Hear from a crypto-evangelist, 9Gag co-founder, and Hollywood animator at Thailand’s largest tech summit

Image credit: 9Gag/Zach Piester

Many countries around the world are embracing big data, and Thailand is following suit with a new plan to revamp its economy. Known as Thailand 4.0, the project involves a large-scale upgrade to keep the nation of more than 68 million people relevant in the digital age.

This plan for a digital transformation will be unveiled at the Digital Thailand Big Bang 2018 (DTBB), which will be held at Impact Muang Thong Thani from September 19 to 23. The event will focus on big data – an area that the government is banking on to “reduce operating costs and weaken corruption,” according to digital economy and society minister Pichit Durongkaveroj.

Hosting both government agencies and private companies, the summit will also feature exhibitions about Thailand’s smart cities initiative, as well as standout speakers from its tech sector. Here are four personalities to catch.

1. Zach Piester

Image credit: Zach Piester

The fintech industry has been accelerating at breakneck speed, and it looks like it will continue growing in the next couple of years. Whether you’re involved in this sector or not, it pays to pay attention to this promising field, and get to know crypto investors and evangelists like Zach Piester.

Piester currently heads Intrepid Ventures as its co-founder and chief development officer. Having worked with several Fortune 500 businesses, including Google and Singtel, this savvy innovator and experienced speaker is a treasure trove of insights and ideas.

While his work spans cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, organizational design, insurance, venture capital, business development, and talent management, his DTBB 2018 talk will focus on cryptocurrency.

Event Details
Cryptocurrencies of Tomorrow
September 19, 2018
3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

2. Bill Church

Apart from informative sessions about big data technology, DTBB 2018 also offers a lineup of other unexpected yet no less intriguing seminars. One such seminar is led by Bill Church, an expert from Lego Education who used to be a high school physics teacher. His topic? Education, of course.

More specifically, he will be delving into the various ways that academic institutions can introduce modern skills to the classroom, and why it’s important to do so. Passionate about project-based learning, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education and robotics, Church approaches teaching in novel, unconventional ways that add value to each student.

Education is no longer about sticking to textbooks. Nowadays it’s more about learning through hands-on activities. That’s exactly what Lego Education is doing as it aims to make STEM subjects more accessible to young learners.

Event Details
How to Introduce 21st Century Skills to the Classroom
September 21, 2018
3:50 p.m. to 4:25 p.m.

3. Tikumporn Teepapal

Image credit: Tikumporn Teepapal

Another welcome surprise at DTBB is Thai animator Tikumporn Teepapal’s talk about his journey from humble origins to Hollywood. At such a young age, he has worked his way up and has garnered an impressive list of credentials that includes blockbuster films like Avengers: Infinity War, Thor: Ragnarok, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, and Solo: A Star Wars Story.

In his talk, Tikumporn will discuss his experience working with top-tier international animation teams, giving the audience ideas on how they can take their work to the next level. Aspiring tech entrepreneurs who are aiming for the big leagues can also pick up a thing or two on how to turn their dreams into reality.

Event Details
Thai Animator Goes Hollywood
September 23, 2018
2:00 pm to 2:45 pm

4. Ray Chan

Image credit: 9Gag

Uploading funny videos and silly pictures online is usually just a pastime for most people. But Ray Chan is among the few who were able to monetize the sharing of viral content, turning this hobby into a full-fledged company. This seems like an unlikely possibility, but 9Gag, which Chan co-founded in 2008, is proof that the world of business is constantly changing.

Of course, the 9Gag team doesn’t just sit in an office and create weird memes for millennials to gobble up. So how do you build and run a highly successful media entertainment brand? Chan, who serves as Hong Kong-based 9Gag’s CEO, will give an insider’s account of how they went about it.

Event Details
The Secrets to 9Gag’s Success
September 23, 2018
2:45 pm to 3:30 pm

Digital Thailand Big Bang 2018 will take place September 19-23, 2018 at Challenger Hall, IMPACT, Muang Thong Thani. Find out more at the DTBB 2018 website here.