Chiang Mai’s small businesses have weathered COVID, rising rent, digital disruption, and growing inequality. But now, a new opportunity is on the horizon! (and this one doesn’t come from a policy memo in Bangkok, but from inside the community itself.)
Introducing “Hackathon เมือง” (Hackathon Muang) — a bold new initiative by Mayor Asanee Buranupakorn designed to make Chiang Mai a testbed for community-powered urban development and SME-driven growth.
This isn’t just innovation for innovation’s sake. It’s a concrete strategy to reduce red tape, boost foot traffic, grow micro-entrepreneurship, and turn neighborhood insight into action.
Let’s break down what this means for your business.
Public Space = Opportunity: Activating Foot Traffic for Local Sellers
Hackathon เมือง opens up public spaces — sidewalks, markets, courtyards — for community-driven commerce and activities. That means:
- More community markets like the pilot Sunday market in San Pakoi–Charoen Muang.
- Permission for pop-ups, performances, and workshops in public zones.
- Reduced bureaucratic steps for temporary vendor approval.
📌 What this means for you: More visibility, more events, more customers — without paying rent in a shopping mall.
Local Voice, Local Rules: SMEs Help Shape the Plan
Each Hackathon event gathers input from residents, business owners, academics, and government teams to co-create solutions for a specific neighborhood.
Mayor Asanee has committed to putting local businesses at the table when making decisions about infrastructure, zoning, and economic development. Each project is based on what works in that area — not a one-size-fits-all approach.
📌 What this means for you: If you’re a café owner in Nimman, a crafts vendor in Chang Moi, or a mechanic in Lam Chang, you’ll have input on how your area grows — and how city resources support it.
Smart Nimman = Smart SME Zone
The Smart Nimman pilot — one of the flagship Hackathon Muang projects — aims to:
- Bury unsightly power lines
- Widen and improve sidewalks
- Introduce mini EV public transport to reduce car congestion
- Turn the area into a walkable business district
📌 What this means for you: More pedestrian-friendly zones = more visitors. Better infrastructure = better business environment. Nimman businesses can thrive if traffic is tamed and visibility is improved.
Urban Sandboxes = Faster Experiments, Real Results
Hackathon Muang’s core promise is this: try fast, learn fast, improve fast. The city is adopting a “sandbox” model — enabling neighborhoods to test ideas with support from city departments, without being stuck in a months-long approval cycle.
Projects already being prototyped:
- Khlong Mae Kha Phase 2–3 revitalization
- Chiang Mai Gate upgrades
- Wellness hubs that double as community activity centers and day services
📌 What this means for you: You can propose or participate in quick-turnaround projects that support local economies. Want to launch a sidewalk gallery? Run a zero-waste pop-up? Host Sunday food trucks? There’s now a framework to make it real — fast.
Innovation Awards + Exposure
Chiang Mai is launching two major civic tech competitions:
- Hylife Hackathon 2025
- Hylife Innovation Excellence Awards
These programs are designed to attract tech startups, urban designers, and social entrepreneurs — and pair them with local needs.
📌 What this means for you: You might gain access to new partners, new customers, or even new solutions that make doing business easier. It also positions Chiang Mai as an innovation-friendly city — great for tourism, branding, and the local economy.
A City That Listens is a City That Grows
Hackathon Muang isn’t just about tech. It’s about changing how the city works with its people — including the small shops, market stalls, creative workers, and microbrands that make Chiang Mai so unique.
Asanee’s promise is clear: this isn’t a vision handed down from a boardroom. It’s one built from street-level knowledge and community entrepreneurship.
For local businesses, this could be the shift that turns civic frustration into civic participation — and civic participation into real prosperity.
📣 How to Get Involved
✔️ Attend the next Hackathon session in your district
✔️ Join the public mailing list at ChiangMaiBusiness.net
✔️ Tag your ideas or business zone with #HackMuang
ChiangMaiBusiness.net — Voice of the Local Economy.
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