubt that technology is rapidly transforming travel. The trick is to harness and accelerate innovative business models that also positively transform lives, communities, and the natural environment,” said Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office executive director Jens Thraenhart.
MIST has two programmes; one for Mekong Region startup and the other for SME firms, worldwide, that are developing projects to extend their footprint to the Mekong region.
