Chiang Mai University continues to nurture an ecosystem for young entrepreneurs through its ‘builds CMU Startup & Entrepreneurial Program.’ Designed to support startup creation and enhance the entrepreneurial capacity of CMU students, the program serves as a dynamic platform where students can exchange ideas, explore mutual interests, and translate classroom knowledge into real-world businesses.

Since its launch on August 16, 2023, builds CMU has welcomed over 52,000 students into its community of future innovators, engaging more than 4,300 participants across 260+ activities. The initiative has successfully supported the inception of 14 student startup clubs and the establishment of 20 student-led companies, altogether generating 23.2 million baht in revenue. Ventures like MunMae, SkinNavi, and MechCode Robotech are prime examples of businesses that have thrived thanks to the collaborative space, experimental freedom, and execution support provided by the program.

Today, builds CMU stands as a major source of inspiration for students looking to kickstart their businesses while still at university. It showcases a diverse array of success stories spanning multiple sectors, from food and AI to IoT and robotics.

To illustrate the sheer breadth and potential of these student-led ventures, we take a closer look at three businesses with completely different starting points: one born from a simple idea close to home, another leveraging technology to meet modern consumer demands, and a third driving deep-tech innovation for the industrial sector. Together, they perfectly demonstrate how students’ raw ideas can be transformed into thriving enterprises when given the right opportunities and support.

Let’s start with MunMae, an Aloo potato crisp brand that delivers an unmatched thin, crispy texture. Available in a variety of distinct flavors, ranging from Original and Spicy to Nori Seaweed, the venture successfully scaled from a local family business to capture the market among students, tourists, and general consumers alike. MunMae serves as a stellar testament to how a business can sprout from a simple, familiar idea close to home and achieve commercial success through strategic branding and market testing.
Moving from a traditional food business to a tech-driven venture, SkinNavi is another builds CMU enterprise powered by technology and deep consumer insights. Operating at the intersection of beautytech and healthtech, the platform leverages AI to analyze skin conditions directly from photographs, offering personalized care recommendations and suggesting products uniquely suited to each user. The idea stemmed from a common consumer pain point: many people choose skincare products based purely on online reviews and hype without a true understanding of their own skin's needs. SkinNavi bridges this gap, empowering users to make well-informed decisions for their skincare routines.

Another business makes use of deep tech and applies engineering knowledge to the industrial sector. MechCode Robotech provides solutions to the business sector involving software, AI, IoT, and robotics, encompassing robotic system design, IoT development, control software programming, PCB design, and app development. It embodies a tangible application of deep skills to build innovation and business opportunities.

All three businesses showcase the remarkable capacity of young innovators who choose to experiment and execute early, leveraging the ecosystem of builds CMU to grow their ventures straight from the university campus.

The builds CMU Startup & Entrepreneurial Program provides students with comprehensive, end-to-end support. From sparking initial inspiration and building teams to prototype development, market testing, and commercialization, the program guides aspiring entrepreneurs every step of the way with mentorship from experts across various fields.
It also connects students with an extensive network of businesses, investors, and funding opportunities from the university, public, and private sectors. This vital bridge allows ideas and projects born in classrooms and laboratories to mature into startups capable of driving meaningful economic and social impact in the future.