The second day of Techsauce Global Summit 2025 put a spotlight on food innovation, drawing a significant crowd to the Queen Sirikit National Convention Center (QSNCC). The Earth Stage, in particular, was a hub of activity, featuring the day's much-anticipated SPACE-F Event. The sessions brought together key players from across the food industry—from startups and investors to corporate leaders and researchers—to dive into the latest advancements shaping the sector. It served as a clear showcase of the collaborative spirit powering Thailand’s goal to become a global food innovation hub, the ‘Kitchen of the World.’
The conversation then zoomed in from national strategy to specific technologies in a captivating keynote by Dr. Nardev Ramanathan, Associate Research Director at Lux Research. In his talk, “How Wearables Are Powering Healthier Aging and Nutrition,” he explored the impact of Asia's aging population and the emerging "Silver Economy." Dr. Ramanathan expertly showed how the growing affordability and use of wearable technology is creating a new frontier for personalized health. He highlighted real-world examples of companies leveraging wearables for everything from continuous glucose monitoring to dietary tracking, paving the way for predictive and proactive health solutions. His core message was clear: combining wearable data with AI has the power to fundamentally change how we manage nutrition and promote healthier lifestyles.
Voices from the Frontier: Key Discussions on Strategy, Tech, and Investment
The heart of the day was a series of deep-dive discussions that brought together diverse voices from across the FoodTech ecosystem, each tackling the future of food from a different critical angle.
The Corporate View: Balancing Demand and Sustainability
The morning’s first panel, “The Future of Eating: Consumption Trends and Food Industry Transformation,” put the industry's giants in the hot seat. Moderated by Semi Hakim (Kök Ventures), panelists Jenica Cruz (Nestlé Thailand), Kamolphan Lerdprapapong (Thai President Foods), and Sirichit Jiraruangkiat (Thai Union Group) addressed the central challenge: How do major corporations meet soaring global food demand while navigating the urgent need for climate adaptation? The panelists shared their strategies, which revolved around sustainable sourcing, innovating for both health and affordability, and integrating technology across their value chains. A clear consensus emerged that tackling the future of food requires a powerful collaboration between the public sector, private enterprise, and the startup ecosystem.
Unpacking the Tech: From Science to Supply Chain
The conversation then shifted from corporate strategy to the core technologies themselves in the panel “FoodTech Frontiers: Driving FoodTech Globally.” The session featured diverse perspectives from Nobu Kumagai (Wildcard Incubator), Assoc. Prof. Viriya Taecharungroj (Institute for Technology and Innovation Management - iNT), and Jittrapon Jirakulsomchok (National Innovation Agency - NIA), and was moderated by Virginia Cha (NUS Business School). This panel explored the cutting-edge of innovation—from the transformative power of AI and alternative proteins to personalized nutrition and smart packaging. However, the panel, moderated by Virginia Cha (NUS Business School), drove home a crucial point: brilliant science isn't enough. The discussion emphasized the often-overlooked challenges of supply chain optimization, achieving cost-effectiveness for consumers, and the absolute necessity of market validation for any new technology to make a real-world impact.
Inside SPACE-F: The Journey and What’s Next
The “SPACE-F’s Journey: What Lies Beyond the Next Frontier?” panel offered a look behind the curtain of the successful accelerator program. Moderated by Nuttawee Niamsiri (Mahidol University) the session featured panelists Dr. Chris Aurand (Thai Union Group), Sean Mak (Innovate 360), and Dylan Keota (YAANA Ventures). The speakers reflected on the program's unique model since its inception in 2019, which fosters deep and practical collaborations between startups, corporates, and academic researchers. They shared what they look for in successful founders, highlighting three core traits: perseverance, adaptability, and coachability. Looking ahead, the panel identified key areas of interest for future cohorts, including the intersection of food and pharmaceuticals (“food as medicine”) and technologies driving sustainability.
The Investor's Perspective: Capital, Challenges, and CVCs
Finally, a fireside chat on “Investment trends in FoodTech” brought the financial realities of the industry into sharp focus. Gerard Chia (Clay Capital) and Louis Tan (Innovate 360) provided candid insights into the current landscape. They discussed the evolving role of Corporate Venture Capital (CVCs), noting a shift towards more collaborative and less controlling partnerships with startups. The chat highlighted persistent challenges, such as Southeast Asia's fragmented market and the search for viable solutions to plastic pollution. The investors concluded with direct, actionable advice for startups seeking funding: be realistic about your market size, be relentlessly capital-efficient, and have a clear pathway to scalability.
The Path Forward
The SPACE-F Event at Techsauce Global Summit 2025 culminated in an inspiring closing speech by Victor Seah, Group CEO at Nestle Indochina. Mr. Seah lauded the creativity and dedication of the participating entrepreneurs and highlighted the mutually beneficial relationships fostered within the SPACE-F ecosystem. He emphasized the invaluable learning opportunities for large corporations like his through engagement with agile startups and reaffirmed the commitment of SPACE-F and its partners to continue supporting and mentoring these innovative ventures. Mr. Seah reiterated the overarching vision of making Thailand the “Kitchen of the World” through collaborative innovation and encouraged all attendees to engage with the startups present, explore potential collaborations, and be part of shaping the future of food. He concluded with a message of encouragement for new startups, reminding them that even the largest corporations began as small ventures, and expressed gratitude to all partners for their continued support in pushing the boundaries of innovation. Attendees were then invited to explore the startup showcase and experience a “delicious food adventure” showcasing the innovations within the SPACE-F program.
The SPACE-F Event at Techsauce Global Summit 2025 served as a crucial pulse check on the FoodTech industry, revealing a clear consensus: the future of food depends not just on brilliant science, but on building a collaborative ecosystem to balance soaring global demand with sustainability. By bringing these diverse voices together, the event solidified SPACE-F's role as the core engine driving Thailand's food innovation ambitions.