SEA Bridge Venture Builder

Tracker · v1.1 Anchor pilot: 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇳🇿 NZ seeded
The Venture Builder is the project. Each country tab is one international relationship plugged into the model. Sweden is the active pilot through Sept 2026; New Zealand was seeded by the YBLI Tech 2026 trip (17–24 May) and now has a live Tier 1-3 contact pipeline. Australia and South Korea remain queued.
📌 Today: — ⭐ Sweden visit: Sep 3–11, 2026 📌 Next milestone: Mon May 25 — Session 2 (homework due) 🇳🇿 NZ updated: 25 May 2026
Days until Sweden
Sep 3–11 · Stockholm
Next milestone
S2 in — days
Flagship Definition Workshop · Mon May 25
Active countries
2 / 4
🇸🇪 Sweden (anchor) · 🇳🇿 NZ (activating · Sub-Fund #2)
Travel conflicts
3
Ningxia · Niigata · Manila

Across the venture builder · status board

One card per active workstream · click to jump to that tab. Status reflects this week's posture.

🇸🇪 Sweden · anchor pilot
Sprint week
Next: Session 3 (Track A) Wed 27 May · 90 min · Draft BM Hypothesis · w/ Techsauce + NEN
Owner: KasperOpen Sweden →
🎓 SBIE · Track B
Sprint week
Next: Session 4 (Track B) Thu 28 May · 90 min · Draft Education / Commercialization Structure · w/ CUTIP, PMU-C, NIA models
Co-leads: Kasper + GolfOpen Sweden →
🇳🇿 New Zealand
Activating · Sub-Fund #2 corridor
Next 30d: Article #TH70NZ live · Jason Wang (Icehouse) sub-fund concept call · CIE + UC MoU proposals · NZ delegation to Gen SEA Summit Khon Kaen July
Owner: KasperOpen NZ →
💰 NZ Sub-Fund concept
Concept
Next: Concept paper Q3 · anchor LP outreach via Icehouse · soft-sound 2–3 NZ family offices via Asia NZ Foundation · target: named at Sept Stockholm announcement as 2nd corridor
🇦🇺 Australia
Queued
Next: Q4 2026+ activation window · tech transfer + climate/agritech corridor · anchor partner TBD
Owner: KasperOpen AU →
🇰🇷 South Korea
Queued · 2027
Next: Seed conversations during Sweden visit (K-Startup Center) · chaebol corporate venture muscle
Owner: KasperOpen KR →
📋 Tasks this week
Active
Open: Session 3 deck (Wed) · Session 4 prep (Thu) · Ningxia logistics (Fri) · Capacity Building date confirmation
V1 homework ✅ submitted May 25Open Tasks →
⚖️ Open decisions
3 open
Sweden AB entity (Vinnova/Swedfund) · OKR Workshop Jun 2 (attend remote from Ningxia or delegate?) · Capacity Building dates (avoid Niigata Jun 11–14)
Pending
🚨 Single biggest gap
Critical
No decided fund architecture · no committed anchor LP. Two moves: (1) recruit fund-formation advisor; (2) convert 1 warm Thai family office to soft commit before Sept.

This week · Tue 26 May → Mon 1 Jun

Tue26
🩺 Tuesday measurement 🛠 V2 tracker work · Sessions 3-4 prep Today
Wed27
🎯 Session 3 Sprint Track A · 90 min · w/ Techsauce + NEN Output: Draft BM Hypothesis
Thu28
🎓 Session 4 Sprint Track B (SBIE) · 90 min · w/ Golf Output: Edu/Commercialization Structure
Fri29
✈ 🇨🇳 Ningxia trip starts May 29 – Jun 3
Sat30
🇨🇳 Ningxia
Sun31
🇨🇳 Ningxia
Mon1
🇨🇳 Ningxia Tue 2: OKR Workshop · attend remote or delegate

The thesis

SEA Bridge Venture Builder takes the next step beyond services and SBIE: produce a small number of high-conviction ventures with SEA Bridge equity, using a structured stack of international relationships — one anchor at a time — to compress validation, broker capital, and launch into a second ASEAN market by month 12.

Each country tab maps to one international relationship: an anchor partner, a specific capability extracted, an ASEAN-bound deal-flow channel, and a known cost of activation. Sweden runs first because the institutional path has already been cleared by Epicenter + NIA + the Royal Thai Embassy. NZ was activated as a parallel second relationship after the May 17–24 YBLI Tech 2026 trip created warm institutional, university, VC, and founder connections in one window.

The 3-pillar unfair advantage

① ASEAN focus, not Thailand focus

Live working connections across multiple ASEAN countries. TVBF Founding Members already cross border (Chula + UEH, TH–VN pilot corridor). Cross-border is a feature — not a future ambition.

② University + student pipeline (SBIE)

MOUs at 15+ universities across 5 countries (growing). ASEAN1967 (58 fellows, 9 countries, ends Aug 2026) supplies a verified pool of high-signal founder candidates pre-Venture-Builder.

③ GTM cross-border, as a service

SEA Bridge already sells cross-border GTM — the muscle exists. Most incubators stop at home-market validation; we can launch a venture into a second ASEAN market by month 12.

Country portfolio

🇸🇪
Sweden / Nordics
Active pilot
Epicenter Thai-Nordic 2026 program. Phase 1 of 5. Anchor pattern for all future country activations.
🇳🇿
New Zealand
Activating · Sub-Fund #2 corridor
YBLI Tech 2026 (May 17–24) + article #TH70NZ live. 3 plays: NZ company + Sub-Fund #2 (Icehouse anchor) · CIE/UC MoUs + HEX-style credit transfer · Study Program Agency (the SBIE revenue answer).
🇦🇺
Australia
Queued · Q4 2026+
Tech transfer + climate/agritech corridor. Existing relationships — anchor partner TBD.
🇰🇷
South Korea
Queued · 2027
Chaebol corporate venture muscle. Seed conversations during Sweden visit via K-Startup Center.

Why one country at a time

The unfair advantage isn't having international relationships — many Thai players do. It's having one international relationship at a time, run with the structure of a real partnership (clear capability extracted, clear deal-flow channel, real MOU, real cadence), so that the network compounds rather than dilutes. Sweden takes the anchor slot through Sept 2026. NZ is now an active, lighter-weight parallel — explicitly run on a smaller bandwidth envelope so it does not steal focus from Sweden Phase 4.

Personal scorecard — Kasper, by end Sept 2026

  • Strategic — written, defensible Venture Builder thesis with named first-cohort ventures
  • Institutional — at minimum one signed Nordic counterpart MOU that converts the program into ongoing flow; CIE × SBIE term sheet drafted
  • Capital — pipeline conversations open with 3+ institutional investors (Nordic + Thai) + Icehouse/Jason Wang opened as NZ capital anchor
  • Operational — sustainable revenue model hypothesis tested with corporate partners on Track A (validated, not just drafted)
  • Pipeline — 5+ named ventures or founder candidates from SBIE / ASEAN1967 that fit the thesis, with first validation work started (Partly, Mussel King, Grafilab in candidate set)
Sweden visit countdown
Sep 3–11 · Stockholm
Next sprint
Session 3 Track A · Wed 27 May · 90 min
Track
A
Sustainable BM for incubators
Conflicts in window
3
Ningxia · Niigata · Manila

📌 V2 · Session 3 & 4 Prep — most up-to-date (source: V2 - HW, Google Doc)

🎯
Going into Sessions 3 (Track A · Venture Studio · Kasper) & 4 (Track B · SBIE · co-led w/ Golf)
Wed 27 May · Session 3 Sprint → Draft Business Model Hypothesis for SEA Bridge Venture Studio (Track A), w/ Techsauce + New Energy Nexus Thailand · 90 min  ·  Thu 28 May · Session 4 Sprint → Draft Education / Commercialization Structure for SBIE (Track B), co-led with Supakiat (Golf), w/ CUTIP, PMU-C, NIA models
— days

Identity — the reframe

SEA Bridge is not an incubator or accelerator — Thailand already has ~60. It is a cross-border venture builder (studio) that co-founds and takes equity in ASEAN ventures, fed by SEA Bridge Institute of Entrepreneurship (SBIE) — the talent, pipeline, and engagement layer.

Track A — Venture Studio (SEA Bridge)

Does: Co-founds, takes equity, raises & deploys capital
Who: A selected few enter
Output: Ventures + a fund

Track B — Institute (SBIE)

Does: Educates, scouts, builds pipeline & engagement
Who: Most participants are learners
Output: Talent + continuers

The Gate · Program → Studio

You enter the Studio only by pitching in, or by invitation after a flagship program (GVP, ASEAN1967). The Program is the filter; the Studio is the prize.

Track A · Venture Studio

Problem
  1. Many incubators & accelerators in Thailand are run by universities and government agencies — no real skin in the game for the operators.
  2. The venture-studio model is relatively new for Thailand.
  3. Thailand & its startups can't capitalize their strategic location in middle of SEA and long diplomatic ties to fuel an innovation ecosystem connecting to the world.
Ambition · 12–24 months

Launch the SEA Bridge venture-studio arm with a USD 10M fund and 10–20 viable cross-border ventures, anchored by a Thailand–Nordic corridor.

The Bet

Thailand can be ASEAN's hub of entrepreneurial talent — and the missing piece isn't more grants or incubators, it's a private builder (in the middle of Triple Helix) that connects local talent, the best IP anywhere, and global markets (which don't have to mean the US or China).

Personal note: I plan (and have wanted) to run a venture studio rather than an accelerator or incubator.

Track A · Business Model Hypothesis (for Session 3 Wed)

Revenue logic · Bridge → Building → Compounding

Bridge (today)

Advisory fees + government program fees/sponsorship · pays the bills now

Treat as runway, not identity.

Building (12–24 mo)

Venture-builder / management fees + equity in co-built ventures

Target state for September 2026.

Compounding (later)

Fund management fees + carry (Angel Fund I)

5–10 year compounding layer.

What a corporate / family business actually buys
  • A new growth engine + trusted hands to expand into ASEAN
  • For family business — a credible succession & transformation path (peace of mind handing the next gen to a trusted builder)
  • Network access they can't reach alone
The Moat — unfair advantage

Family-business succession + cross-border ASEAN access. Antler / YC / Techstars run transactional Western playbooks — they can't deploy family succession capital or hold the regional relationship web.

Public · Private · Startup balance

Public

Grants / government — TED Fund · NIA · PMU-B · ARDA · Vinnova · Swedfund

Private

Corporate / family business / LP — anchor family offices · Nordic strategics · Norrsken

Startups

Equity + services from co-built ventures

⚠ Grant-distortion rule

Grants fund what we'd build anyway (talent, R&D, pilots). The moment a grant dictates structure, headcount, or timeline we wouldn't otherwise choose — decline or ring-fence it.

⚠ Advisory rule

Take advisory only when it sources a venture or capital. Advisory is the bridge, not the destination — risk is it quietly becomes the business.

Investment readiness — true by September

  • Unit economics drafted
  • LP composition (Thai family offices anchor · Nordic second-wave)
  • Fee / carry structure
  • Legal architecture path (incl. Swedish AB decision for Vinnova/Swedfund eligibility)
  • 5–10 named candidate ventures
🚨 Single biggest gap · today → investable

Strong pipeline and relationships, but no decided fund architecture and no committed anchor LP.

Start two moves now: (1) engage a fund-formation advisor to lock the legal/fund structure; (2) convert one warm Thai family office to a soft commitment before September.

Track B · SEA Bridge Institute of Entrepreneurship (SBIE)

Problem

Entrepreneurship education in Thailand is taught mostly by academics rather than practitioners, few faculties have the resources to do it well, and departments work in silos — so even where ASEAN's opportunities and university IP are abundant, there's no clear path (or business model) connecting students and research to real ventures.

Ambition · 12–24 months

From a base of 15 signed MoUs across 5 ASEAN countries (one live today at Chula CEDT), reach genuine multi-faculty implementation with top-1–2 universities per ASEAN market, 1,000+ students engaged, onboarded Nordic partners, and the first deep-tech spinoffs co-invested with University Holding Companies.

The Bet

The right talent and the best IP already sit inside universities — working directly with them (practitioner-led, cross-faculty, venture-oriented), not around them, is how you reach both.

Challenge: SBIE needs its own revenue model to be sustainable as a feeder, not a cost center.

Track B · Education / Commercialization Structure (for Session 4 Thu)

What a Member University signs for · the one thing

A venture-builder counterparty that turns their research and students into real ventures — the commercialization they structurally can't do alone — plus exchangeable curriculum and Nordic co-credentialing.

Venture creation model + selection gate
  • Prof + undergrad pairing (CUTIP / Kavin model); use CU TIP's ~1,000 experienced alumni as continuers, not raw undergrads.
  • Tiered funnel: broad Program (many) → flagship filters (GVP, ASEAN1967) → selected few into the Studio.
  • Gate: "The Program is the filter, the Studio is the prize — you enter only by pitching in or being invited after a flagship program."
Research commercialization — path + IP/equity

Track B does scouting, training, pipeline, engagement; commercialization passes into Track A (the Studio) for the actual build.

IP / equity split: UHC holds the IP equity; SEA Bridge takes operating-entity equity in the venture built around it. Models: KMUTT Nawawiwat · CMU Ang Kaew · CU Enterprise.

For September, scope as a defined path + one UHC pilot conversation, not a built capability.

Nordic imports (concrete, not admiration)
  1. Stockholm School of Entrepreneurship — how 6 universities co-own one entrepreneurship engine (governance, contribution, financials). Blueprint for SBIE's multi-university Member model.
  2. KTH Innovation's lab-to-venture readiness process (≈ your GTMRL™) for deep tech.

Proof point: SSE Incubator — undergrad ideas → unicorns from a small home market.

Ownership & Accountability

LayerAccountableSupport
Venture Studio (operating co. + fundraising)KasperTony · Natch (financing)
SBIE (Institute / Program)Golf SupakiatAnda
Angel Fund I + Nordic Sub-FundKasper (GP)fund-ops advisor (to recruit)
SEA Bridge Sweden AB (if needed)Decision pending

Delegation challenge: structure routes almost everything through Kasper. First layer to delegate — likely SBIE day-to-day to Golf — to de-risk founder dependency.

Stakeholder Roles

Internal: Studio = Kasper + Tony + Natch (financing) · Institute = Golf + Anda
Thai: TED Fund / NIA / PMU-B (active grant pathways) · NXPO (UHC policy co-author) · Royal Thai Embassy Stockholm (program anchor) · Thai family offices (anchor LPs, warm) — most important conversion: one family-office anchor LP
Swedish / Nordic: Epicenter (program home) · Vinnova / Swedfund (grant + LP candidates) · Norrsken (impact LP) · KTH (commercialization model) — most important by Sept: one Nordic strategic (Norrsken or Swedfund) to soft-commit

Assumptions · Barriers · Per-track challenges

Load-bearing assumptions

  1. Family offices will commit capital if they see credible pipeline + structure
  2. Programs + Nordic/MFA backing + funding will attract and retain top ASEAN talent
  3. Nordic partners genuinely want structured ASEAN access; grants support (not distort) the model

If wrong, the flagship fails.

Top barriers (blunt)

  1. Fund / legal setup complexity + capital to start
  2. Proving sponsor value beyond image and tour (the eyeballs problem)
  3. Talent continuity — and founder's own bandwidth (the advisory treadmill)

Per-track challenges

Track A: venture-studio model is poorly understood in SEA — need early believers willing to back the start.

Track B: needs its own revenue model to be sustainable as a feeder, not a cost center.

Nordic Value · the program's non-negotiable

Why meet you · one line

"We're your credible ASEAN counterparty — a 680M-person market and a route into the rest of ASEAN, not just Thailand."

What Thailand / ASEAN brings

  • ASEAN + BIMSTEC market access
  • WFACE verticals — structural advantage
  • A place to build and sell (not just vacation)

What we want to learn

  • Small home market → global connection
  • How they built entrepreneurial spirit
  • University → lab → venture (KTH)
  • Govt grant utilization without distortion

Radar line: "Thailand isn't global top 10, but it's best-in-class in SEA — Sweden's longest regional partner, with hospitality, creativity, manufacturing, and OECD aspiration, now backed by reform momentum across Finance · MHESI · Commerce · MFA."

Core Collaborators · compact (full mapped table in V1 below)

Gov: TED Fund · NIA · PMU-B (active · Thai) · NXPO (UHC) · Vinnova / Swedfund (Nordic) · Royal Thai Embassy Stockholm (anchor)
Industry/Capital: Thai family offices (anchor LPs) · Norrsken (Nordic impact LP) · active case sponsors (AirAsia · NFI…) · CP Foods / Thai Union / Betagro (Food)
University: CEDT Chula · UEH Vietnam (founding members) · KKBS / KKU (Gen SEA) · KTH / Lund / Karolinska (Nordic commercialization)
Ecosystem: Epicenter (home) · Techsauce + New Energy Nexus (Track A co-leads) · Impact Pioneers '25 network

🎯 7 deliverables · Min / Target / Stretch tracker

Check the highest tier achieved by Sept 11. Min = floor we'll defend; Target = realistic plan; Stretch = if everything clicks. Aim to land the Target column.

#DeliverableMinTargetStretch
1 Angel Fund I + Nordic Sub-Fund business model v1 hypothesis pressure-tested with 3 advisors + 3–5 family offices + 2–3 Nordic strategics; unit economics drafted; legal-architecture path mapped LPA outline circulating with named lead-counsel
2 Thai/ASEAN family office anchor LPs 3 candidates under NDA, in active dialogue + 1 written interest letter or equivalent 1 soft commitment with timing for close
3 Nordic strategic conversations
Norrsken VC (Agnes) · Swedfund (Markus) · Vinnova (Kjell Håkan) · KTH Innovation (Donnie/Viktor) · STING (Karin Ruiz) · IKEA Foundation
2 active conversations 4 active + 1 soft commitment by September 1 MoU framework circulating
4 Co-build candidate ventures (5 sourcing channels) 5 candidates documented with venture thesis fit 10 candidates + 3 selected for first-cohort co-build + initial validation work underway
5 Mission-aligned fund operations advisor 3 candidates identified 1 advisor onboarded + 1 Nordic-side capability partner (legal / fund ops)
6 Triple Helix activation roadmap Thai grant pathways mapped (TED Fund · NIA · PMU-B · ARDA) + Nordic (Vinnova via Kjell Håkan) + 1 other ASEAN country (VN · Resolution 71) + 1–2 Thai UHCs partnership progressing + 1–2 Nordic IP offices in dialogue (KTH Innovation, Lund)
7 Public signal at Nordic Tech Week (Sep 7–11) Concept announcement + 1–2 Nordic strategic partners + 1–2 Thai UHC partners; anchor LP language aggregate-but-unnamed + 1 named anchor LP + SAC presence in Stockholm + comms partner engaged (Eidra / Maria Starck) + lead Nordic LP + press coverage in 1–2 outlets

📚 V1 Submission · Session 2 Homework (historical reference)

📝
Track A V1 · "Sustainable BMs for Incubators" — submitted Mon 25 May 2026, 1:30pm BKK
~600 word TAP version (Challenge · Ambition · Collaborators · Bet · Success). Kept here as the original homework record · the V2 above is the current operating frame for Sessions 3 & 4.
V1 archived

① Key Challenge

ASEAN can't become the world's 4th largest economy as a consumer of other people's ventures.

The infrastructure to build cross-border ventures at regional scale does not yet exist. 680M people · 7,500+ universities · $3.6T combined GDP — but the firm-level coordination layer across borders, verticals, and the Triple Helix is missing.

Single-country accelerators produce single-country ventures. Imported global brands operate transactionally. Vertical accelerators miss cross-vertical founders. Government programs are siloed by country and end with their grant cycle.

② Ambition Statement (12–24 months)

SEA Bridge: first cross-border venture builder operating Triple Helix at ASEAN regional scale.

One operating entity = SBIE (Talent + Knowledge) · Venture Builder · Angel Fund umbrella — on a credible 5–10 year path to 1BBB (multiple ventures each generating ฿1B/yr revenue), bet on Future Five (Wellness · Food · Applied AI · Creative · Education).

By Sept 2027: SBIE scaling toward 1M ASEAN entrepreneurs · operational venture pipeline w/ multi-ASEAN teams · SEA Bridge Angel Fund I active with Nordic Sub-Fund piloted · Triple Helix lit up across TH / regional ASEAN / Sweden.

③ Suggested Core Collaborators

Gov: TED Fund · NIA · PMU-B · ARDA · NXPO · NFI (MoU 7 May 2026) · Vinnova (Kjell Håkan Närfeldt) · Sida (Helen Samuelsson) · Business Sweden (Marie-Claire Maxwell) · Embassy Stockholm · H.E. Phan Chi Thanh (VN)
Industry: Family offices · CP Foods · Thai Union · Betagro · Central Food Retail · Norrsken VC (Agnes Svensson) · Swedfund (Markus Forster) · IKEA · Oatly · AstraZeneca · Volvo/Polestar
University: 7 Thai Member Unis · 3 Thai UHCs (KMUTT · CMU · CU) · UEH · VGU · UNTAR · UP · KTH Innovation (Donnie Lygonis & Viktor Olsson) · Lund · Karolinska · Uppsala
SAC: Kobkarn · Rudiantara · Phan Chi Thanh · Aladdin Rillo · Michael Frenkel · Andy Hidayat
Epicenter: Adrian McDonald (CEO) · Jack Melcher-Claësson (Accelerate) · Edgar Luczak (Advisory) · Kotchakorn Khwamchareon (New Energy Nexus — IP'25 peer)

④ The Bet — specific angle

(a) Structural innovation: first ASEAN-native Triple Helix institution at cross-border scale. Helix exists in single-country form globally; the cross-border ASEAN version doesn't.

(b) Urgency: ASEAN's intergovernmental architecture (AEC since 2015) isn't designed to produce firm-level coordination. SEA Bridge builds the layer privately so it exists when policy catches up.

(c) Specificity: sector-plural by design — Future Five (WFACE) — because cross-border venture building unlocks ventures single-country / single-vertical players cannot. SEA Bridge does not lobby for cross-border venture infrastructure — SEA Bridge operates it.

⑤ Success by September

7 Track A deliverables, each scoped at Min · Target · Stretch tiers. Named contacts are real, warmed-up relationships (most via the Impact Pioneers '25 cohort). See the 7-deliverable tracker above.

📎 Attachments — Sweden × Epicenter

Drop links here as docs/decks get created. Slots are placeholders until URLs land — paste a Google Doc, Canva, Drive, or Notion link into the corresponding card and the attachment goes live. Ask Claude to update this section any time.

📄 Google Doc
Session 2 homework — final submission
The TAP version (Challenge · Ambition · Collaborators · Bet · Success) — what gets submitted at 1:30pm BKK on Mon 25 May.
+ paste link here
Source draft: 04_Session2_Homework_Draft.md
🎨 Canva / Slides
Track A Sprint one-pager / deck
For Wed 27 May — Track A Sprint w/ Techsauce + Energy Nexus Thailand. Pull from 01_Project_Brief.md §2–3.
+ paste link here
Also reusable for Nordic Tech Week Sep 7–11.
📋 Drafts pack
MOU template + Nordic investor target list
Pre-Sweden activation pack (Init 1.3 + Init 1.2 from Track A OKR). Conversation anchors for Stockholm meetings.
+ paste link here
Build by Aug 25 for Sep 3–11 trip.

Programme phases (Epicenter Thai–Nordic 2026)

Phase 1
Preparation & Scope
May 19 → Jun 4
In progress
Phase 2
Capacity Building
Mid-June (TBC)
Upcoming
Phase 3
Independent Development
Jun 17 → Aug 9
Self-led
Phase 4 ⭐
Sweden Visit
Sep 3 → Sep 11
Anchor
Phase 5
Follow-up
Sep 12 → Dec
Upcoming

Sessions Phase 1

May 19
S1 — Kickoff & Shared Ambition
Welcome, program framing, concept note, Track A/B overview, homework briefing
Done
May 25
S2 — Flagship Definition Workshop
Move from broad ambition → scoped flagship initiatives. Homework due 1:30pm BKK.
Due
May 27
S3 — Track A Sprint
Sustainable BM · Techsauce, SEA Bridge, Energy Nexus Thailand
Attend
May 28
S4 — Track B Sprint
Education / R2C · CUTIP, PMUC, NIA · optional for Kasper
Optional
Jun 2
S5 — OKR Workshop (120 min)
Track-level OKRs · all stakeholders · falls during Ningxia trip
Conflict
Jun 4
S6 — Scope Validation & Priorities
Pressure-test priorities before Swedish summer
Likely
Mid-Jun
S7-9 — Capacity Building Modules
Sustainable BM · R2C · Nordic collaboration · OKR execution (3-4 modules) · risk vs Niigata Jun 11-14
Risk
Sep 3-11
⭐ Sweden Visit — Nordic Co-Creation Programme
Stockholm · 9 days · overlaps Nordic Tech Week (Sep 7-11)
Anchor

Travel conflicts

🇳🇿 New Zealand
May 12–24 · ✅ completed
YBLI Tech 2026 — full debrief in NZ tab. S1 attended remotely from NZ.
🇨🇳 Ningxia
May 29 – Jun 3 · upcoming
S5 OKR Workshop (Jun 2) falls in this window. Decide: attend remote, delegate, or reschedule.
🇯🇵 Niigata
Jun 11–14 · upcoming
Risk vs Capacity Building modules (mid-June, exact dates TBC). Push Epicenter to confirm.
🇵🇭 Manila
Jun 20 – Jul 10 · upcoming · Beijing leg dropped
Bi-weekly Phase 3 check-ins fall in window. Schedule around or designate Bangkok lead.
🇸🇪 SWEDEN ⭐
Sep 3–11 · anchor event
Book flights / lodging; build delegation; pre-trip briefing late August.

Sweden visit — day by day (TBC)

DateDayLikely activityTrack A focusPre-trip action
Sep 3ThuArrival in Stockholm; welcome / soft kickoffTravel logistics confirmed
Sep 4FriProgramme opening; Nordic context framingConfirm Track A presentation deckTrack A draft slides ready
Sep 5SatBuffer / informal ecosystem visit
Sep 6SunBuffer / informal ecosystem visit
Sep 7MonNordic Tech Week D1 · thematic workshopsInvestor/corporate roundtable hosted by EpicenterInvestor target list
Sep 8TueNTW D2 · curated stakeholder meetingsSustainable BM session with Nordic incubator counterpartsBring sustainable BM hypothesis
Sep 9WedNTW D3 · co-creation sessionsRefine pilot structure with Nordic partner1-pager on SEA Bridge VB
Sep 10ThuNTW D4 · validation sessionBM validation with corporate partnersPre-arranged corp meeting list
Sep 11FriNTW D5 · closing / departuresCapture commitments + next-step MOUsDraft MOU language pre-trip

Track A OKR draft (to seed Jun 2 workshop)

Objective 1Define a sustainable, scalable business model hypothesis for SEA Bridge VB — beyond project fundingBy Jun 4
KR 1.1Validate revenue logic across 3 stakeholder types: corporates, public co-funding, equity carry3 by Aug 31
KR 1.2Identify 2+ Nordic counterpart orgs with comparable models to benchmark2 by Aug 31
KR 1.3Test corporate engagement model with 3+ Thai corporate partners3 by Aug 31
Init 1.1Build 1-page sustainable BM canvas + VB thesis deckBy Jun 4
Init 1.2Pre-Sweden investor target list (Nordic VCs + family offices)By Aug 25
Init 1.3Outline MOU template as conversation anchor for StockholmBy Aug 25
Objective 2Establish SEA Bridge as the cross-border ASEAN node in any Nordic-Thai pipeline that emergesBy end Sept
KR 2.1Secure 1+ formal Nordic partnership pathway (MOU / pipeline / co-dev letter)1 by Oct 31
KR 2.2Surface 5+ founder candidates from SBIE / ASEAN1967 fitting a Nordic-relevant thesis5 by Sep 11
KR 2.3Open conversations with 3+ Nordic investors specifically about SEA Bridge as VB3 by Sep 11

Sweden — anchor partners

Epicenter Stockholm

Program runner. 500+ members, 700+ scale-ups across 18 countries, 34 ventures from partner team. Contacts: Jack Melcher-Claësson (Accelerate) and Edgar Luczak (Advisory).

NIA + Royal Thai Embassy

Thai-side sanctioning body + Nordic-side diplomatic anchor. Outputs of this program carry institutional weight back into Bangkok government desks.

Track A co-leads

Techsauce (media/community) + Energy Nexus Thailand (energy vertical). SEA Bridge positions as cross-border / venture-builder anchor — complementary, not competitive.

Queued · activate Q4 2026 (post-Sweden)

🇦🇺 Australia

Existing Kasper relationships from prior travel — not yet activated as a structural partnership. Strong fit for tech transfer + climate/agritech corridors.

Why Australia Queued

  • Mature accelerator + university tech-transfer ecosystem (Cicada, ON Accelerator at CSIRO, Stone & Chalk, Startmate)
  • Commodity, climate-tech, agritech corridors → natural ASEAN trade partners
  • Aussie corporates buy ASEAN deal flow (mining tech, finance, education exports)
  • Diaspora effect: large Thai/SEA student + professional population in AU

Capability to extract

  • Tech-transfer playbook from CSIRO + Group of Eight universities
  • Climate / agritech vertical patterns
  • Pacific-rim corporate engagement model

ASEAN-bound channel options

Bilateral education-to-venture pipeline (uni partnership → SBIE → SEA Bridge VB) · climate/energy co-investment · Pacific corridor GTM for ASEAN climate startups.

Open questions for Kasper to fill in
  • Strongest Australian institutional contacts right now (named individuals + orgs)?
  • Is there an existing MOU or warm relationship to leverage, or do we start cold via an anchor like Austrade?
  • Diaspora/alumni angle — anyone in Sydney/Melbourne running ASEAN-relevant funds or programmes?
Activating · Sub-Fund #2 corridor · parallel to Sweden Phase 1-5 · article published #TH70NZ

🇳🇿 New Zealand Activating

Source: ASEAN YBLI Tech 2026 (Asia New Zealand Foundation) + Wellington pre-trip. Dates: Wellington pre-trip (Day -1) + Auckland & Christchurch 17–23 May 2026. Owner: Kasper. Article "The Long White Cloud and the War Elephant" published 26 May 2026. Last updated: 26 May 2026.
5
Tier 1 priorities (close in 30 days)
7
Tier 2 strong openings (≤2 weeks)
9
Tier 3 individuals & connectors
17
Master collaboration ideas mapped

Why New Zealand Active · seeded

  • Foundation-anchored: Asia NZ Foundation (Suz Jessep + Lingy Au + research/comms/policy teams) is the warm-intro layer to every NZ institution
  • Founder-first ecosystem (small market = export-native mindset, same constraint as ASEAN cross-border ventures)
  • Deeptech + agritech + creative-economy corridor relevant to ASEAN
  • Lighter institutional weight than Australia, faster to move on pilots — but with a credentialed institutional layer (Foundation, Royal Thai Embassy, CIE, UCE)

Capability to extract

  • Export-native venture playbooks (Partly, Halter, Auror, PocketSmith)
  • University I&E excellence (CIE — ACEEU global #1; Hynds train-the-trainer faculty model)
  • Asia-bridge VC patterns (Icehouse / Jason Wang / Eden Ventures' Chinese-led angel model)
  • Indigenous-to-Asia storytelling (Nikora Ngaropo, Kaye-Maree Dunn, Dan Te Whenua Walker)

🎯 NZ Activation Strategy · post-YBLI · post-article

🇳🇿
SEA Bridge becomes the operating entity of a Thailand–NZ bilateral relationship at 2046 horizon
Article "The Long White Cloud and the War Elephant" (#TH70NZ) published 26 May 2026 as the public proposal. NZ is now the second formal corridor of the umbrella fund structure (Sub-Fund #2 after Nordic), with a co-authored cultural narrative built in.
Activating

Three Kasper intentions · translated

IntentWhat it actually isFirst moves
NZ company + raise NZ fund (Icehouse++) SEA Bridge NZ Ltd + SEA Bridge NZ Angel Fund as Sub-Fund #2 of the umbrella. Mirror of the Nordic Sub-Fund architecture. (1) Concept-paper call with Jason Wang at Icehouse · Eden Ventures × ASEAN thesis · (2) Engage NZ fund-formation counsel · (3) Soft-sound 2–3 NZ family-office candidates via Foundation
NZ University MoUs + HEX model + lecturing Member-University additions to SBIE. CIE UoA + UC as the first pair. HEX (Sydney) precedent for credit transfer; lecturing as soft entry. (1) Proposal to Darsel Keane + Rod McNaughton (CIE UoA) · co-credentialing + Velocity↔GVP exchange · (2) Mirror to Gerard Quinn (UCE) · UC × KKU pipeline · (3) Lecture offer to both · 90-min "Doing business in ASEAN" module
Agency for study programs / both-direction The SBIE revenue model we've been looking for. Paid study-tour / fellowship operator. Answers the "feeder not cost center" Track B challenge. (1) Scope a 6-month NZ Founder Track inside GVP / ASEAN1967 (paid by NZ unis or Foundation) · (2) Inbound: "ASEAN Immersion" 2-wk paid program for NZ undergrads · (3) NZ–ASEAN summer school as recurring product

Four missions from the article · mapped to the venture studio

M1 · OKOT 🇳🇿🇹🇭

People flow: 100K Kiwis + 100K Thais by 2046

Studio fit: SBIE Member-Uni network + agency programs = the operating layer of OKOT

M2 · Cracking $10B 💸

Capital flow: cross-border NZ–ASEAN venture fund

Studio fit: direct → NZ Sub-Fund #2 · TED Fund / NIA / depa on Thai side · Icehouse pattern on NZ side

M3 · Double Down 🔁

Knowledge flow: 5 sector task forces (Food · Space · Creative · Education · Longevity)

Studio fit: co-build candidate ventures sourced from these sectors · NFI MoU (Food) already live · Karolinska/Auckland (Longevity) emerging

M4 · Culture 🪷

Cultural flow: annual TH–NZ creative residency · indigenous craft / food / story

Studio fit: Nikora + Kaye-Maree + Dan = consolidated NZ×ASEAN media property · SSRU CVI crossover

30 / 60 / 90 day action plan

30 days · by Jun 25

  • Publish article #TH70NZ · pin LinkedIn · send to Suz Jessep + Lingy Au + Embassy Wellington
  • Thank-you-and-ask emails to Tier 1
  • Brief LinkedIn touch with PM Luxon · Min Willis · Opp Leader Hipkins (no specific ask yet)
  • Invite first NZ delegation to Gen SEA Summit Khon Kaen July
  • Concept call with Jason Wang (Icehouse) on NZ Sub-Fund thesis

60 days · by Jul 25

  • Host first NZ delegation at Gen SEA Summit Khon Kaen (5–8 ppl · Foundation + CIE + UC + Icehouse + 1 Indigenous founder)
  • First NZ MoU signed at Summit (CIE or UC)
  • First NZ lecture booked (Auckland or Christchurch)
  • Article placed in 1–2 NZ outlets

90 days · by Aug 25 (pre-Sweden)

  • NZ Sub-Fund concept paper drafted · anchor LP outreach starts
  • NZ Activator program designed inside GVP (6-mo NZ founder track)
  • Pre-Sweden brief: NZ named as second sub-fund corridor in Sept Stockholm announcement
  • Second NZ University MoU in flight

Priority partners · tiered for follow-up

TierPartnerWhy now
🔥 T1 · 7dJason Wang (Partner, Icehouse Ventures)Sub-Fund #2 anchor candidate · the most important NZ conversation
🔥 T1 · 7dDarsel Keane (Director, CIE UoA)Member University #1 candidate · talk deal terms, not just MoU
🔥 T1 · 7dGerard Quinn (Director, UCE)Member University #2 candidate · UC × KKU + NFI angle
🔥 T1 · 7dSuz Jessep + Lingy Au (Asia NZ Foundation)Convening layer · Gen SEA Summit partner · article amplification
🔥 T1 · 7dNikora Ngaropo (NNMD · Young Animators)Media/IP anchor · already has Thailand presence
🌱 T2 · 30dKaye-Maree Dunn (MEA · Āhau · Indigital)Indigenous-to-Asia thesis · Yayee crossover
🌱 T2 · 30dDan Te Whenua Walker (Microsoft · Tātaki)Corporate bridge · already exploring Stockholm/Wallenberg parallel
🌱 T2 · 30dJacob Varghese (HTK Group)Validates GVP non-VC track · India bridge bonus
🌱 T2 · 30dKaila Colbin (Ministry of Awesome)Ecosystem endorsement · "who for ASEAN? → SEA Bridge"
🌱 T2 · 30dNathan Taylor (Co-Founder/COO Partly)China-fluent · ASEAN aftermarket scoping · potential B2M Case Sponsor
🌿 T3 · 90dRoyal Thai Embassy Wellington (Amb Mongkol)Institutional cover for TH70NZ narrative
🌿 T3 · 90dSaurabh Sinha (Exec Dean, UC Engineering)Wharton AMP / USC Marshall peer hook · deep-tech founder pipeline
🌿 T3 · 90dRon Park (Kōrure / NE Tech)Direct fit for NFI MoU · Korean-NZ founder archetype
🌿 T3 · 90dAlanna Irving (Fundsorter)Fundraising-infrastructure layer for bilateral fund

Political asset · PM / Finance / Opposition

Unusual cross-bench visibility · already

SEA Bridge has had brief direct contact with PM Christopher Luxon, Finance Min Nicola Willis, and Opposition Leader Chris Hipkins at the NZ Hi-Tech Awards. Ceremonial, not substantive — but this is rare for a Thai venture builder, and it creates a permission asset to deploy carefully.

Plan: LinkedIn thank-you tied to article publication. No specific ask yet. Hipkins matters precisely because he might be PM in 3 years — keep the cross-bench durability framing.

Fit to overall venture studio

Studio layerNZ playStatus
Track A · Venture StudioNZ becomes Sub-Fund #2 corridor (parallel to Nordic). Same playbook: anchor LP + 5–10 NZ-ASEAN co-build candidates (Nathan/Levi at Partly, Ron at Kōrure)Concept
Track B · SBIEUoA CIE + UC join Member Network · HEX credit transfer · exchangeable curriculum · Nordic + NZ co-credentialingFirst MoUs Q3
Capital · Angel Fund umbrellaNZ Sub-Fund = #2 (after Nordic). Eventually Sub-Fund #3 (KR), #4 (AU).Concept
Revenue model (SBIE)NZ Study Program Agency = paid both-direction programs. This is the answer to "SBIE needs its own revenue model."Design Q3
Media / IPNikora + Kaye-Maree + Dan = consolidated NZ×ASEAN media property. Soft power without being a startup.Q4 launch
Public signalNZ named as 2nd corridor in Sept Stockholm Nordic Tech Week announcement (proves the umbrella architecture is real)Sept 2026

Source files: /Sweden_Thailand_Partnership/New_Zealand/article_long_white_cloud.md · nz_contacts_dossier_v2.md · nz_activation_strategy_2026.md

Tier 1 — Highest priority (close in next 30 days)

🔴 Tier 1 priorities

Foundation, both Thai academic advisers, Royal Thai Embassy, CIE.
Asia New Zealand Foundation Te Whītau Tūhono P · Foundation / NGO
Suzannah Jessep ("Suz") — CEO · Dame Fran Wilde — Chair · Lingy Au — Mgr, Entrepreneurship (lau@asianz.org.nz · +64 27 641 9794) · Graham — Media · Leigh — PR/Comms · Jordan — Policy · Honorary advisers: Pavida & Thitinan
Met where
Wellington pre-trip (leadership + research/comms/policy) + Auckland/Christchurch programme (Lingy)
Established
YBLI delegate relationship at both leadership and programme level. Foundation is THE warm-intro layer to every NZ institution. Suz publicly framed YBLI Tech as connecting NZ tech to fast-moving ASEAN.
Collab idea
Asia NZ Foundation as named partner of Gen SEA Summit 2026; co-branded "ASEAN × NZ" session; annual YBLI–SEA Bridge pipeline. Graham + Leigh = co-promo of bilateral content incl. "Tales of Two Lands". Jordan = channel for Thailand–NZ 2046 strategy advocacy.
Next step
Formal partnership proposal + Gen SEA Summit invite to Lingy; thank-you to Suz; share article with Graham/Leigh; flag bilateral strategy with Jordan.
Deadline
30 May · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress
Prof. Pavida Pananond — Thammasat Business School N · Academic / advisor
Prof. International Business, Thammasat · Honorary adviser, Asia NZ Foundation · Area Editor, J. of Int'l Business Policy
Met where
Wellington (pre-trip)
Established
Working with the World Bank to identify/support incubators for Thai SMEs; wants a Tech × Green Case Challenge.
Collab idea
SEA Bridge as DELIVERY PARTNER for the Tech × Green Case Challenge — GMEP curriculum + university network + NFI MoU + grant facilitation. Thammasat academic anchor, World Bank funder. Possible multi-year "GMEP for Thai SMEs". Strategic Advisory Council seat (long game).
WB lead
Cristian Quijada Torres (Senior Private Sector Specialist) — confirm involvement.
Next step
1-page concept memo within 5 working days, then Bangkok meeting.
Deadline
30 May (memo) · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress
Prof. Thitinan Pongsudhirak — Chulalongkorn ISIS N · Academic / advisor
Director, ISIS Chula · Senior Adviser BowerGroupAsia · Honorary adviser Asia NZ Foundation · quoted in "Tales of Two Lands" (RNZ, 15 May 2026)
Met where
Wellington (pre-trip)
Established
Strategic advisory conversation opened; geopolitics-of-ASEAN-entrepreneurship framing.
Collab idea
Gen SEA Summit geopolitical keynote ("Why ASEAN entrepreneurship infrastructure is a strategic asset in the US–China era"); Strategic Advisory Council seat (long game). Both Chula faculty — peer relationship, not pitch.
Next step
30-min coffee, Bangkok — listen, don't pitch.
Deadline
Within 3 weeks · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress
Royal Thai Embassy, Wellington P · Government
H.E. Waravuth Pouapinya — Ambassador of Thailand to NZ · Embassy team
Met where
Wellington (pre-trip)
Established
Introductions to Ambassador and embassy team; bilateral 70-year (TH70NZ) narrative context.
Collab idea
Embassy as institutional backer of bilateral strategy in "Tales of Two Lands"; channel to MFA/BOI for the proposed Thailand–NZ 2046 strategy doc; support for OKOT exchange + Thai Festival 2026 / 70th-anniversary calendar.
Next step
Thank-you note + share "Tales of Two Lands" + flag OKOT and university-pair concept.
Deadline
This week · Owner: Kasper · 🔴 Not started
CIE — Centre for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, University of Auckland P · University
Darsel Keane — Director · Prof. Rod McNaughton — Academic Director · Peter Rachor — Entrepreneurial Teaching Fellow (SV / commercial) · Dr Marissa Kaloga — Entrepreneurial Teaching Fellow (social-ent / Tech × Green fit)
Met where
Auckland — UoA visit + Asia After 5 panel (Day 1)
Established
Peer-institution relationship; CIE won ACEEU global #1 in entrepreneurship (Sep 2025); Hynds Fellows model parallels SBIE.
Collab idea
CIE × SBIE MoU framework, 4 tracks — (1) reciprocal student/fellow exchange, (2) joint co-delivered intensive, (3) GMEP/B2M track for CIE spinouts into ASEAN, (4) curriculum/research collaboration. Founding pair: UoA × Chulalongkorn. Borrow Hynds train-the-trainer model for ASEAN faculty champions.
Next step
1-page term sheet sketch.
Deadline
30 May · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress

Tier 2 — Strong openings (follow up within 2 weeks)

🟡 Tier 2 strong openings

Investor, founder, ecosystem and university openings to convert into structured relationships fast.
Icehouse Ventures P · Venture capital
Jason Wang — Partner. Co-founder Eden Ventures (NZ's first Chinese-led angel fund). Boards: Calocurb, LearnCoach.
Met where
Auckland (Day 2) + Hi-Tech Awards pre-dinner (Day 5)
Established
Pure-play VC ($800M+ deployed, 256+ investments, 3,000+ co-investors). Does NOT invest in studios/builders. Co-invests with Antler.
Collab idea
SEA Bridge as preferred ASEAN expansion partner for Icehouse portfolio (NOT an investment target). Referral pipeline both directions. Potential NZ anchor for the proposed bilateral fund; their nominee/co-investor structure is the model for the fund's Thai mirror.
Next step
Follow-up call; ask which portfolio cos have active ASEAN ambitions; identify portfolio-support / international lead.
Deadline
Within 2 weeks · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress
Partly C · Startup (B2M candidate)
Nathan Taylor — Co-Founder & COO (南胜杰). Lived in China; speaks Chinese; SEA exposure. Co-founder Levi Fawcett (UC Mechatronics grad, ex-Rocket Lab).
Met where
Christchurch company visit (Day 4) + Hi-Tech Awards (Day 5) — Most Innovative Software + Sustainable Future finalist
Established
Global SaaS marketplace for auto parts; NZ$37M Series A; doubling headcount.
Collab idea
ASEAN market scoping via SBIE GMEP B2M team. Thailand = ASEAN auto hub; aftermarket $28.8B → $63.9B by 2035. Potential B2M Case Sponsor for ASEAN1967. Equity-or-fee model.
Next step
Follow-up call on ASEAN auto parts scoping.
Deadline
Within 2 weeks · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress
University of Canterbury — Centre for Entrepreneurship (UCE) P · University
Gerard Quinn — Director (ex-CEO Grow Wellington; HBR Advisory Council; ex-Director NZ Food Innovation; IIT Delhi fellowship)
Met where
Christchurch entrepreneurs dinner (Day 4)
Established
UCE Summer Startup Programme, 10th year; operator-minded; Asia exposure via India.
Collab idea
UCE × SBIE peer partnership; founding pair UC × Khon Kaen University (KKU). Student mobility / co-delivery pipeline into ASEAN venture building. NFI history makes Gerard a strong agrifood ally.
Next step
1-page term sheet; confirm interest as one of 5 founding NZ pairs.
Deadline
30 May · Owner: Kasper · 🟡 In progress
University of Canterbury — Engineering P · University / faculty
Prof. Saurabh Sinha — Executive Dean of Engineering · IEEE Fellow · ex-DVC Univ. Johannesburg · Wharton AMP
Met where
Christchurch entrepreneurs dinner (Day 4)
Established
Engagement-first strategy; "soft skills are the hardest skills" — aligns with FISHE Capital / TeamFlow.
Collab idea
UC Engineering × SBIE deep-tech commercialisation track into ASEAN; engineering grads = deep-tech founder archetype needing ASEAN market access. Gen SEA Summit speaker candidate.
Next step
Follow-up email; Wharton/USC peer rapport hook.
Deadline
This week · Owner: Kasper · 🔴 Not started
GridAKL (Tātaki Auckland Unlimited) P · Innovation hub / ecosystem
GM (name TBC) · Tātaki board includes Dan Te Whenua Walker
Met where
Auckland — Bootstrapper's Breakfast + Open Day (Day 2); Hi-Tech finalist
Established
Auckland's innovation hub, Wynyard Quarter; no formal ASEAN partner; existing Stone & Chalk (AU) partnership model.
Collab idea
Preferred ASEAN expansion partner arrangement / soft MoU; operating partner for proposed bilateral venture studio.
Next step
Follow-up with GM; propose preferred-partner listing.
Deadline
This week · Owner: Kasper · 🔴 Not started
Ministry of Awesome (MoA) / Te Ōhaka P · Startup support / ecosystem
Ben — CMO (surname TBC) · Founder: Kaila Colbin (Boma NZ, ChristchurchNZ deputy chair)
Met where
Christchurch — Coffee & Jam + office visit (Day 4); Hi-Tech finalist
Established
Leading NZ founder support org; advisory, mentorship, community across Aotearoa.
Collab idea
MoA as Christchurch ecosystem endorser — "who do we talk to for ASEAN" → SEA Bridge. Reciprocal founder referrals.
Next step
Follow-up email to Ben; deepen relationship.
Deadline
This week · Owner: Kasper · 🔴 Not started
Tu Partners (HTK Group — confirm) P · Startup advisory / early-stage backer
Jacob Varghese — Head of Startups / Tech Commercialisation (ex-Incubation Manager, MoA)
Met where
Christchurch entrepreneurs dinner (Day 4)
Established
Focus on bootstrapped, capital-efficient founders; highly connected in NZ ecosystem.
Collab idea
Referral pipeline of bootstrapped NZ founders with ASEAN ambitions; validates GVP non-VC track thesis.
Next step
Follow-up email; ask which of his founders fit ASEAN.
Deadline
This week · Owner: Kasper · 🔴 Not started

Tier 3 — Individuals & connectors

🔵 Tier 3 — NZ alumni + Hi-Tech contacts

NZ YBLI alumni, indigenous tech leaders, media connectors, founder peers. Media cluster (Nikora + Kaye-Maree + Dan + Elle + Tim) → consolidate into ONE "ASEAN × NZ" media property.
PersonRole / orgCollaboration ideaStatus
Nikora Ngaropo
YBLI NZ alumni
NNMD / Young Animators / TORO Academy · ex-Wētā Digital · Obama Asia-Pacific Leader 2025-26 · already in ThailandSEA Bridge media partner anchor; NZ university access channel. Content/media production for Gen SEA Summit + bilateral storytelling.🟡 In progress
Kaye-Maree Dunn
YBLI NZ alumni
MEA / Indigital Blockchain / Āhau · explicit Asia agenda (Singapore SFX, Vietnam Hoi An Hui) · vision of indigenous-to-indigenous digital bankMāori pattern × Yayee crossover; indigenous-knowledge exchange (Culture + Knowledge flows); training/governance collab.🟡 In progress
Jason Leong
YBLI NZ alumni
CEO & Co-Founder, PocketSmith · 370K+ users / 190 countries · attended Caixin Beijing 2019 via Asia NZ FoundationOpen-banking/fintech infrastructure node; keep-in-touch with real Asia interest.⚪ Parked
Elle ArcherKaitohu — Director/Founder · WhakakotahitangaJoint media/podcast + online ASEAN×NZ meetup series (with Dan).🟡 In progress
Dan Te Whenua WalkerMicrosoft (Global Co-Chair Indigenous at Microsoft) · Director Tātaki Auckland Unlimited · Robert Walters NZ Leader 2025Joint media/podcast + online meetup; corporate-tech (Microsoft) bridge; Tātaki/GridAKL connection.🟡 In progress
Alanna IrvingCo-Founder + CPO, Fundsorter · ex-Enspiral / Loomio / Cobudget / Open Collective · BA Asian & Middle Eastern LanguagesHelp ASEAN/Thai companies raise funds + enter NZ; fundraising-infrastructure layer for bilateral fund/portfolio.🟡 In progress
Logan KimCo-Founder, Akimbo (Christchurch) — positioning/visibility/comms (confirm which Akimbo)NZ test-delivery partner; help Thai-ASEAN companies be understood / fundraise in NZ.🟡 In progress
Shu Wang (王姝)AUT — Partnerships / BD / I&D / Data AnalyticsAUT partnership channel — potential additional NZ university pair beyond founding five.🟡 In progress
Tim McInnesMD, Ruffells · Host, Ruffells Ad BreakMedia/podcast amplification channel for bilateral content.⚪ Parked
Ron ParkFounder, Kōrure / NE Tech ("Mussel King") · Korean-NZ · UCE alum · Asia NZ Foundation Leadership NetworkConnect to NFI MoU for Thai market entry / OEM / extraction. Bilateral fund candidate.🟡 In progress

Tier 4 — Long-cycle / seed planted

⚪ Tier 4 — Not met in person

Identified as ASEAN-relevant Hi-Tech finalists. No warm follow-up owed. Upgrade only on a warm intro path (e.g. via Icehouse for Halter, via MoA, or via Partly's Nathan Taylor).
OrgTypeASEAN angleStatus
StarshipiteCommerce logistics (C/P)Already live with SingPost / Asia-Pacific; logistics layer for WFACE eCommerce ventures⚪ Cold
HalterAgritech/IoT (C)TH/ASEAN cattle & dairy (BCG sector); long-cycle⚪ Cold
AurorRetail crime intel (C)ASEAN modern-retail expansion; first-mover⚪ Cold
Starboard MaritimeDeep tech (C)Malacca / SCS maritime corridor⚪ Cold
Pegasus HealthPrimary health org (P)Canterbury health-tech with ASEAN potential⚪ Cold

ASEAN delegates (fellow cohort)

Each = potential co-builder, ASEAN1967 candidate, B2M client, or country anchor. Action for all: personalised WhatsApp voice note this week + Gen SEA Summit invite (confirm by 6 June).

NameCountrySEA Bridge planTypeStatus
Kanlaya PhommasakLaosHelp her company set up in Thailand; SEA Bridge expands through Laos via her. Activates dormant SIT MoU.C/N🟡
Vinh NguyenVietnamAccess to VinGroup + Hanoi. Complements UEH MoU / Resolution 71 strategy.N🟡
Matilda NarulitaIndonesiaHelp her expand to Thailand (Nexmedis · health); she supports SEA Bridge in Indonesia (Health vertical).C/N🟡
Rothsethamony SengCambodiaBamnang (edtech) — support in Cambodia (later phase); edtech ↔ Eduvice synergy.N
Shenny TangSingapore / Brunei-Borneo? (confirm)Co-develop/teach SBIE tools as skills via Brunei/Borneo capability centre.P🟡
Aimi RamleeBruneiTyne Solutions · Partner in Brunei; "Ruby/Rail" training-recruiting for Eduvice (confirm name).C/P🟡
Ana Paula Da Costa XavierTimor-Leste (confirm)Access to Timor-Leste (newest ASEAN member context).N
Yik Wai (Rico) CheeMalaysiaGrafilab (CeDePIN/GPU infra) — AI compute layer for ASEAN1967 AI-native ventures; fellow author peer.C/N🟡

Venture-building collaboration ideas — master list

Mapped to SEA Bridge structure (Build / Expand / Develop / Connect).

#IdeaPillarPartnersStatus
1CIE × SBIE MoU + 5 NZ–Thai university pairsDevelopCIE, UCE, VUW, Lincoln, Massey + Thai counterparts; +AUT via Shu Wang🟡
2SEA Bridge NZ entityAll(internal)🔴
3Bilateral venture fund NZ$10–30MBuildIcehouse/GridAKL + TED Fund/NIA/depa; Fundsorter (Alanna) for raise infra🔴
4OKOT — One Kiwi One Thai exchangeConnect/PeopleAsia NZ Foundation, CIE, Chula, Embassy🟡
5GMEP/B2M track for NZ spinouts → ASEANExpandCIE spinouts, Partly, Icehouse portfolio🟡
6Tech × Green Case Challenge (World Bank)Develop/ExpandPavida, World Bank, Thammasat, NFI🟡
7Gen SEA Summit NZ delegation + Foundation partnerConnectAsia NZ Foundation (Suz/Lingy/Graham/Leigh)🟡
8Hynds-style faculty-champion model for ASEAN unisDevelopCIE (Rachor/Kaloga)
9Media/podcast + online ASEAN×NZ meetup seriesConnectNikora, Elle Archer, Dan Te Whenua Walker, Tim McInnes🟡
10Deep-tech commercialisation track (UC Eng)ExpandSaurabh Sinha / UC Engineering🔴
11NFI MoU × NZ food exporters (Mussel King OEM/extraction)ExpandNFI, Ron Park🟡
12Eduvice training-recruiting (Brunei)DevelopAimi Ramlee ("Ruby/Rail")🟡
13SBIE tools as skills via Brunei/Borneo capability centreDevelopShenny Tang🟡
14AI compute layer for AI-native venturesBuildRico Chee / Grafilab🟡
15NZ test-delivery partner / Thai-ASEAN visibilityExpandLogan Kim / Akimbo🟡
16Indigenous/Māori × Thai creative-economy exchangeDevelop/CultureKaye-Maree Dunn, Nikora, Yayee🟡
17Thailand–NZ 2046 bilateral strategy advocacyStrategyEmbassy (Waravuth), MFA, BOI, MFAT, Foundation Policy (Jordan)

Open verification items to confirm before formal outreach

  • ✓ Thai Ambassador to NZ = H.E. Waravuth Pouapinya
  • ✓ Asia NZ Foundation CEO = Suzannah Jessep; Chair = Dame Fran Wilde
  • Foundation team surnames: Graham (Media), Leigh (PR/Comms), Jordan (Policy)
  • Foundation research team — names
  • GridAKL GM — name
  • MoA — Ben's surname
  • Shenny Tang — country (Singapore vs Brunei/Borneo capability centre)
  • Aimi Ramlee — confirm "Ruby or Rail" exact name
  • Kiwi alumni — any others beyond Nikora/Kaye-Maree/Jason Leong
  • Confirm Aquawise / Foodbridge / HEX before publishing "Tales of Two Lands"
  • Jacob Varghese — confirm "Tu Partners" vs HTK Group
  • Logan Kim — confirm which "Akimbo"
  • WB: Cristian Quijada Torres (TH) + Vinh Quang Dang (VN) — confirm Pavida workstream
Build. Scale. Bridge on.
Queued · activate 2027 · seed conversations during Sweden visit

🇰🇷 South Korea

Existing relationships. K-Startup Center already appears in Epicenter's historical partner stack — institutional warmth via Epicenter is already there.

Why Korea Queued

  • World-class corporate venture muscle (Samsung NEXT, Hyundai CRADLE, LG NOVA, SK Hynix) — chaebol VC model is unmatched in Asia
  • Hardware / mobility / semiconductor corridor relevant to ASEAN manufacturing
  • K-Startup Center, KOTRA, Born2Global have ASEAN gateway mandates
  • K-content soft power reaching ASEAN consumers = market acceleration

Capability to extract

  • Corporate-venture engagement at chaebol scale — strongest "Pillar 3" channel
  • Hardware / semiconductor / mobility expertise
  • Export-first GTM patterns from a country with similar constraints

ASEAN-bound channel options

Korean corporate venture arms underwriting ASEAN pipeline · K-Startup Center direct ASEAN gateway · manufacturing partnerships for ASEAN hardware ventures.

Open questions for Kasper to fill in
  • Strongest current Korean institutional contacts?
  • Any Korean corporate venture arm with declared ASEAN mandate open to SEA Bridge partnership?
  • Should K-Startup Center be activated through Epicenter's relationship or directly?

✅ Open tasks · by horizon

Priority queue cross-country

🔴 This week (by Mon May 25)

Edit & submit Session 2 homework — draft is in 04_Session2_Homework_Draft.md (key challenge · ambition · collaborators)
Prep Track A Sprint one-pager (Wed May 27) — pull from 01_Project_Brief.md §2-3
Confirm Track B Sprint attendance (Thu May 28) — listen-only fine
Paste "Sweden – Thailand Partnership" chat content so it can be folded in

🇳🇿 NZ follow-ups — this week (by Fri May 29)

Thank-you note + share "Tales of Two Lands" with H.E. Waravuth Pouapinya (Royal Thai Embassy Wellington); flag OKOT + university-pair concept
Follow-up email to Prof. Saurabh Sinha (UC Engineering) — Wharton/USC peer hook
Follow-up with GridAKL GM — propose preferred-partner listing for ASEAN expansion
Follow-up email to Ben (MoA CMO) — deepen Christchurch ecosystem relationship
Follow-up email to Jacob Varghese (Tu Partners / HTK?) — ask which bootstrapped founders fit ASEAN
Personalised WhatsApp voice notes to all 8 ASEAN delegates (Kanlaya / Vinh / Matilda / Rothsethamony / Shenny / Aimi / Ana Paula / Rico)

🇳🇿 NZ Tier 1 — close by 30 May

Formal partnership proposal + Gen SEA Summit invite to Lingy Au (Asia NZ Foundation); thank-you to Suz Jessep; brief Graham/Leigh on bilateral content; flag Jordan on Thailand–NZ 2046
1-page concept memo for Prof. Pavida Pananond (Tech × Green Case Challenge with World Bank). Then Bangkok meeting
1-page term-sheet sketch for CIE × SBIE MoU (UoA × Chulalongkorn founding pair, 4 tracks)
1-page term-sheet for UCE × SBIE (UC × Khon Kaen founding pair)
30-min Bangkok coffee with Prof. Thitinan Pongsudhirak — listen, don't pitch

🇳🇿 NZ Tier 2 + 3 — within 2 weeks

Follow-up call with Jason Wang (Icehouse) — surface ASEAN-bound portfolio + bilateral fund anchor
Follow-up call with Nathan Taylor (Partly) — ASEAN auto parts scoping; B2M Case Sponsor for ASEAN1967
Intro Ron Park (Mussel King / NE Tech) to NFI for Thai OEM/extraction
Media cluster sync: consolidate Nikora + Kaye-Maree + Dan + Elle + Tim into ONE ASEAN×NZ media property (not 5 threads)
Explore Alanna Irving (Fundsorter) as fundraising-infrastructure partner for bilateral fund
AUT exploration via Shu Wang
Scope pilot delivery with Logan Kim (Akimbo)

🟡 Phase 1 close-out (by Thu Jun 4)

OKR Workshop Jun 2 — decide: remote from Ningxia, delegate, or reschedule
Scope Validation Jun 4 — confirm attendance post-Ningxia
Send written Track A summary (revenue model · corporate engagement · investment readiness)
Identify 2+ Nordic counterpart organisations to benchmark

🟢 Phase 2 — Capacity Building (mid-June)

Confirm exact module dates with Epicenter — avoid Niigata Jun 11-14
Attend or designate 3-4 capacity-building modules
Surface initial Nordic partner hypotheses to test in Phase 3

🔵 Phase 3 — Independent Development (Jun 17 → Aug 9)

Stakeholder-led execution; bi-weekly check-ins with Jack & Edgar (schedule around Manila Jun 20–Jul 10 · Beijing leg dropped)
Aug 10-31 pre-Sweden activation: investor target list · MOU draft · 5+ founder candidates · book flights/lodging · build delegation

⭐ Phase 4 — Sweden Visit (Sep 3-11)

Sep 4 — Track A presentation
Sep 7-11 — Nordic Tech Week + workshops + validations
Sep 11 — capture commitments + next-step MOUs before departure

🌐 Other countries (parallel)

🇦🇺 Australia — fill in named contacts; map anchor partner (Austrade or other)
🇰🇷 Korea — name strongest current contacts; decide K-Startup Center routing

🔭 Long-tail (parallel to Phase 1-5)

Write formal SEA Bridge VB thesis doc (separate from this project)
Internal VB governance: who runs it, staffing, relationship with SBIE
Decide post-NZ next geo (alongside Sweden Phase 4-5): deepen NZ, or pull Australia/Korea forward

📜 Done & change log · latest first

Cumulative log of completed tracker updates, deliverables, and decisions. Newest at the top. Older items below.

Tue 26 May 2026 · pm
Shipped
Deploy bundle prepared · CONFIDENTIAL banner added
Sticky red banner at top of every tab. Deploy bundle at /_deploy_venture_studio/ with index.html + vercel.json (noindex, X-Frame-Options DENY, Referrer-Policy no-referrer, private cache, HSTS) + README with Vercel CLI deploy steps for kasper-seabridge/int-venture-studio.
Tue 26 May 2026 · pm
Done
Color palette tightened · red / black / white / grey / cream + green (done only)
Rewrote :root CSS variables. Country accent variables now alias to ink/cream/grey so existing CSS keeps working. Warn/Bad collapsed onto red shades; Queued = grey. Country differentiation now: Sweden = red (anchor), NZ = green (activating), AU = mid-grey (queued), KR = light grey (queued). Inline non-palette hexes in Mermaid diagram, partnership-pattern legend swatches, Chart.js cadence chart, and gdoc/canva attachment icons all neutralized.
Tue 26 May 2026 · afternoon
Done
NZ Activation Strategy added · post-article + post-YBLI
New section at top of NZ tab: 3 Kasper intentions translated (NZ company + Sub-Fund #2 · MoUs + HEX · Study Program Agency = SBIE revenue answer), 4 missions from "Long White Cloud" article mapped to studio, 30/60/90 day plan, tiered partner shortlist (Tier 1: Jason Wang, Darsel Keane, Gerard Quinn, Foundation, Nikora), political asset note (PM/Finance/Opposition), fit-to-studio table. Overview status board: NZ upgraded to "Activating · Sub-Fund #2 corridor", new "NZ Sub-Fund concept" card added.
Tue 26 May 2026 · afternoon
Done
Article "Long White Cloud and the War Elephant" + Activation Strategy saved
Both saved to /Sweden_Thailand_Partnership/New_Zealand/ as 03_Article_Long_White_Cloud.md and 04_NZ_Activation_Strategy_2026.md for permanent reference next to existing dossier files.
Tue 26 May 2026 · midday
Done
Visual cleanup of V2 callouts + sub-nav inside Sweden tab
Consistent .v2-key-callout class for The Gate / The Moat / Single biggest gap / Nordic Why-meet-you. Muted .v2-rule-card for Distortion + Advisory rules. Sticky pill-style sub-nav at top of Sweden panel with anchor jumps: V2 prep · 7 Deliv · Attachments · Phases · Day-by-day · OKR · Anchor partners · V1 archive. NZ tab got matching sub-nav.
Tue 26 May 2026 · midday
Done
V2 wording refinements from Epicenter email
The Bet now reads "private builder (in the middle of Triple Helix)". Added personal-note line: "I plan (and have wanted) to run a venture studio rather than an accelerator or incubator." Banner now surfaces Supakiat (Golf) as Track B co-lead (not just in ownership table).
Tue 26 May 2026 · midday
Done
Tab reorder + Beijing leg dropped
Main tab order: Overview · 🇸🇪 Sweden · 🇳🇿 New Zealand · 🇦🇺 Australia · 🇰🇷 South Korea · Tasks · Pattern · Files. Manila+Beijing → Manila only across Sweden conflicts metric, conflicts strip, Tasks.
Tue 26 May 2026 · midday
Done
Overview rebuilt as cross-tab operations dashboard
Kept 4 KPI tiles. Added: "Across the venture builder" status board (9 workstream cards — Sweden, SBIE, NZ, NZ Sub-Fund, AU, KR, Tasks this week, Open decisions, Single biggest gap). 7-day week view (Tue 26 May → Mon 1 Jun) with today / sprint days / Ningxia trip days color-coded.
Tue 26 May 2026 · morning
Done
Sweden tab restructured · V2 above · V1 below 7-deliverables
Most-up-to-date V2 (Session 3 & 4 Prep) now the primary content at the top of Sweden tab. V1 Submission moved BELOW the 7-deliverables tracker, marked "historical reference / V1 archived" with muted styling. The 7-deliverable Min/Target/Stretch table stays as the anchor for September targets.
Tue 26 May 2026 · morning
Done
V2 section first inserted · post-Session 2 reframe
Added full V2 - HW content: Identity reframe (cross-border venture studio + SBIE feeder), Two arms × one gate, Track A Studio (Problem · Ambition · Bet) + Business Model Hypothesis, Track B SBIE (Problem · Ambition · Bet) + Education/Commercialization Structure, Ownership table (Kasper · Golf · Kasper-GP · Sweden AB pending), Stakeholder Roles, Assumptions/Barriers/Per-track challenges, Nordic Value with radar line, Core Collaborators.
Tue 26 May 2026 · morning
Done
Session 3 / Session 4 countdown logic added
New SESSION3 (Wed 27 May) + SESSION4 (Thu 28 May) date constants in JS. Overview "Next milestone" tile auto-rolls Session 3 → Session 4 → Sweden Visit. Sweden tab "Next sprint" metric points to Session 3.
Tue 26 May 2026 · morning
Done
Restored Cowork artifact to Google Drive source-of-truth
Earlier in session, a stripped-down V2-only rewrite had overwritten the multi-country tracker. Restored to the canonical 110KB version from Google Drive (Sweden/NZ/AU/KR/Tasks/Pattern/Files). Established sync model: Google Drive HTML is canonical; Cowork artifact mirrors it after every edit.
Sun 24 May 2026
Done
Cowork artifact "Sea Bridge Venture Builder Tracker Live" created
Initial artifact registered at /Users/kaspmacmini/Documents/Claude/Artifacts/sea-bridge-venture-builder-tracker-live/index.html. Living alongside other SEA Bridge artifacts (Ops Tracker, CRM Live, ASEAN1967 Tracker + Public Preview, SCB ITP8 Dashboard, Gen SEA Summit OS).
Sun 24 May 2026
Done
NZ tab fully populated · post-YBLI Tech 2026 trip
17–24 May trip to Auckland + Christchurch created 26+ named contacts. NZ tab populated with Tier 1–4 contact dossier, ASEAN delegate cohort, and master collaboration ideas list. NZ activated as the 2nd country corridor parallel to Sweden.
Mon 25 May 2026
Done
V1 Session 2 homework submitted to Epicenter
~600 word TAP version (Key Challenge · Ambition Statement · Suggested Collaborators · The Bet · Success by September) sent to Jack & Edgar by Mon 25 May 1:30pm BKK deadline. Source draft: 04_Session2_Homework_Draft.md.

The 4-question Pattern Zero framework

For every international relationship SEA Bridge invests in, answer all four. A partnership that can't answer all four shouldn't be activated yet. NZ now passes all four checks following the May 17-24 trip.

1

Anchor partner

Who is the institutional opener?
Sweden: Epicenter + NIA + Royal Thai Embassy.
NZ: Asia NZ Foundation + Royal Thai Embassy Wellington + CIE Auckland.

2

Capability extracted

What does this geography give the Venture Builder that we don't already have?
Sweden: sustainable BMs, corporate-startup engagement, R2C playbooks, equity-aligned operator model.
NZ: export-native venture playbooks, CIE Hynds train-the-trainer model, Icehouse Asia-bridge VC pattern, indigenous-to-Asia storytelling.

3

ASEAN-bound deal-flow channel

How does this route ventures or capital into the portfolio?
Sweden: Nordic Tech Week visibility, VC intros, MOU pathway.
NZ: CIE spinouts via GMEP/B2M; Icehouse portfolio with ASEAN ambition; Partly/Mussel King as anchor candidates; bilateral fund w/ Fundsorter raise infra.

4

Cost of activation

What does this cost in time, headcount, reputation?
Sweden: Kasper bandwidth May-Sept + delegation costs.
NZ: ~10% of Kasper's weekly bandwidth through Phase 1-3; Foundation does heavy lifting; no NZ entity yet (Idea #2 still ⚪).

Flow

flowchart LR
  A[Founder candidates · SBIE + ASEAN1967] --> B[Validation · Country playbook]
  B --> C[Capital · Public + corporate + Nordic VC]
  C --> D[GTM · Cross-border into 2nd ASEAN market]
  D --> E[SEA Bridge equity · portfolio compounds]

  S[🇸🇪 Sweden · Active] --> B
  S --> C
  NZ[🇳🇿 NZ · Active] --> B
  NZ --> A
  AU[🇦🇺 Australia · Queued] -.-> B
  KR[🇰🇷 Korea · Queued] -.-> C

  classDef active fill:#fbe7ea,stroke:#C8102E,stroke-width:2px,color:#1a1a1a
  classDef seeded fill:#dcecdf,stroke:#2a7d3e,stroke-width:2px,color:#1a1a1a
  classDef queued fill:#ecedee,stroke:#6e6e6e,stroke-dasharray: 5 5,color:#4a4a4a
  classDef core fill:#f4efe0,stroke:#9b0c24,stroke-width:1.5px,color:#6b0717
  class S active
  class NZ seeded
  class AU,KR queued
  class A,B,C,D,E core
    

Country activation cadence (planned)

Sweden peaks in 2026 H2 then sustains; NZ activated May 2026 and runs in parallel; Australia activates 2027; Korea activates mid-2027.
Sweden (anchor) New Zealand (activating) Australia (queued) South Korea (queued)

Project files

All files live in the workspace folder Sweden_Thailand_Partnership/ (folder kept under that name for now — internal docs reframed as "SEA Bridge Venture Builder"). NZ materials live in the New_Zealand/ subfolder.

00_README.md
Navigation hub + file index
01_Project_Brief.md
VB thesis · 3-pillar advantage · why Sweden anchors
02_Timeline.xlsx
5 sheets · timeline · conflicts · Sweden detail · OKR · stakeholders
03_Tasks.md
Tasks grouped by horizon
04_Session2_Homework_Draft.md
Draft for Mon May 25 submission
05_International_Partnerships.md
Sweden + AU + NZ + KR framework
06_Impact_Pioneers_2025_Network.md
Impact Pioneers cohort 2025
New_Zealand/01_NZ_Relationship_Tracker.md
Tier 1-4 contacts · ASEAN delegates · 17 collab ideas (NEW)
New_Zealand/02_NZ_Contacts_Dossier.md
Deep background on every named person + company (NEW)
tracker.html
This file — interactive tracker
resume.md
Session resume log