Launching the Spotlight Series
Chiang Mai has long been known as a city of temples, creativity, and natural beauty—but it’s also quietly becoming one of the most dynamic, diverse, and daring business ecosystems in Southeast Asia.
From hospitality startups and ethical coffee ventures to productized service businesses, tech-enabled education, eco-manufacturing, and social impact incubators—there’s an explosion of innovation happening in this mountain city. And most of it is being built not by massive corporations, but by independent thinkers, resourceful entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers determined to do business differently.
We think it’s time to shine a light on them.
🌟 What Is the CMBN Spotlight Series?
The CMBN Spotlight is a new editorial series that will profile the most innovative, inspiring, and quietly ingenious businesses in Chiang Mai. These are companies doing things a bit differently—whether through their models, their products, their impact, or their people.
Each article in the series will offer:
- A deep dive into the business model (not just the marketing)
- Insights on how the idea was built
- Challenges faced and solved
- Who it’s for—and why it works
- Lessons other local entrepreneurs and SMEs can learn
This isn’t puff. It’s practical storytelling for the business-minded.
💡 Why It Matters Now
Chiang Mai is changing.
The post-COVID recovery has reawakened local entrepreneurship, digital transformation is reshaping every industry, and rising rents and operating costs are forcing new models to emerge. At the same time, new residents from across Thailand and abroad are arriving with skills, ideas, and capital.
But what’s missing is visibility. Too often, local ventures operate in silos—doing brilliant things without ever getting the recognition, feedback, or partnerships they deserve.
That’s where CMBN—and this series—comes in.
We want to:
- Spotlight meaningful business innovation
- Highlight sustainable and scalable business models
- Inspire future founders and investors
- Strengthen connections within the Chiang Mai business community
Who Will Be Featured?
We’re looking at:
- Smart micro-franchises
- Unusual e-commerce plays
- Next-gen tourism experiences
- Scalable food and beverage concepts
- Community-powered platforms
- Ethical manufacturing
- And beyond
Whether it’s a homegrown SaaS tool or a street-side venture with a global mindset—if it’s solving real problems in a unique way, we want to tell its story.
How You Can Get Involved
Are you building something interesting—or do you know someone who is?
Nominate a business for the Spotlight Series!
or email cmbn@chiangmaibusiness.net
We also welcome contributors who want to help tell these stories from the inside—local journalists, marketing pros, or founders with a point of view.
