The mock pitching session, staged to prepare the teams for the final judging round, was designed to be as intensive and true-to-life as possible. Each team was given just five minutes to present, strictly timed, recreating the atmosphere of a professional selection panel where every second counts towards a place in the next round.
Throughout the session the entrepreneurs made the most of their limited time to convey their business potential, their innovation and their vision. The format tested not only how well their material was prepared, but also their communication skills and their ability to structure a persuasive pitch.
After each team had pitched, experts from the National Innovation Agency (NIA) and Kasetsart University (KU) delivered focused, in-depth feedback against the four core assessment criteria — innovation and technology, business growth potential, branding, and team readiness. These are the same criteria used in the selection round, keeping the evaluation process consistent and rigorous.
The feedback went well beyond general comments. It was a strategic read of each business, identifying the “strengths” worth building on and the “gaps” that needed urgent attention, concentrating on the points that genuinely move the needle in the final round — and pairing every observation with advice the teams could act on immediately.
The session was therefore far more than a rehearsal — it was a genuine training ground that sharpened the way each entrepreneur communicates their business: clearer, tighter and more compelling. It reflects the programme’s commitment to sending every team into the final round at full strength and ready to compete at the highest level.
