Chiang Mai, June 30, 2025 – Hylife Group has officially launched two major international innovation competitions—Hylife Hackathon 2025 and the Hylife Innovation Excellence Awards 2025—with the goal of positioning Chiang Mai as a regional centre of innovation and fostering a sustainable digital business ecosystem. Together, the programmes offer more than 7 million baht in prizes and investment opportunities, including the chance to scale up with Hylife Group’s support.
The official press conference was led by Mr Dhanush Ramachandran Nair, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer, and Ms Watcharaporn Lin, Executive Director, alongside key representatives from both public and private sectors engaged in Thailand’s innovation and technology landscape.
Mr Nair stated, “These two platforms reflect Hylife Group’s commitment to transforming Chiang Mai into a regional innovation hub. While their formats differ, both aim to connect creative ideas, technology, and business opportunities to enhance Thailand’s long-term economic potential.”
Hylife Hackathon 2025 is an international competition focused on idea generation, software, and platform development. Open for registration from 16 June to 31 August 2025, the hackathon welcomes software developers, UX/UI designers, tech students, and startup entrepreneurs. Teams of 3–5 members may register, with 16 teams selected to undergo intensive training in business strategy, prototyping, and pitching. The final round, the “Prototype Coding Challenge,” will be held on 18–19 October 2025 at the Chiang Mai Marriott Hotel. Participants will develop solutions aligned with Chiang Mai’s priority industries: smart living and property tech, smart agri-food and supply chains, smart manufacturing and health products, and smart finance and asset management. The prize pool exceeds 180,000 baht, with an additional 4 million baht in investment opportunities for teams that pass due diligence.
Hylife Innovation Excellence Awards 2025, now in its second year, focuses on promoting innovative products and services in real estate, manufacturing, and asset management. Registration is open from 30 June to 16 October 2025. Eligible participants include startups with under one million baht in registered capital and companies established for no more than three years. Each team must comprise at least three members. The top 12 finalists will present their business plans on 28 November 2025 to a panel of distinguished international judges. Awards include over 240,000 baht in prize money and 3 million baht in investment opportunities, subject to due diligence.
A highlight of the launch event was a panel discussion titled “Solving Chiang Mai’s Challenges with Startup Power, Innovation, and Technology.” Executives from Hylife Group and its partners discussed how technology can transform urban and community development. Speakers included Ms Atikarn Sutthiwong from the National Innovation Agency, who presented on startup business opportunities in Chiang Mai, and Mr Christopher Mosses, CEO of Manao Software, who explored how software developers can remain relevant in the age of AI. The event concluded with a networking session, promoting collaboration among stakeholders.
The initiatives are supported by leading organisations nationwide, including Chiang Mai Municipality, Digital Economy Promotion Agency (depa), National Innovation Agency (NIA), Science and Technology Park, Chiang Mai University (CMU STeP), Thai Programmers Association, Manao Software Co., Ltd., and Inside Lanna.
With a clear vision and strong backing from its partners, Hylife Group believes these innovation platforms will ignite new ideas, generate economic value, and firmly position Chiang Mai on the global innovation map.
For more details and registration:
- Hylife Hackathon 2025: hackathon.hylifegroup.com
- Innovation Excellence Awards 2025: innovation.hylifegroup.com Follow updates on Facebook: Hylife Group Thailand