YBN Anniversary 2026 Recap: 3 Lessons on Connecting Thai Businesses Beyond Borders

In just one year, YBN Thailand (Young Business Network) has grown from a domestic network of young entrepreneurs into a bridge linking Thai business owners with business networks in 26 countries. At its first-anniversary celebration, the team at Privage, a CRM and loyalty program platform for Thai businesses, took part as an exhibitor, a host and one of the many networks exchanging ideas throughout the day.

YBN Anniversary 2026, also called the YBN Thailand 1st Year Celebration, was themed "Connecting Business Beyond Borders" and took place on August 15, 2026, at The Quarter Ratchayothin in Bangkok, from the afternoon into the evening. It featured product and service booths, talks by Thai and international business leaders, Business Matching and an anniversary dinner.

 

From a local network to 26 countries

The opening ceremony began with Teerin Thanwattanakul (Golf), President of YBN Thailand, who introduced the network, looked back on its first year and shared its direction for 2026. The key announcement was a partnership with business networks from 26 countries, giving members easier access to partners and business opportunities abroad.

YBN framed its second year around "BUILT", with four pillars:

• Build Confidence: preparing Thai entrepreneurs to compete globally
• Build Connections: building partnerships across 26 countries
• Build Knowledge: developing knowledge and cross-network management
• Build Opportunities: creating new business opportunities, including access to funding and financial support

This was followed by a Special Talk from Kaisorn Chatlekwanich (F) on building business networks at home and abroad, and on how YBN members can grow.

Our team liked how YBN summed up its direction: it doesn't just want a bigger network, but one that helps members' businesses actually grow. It's the same principle behind customer care, where ongoing relationships matter more than the number of members.

 

The 2026 economy and funding for SMEs

In the Business Insight Session, Dr. Thanapol Srithanyapong, Senior Director of Business Research at Land and Houses Bank (LH Bank), stepped back to the big picture: the Thai and global economy, 2026 investment trends, opportunities for Thai entrepreneurs abroad, access to funding and financial services for SMEs, and strategies for sustainable growth.

International Business Session: conversations with leaders from China and Myanmar

The session our team was most directly involved in was the International Business Session, hosted by Rusada Noisong, CMO & Co-Founder of Privage, who invited international partners to share their experiences on stage:

• Pang Xiyuan, Partner / COO of CIYEC, former Editor-in-Chief of China Youth Network Travel Channel and International Business Development Manager at CYTS, former City Operator at DiDi and Qingju E-Bike, and founder of Mancool, a Thai shared e-moped brand
• San Zaw Htet of the Myanmar Young Entrepreneurs Association (MYEA), Founder & CEO of Acumen International Company Limited, who has built education businesses across several markets and is now expanding into food and beverage in Thailand with the Yonny restaurant brand, with more than 5 branches

The conversation covered the roles of CIYEC and MYEA, trade and investment opportunities between Thailand, China and Myanmar, CLMV and Asian economic trends, the impact of geopolitics on cross-border investment, building business partnerships, and new opportunities for young entrepreneurs in global markets.

 

What stood out for our team was that both speakers are international entrepreneurs who have built businesses in Thailand, in mobility and in multi-branch restaurants. Thailand isn't only a launchpad for going abroad; it's also a market where international players come to compete.

 

A day with the Privage team: from the booth to the evening

Throughout the event, Varintorn Sinlapakitkosol (Namcha) from our Marketing Communication team was at the Privage booth, introducing our CRM and loyalty program to business owners who stopped by, with Rusada also joining at the booth between her hosting duties.

During Business Matching and the evening dinner, Amat Suwannarat, CEO & Founder, joined Rusada in connecting with YBN members and international business leaders.

 

3 things we kept thinking about, and how Thai businesses can apply them

1. Before going abroad, know the customers you already have

A 26-country network opens many doors for Thai businesses, but the ones ready to walk through are those that know who their customers are, what they buy and why they come back. That data shows which products are ready for a new market and which customer group to target first.

Apply it: Bring customer data into one CRM and segment it by behavior, such as purchase frequency and products bought, to find the groups with the most potential to grow.

2. The Thai market is an international stage too

Both speakers' stories show that international entrepreneurs keep opening businesses and expanding branches in Thailand. Thai businesses now compete with international players at home, while serving more foreign customers who live in or visit Thailand. Getting customers to come back is an advantage newcomers find hard to copy.

Apply it: Use a membership and loyalty program that works across every branch, and send messages tailored to each group, such as separate languages or offers for international customers. It's the same idea as the cross-border loyalty network we presented before. Read more: Global MarTech Integration Day 2026 Philippines Recap

3. Customer data is the best proof of growth

With YBN aiming to help members access funding, and this event covering financial services for SMEs, the next question is how businesses can tell their growth story convincingly. From our team's perspective, numbers like member count, repeat purchase rate and the value each customer brings are stronger proof than simply saying the business is doing well.

Apply it: Track key CRM numbers every month, such as new members, repeat purchase rate and average spend per member, to plan growth and tell your story to partners or funders.

A network that helps each other grow

YBN's first anniversary reminded our team that growth doesn't come from meeting the most people, but from relationships you keep nurturing after the event ends, with business partners and customers alike. Privage will take what we learned here to build CRM and loyalty tools for Thai businesses with multiple branches, customers of many nationalities, and plans to expand into new markets.

Congratulations to YBN Thailand on its first anniversary, and thank you for making Privage part of the celebration.

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Written by: Varintorn Sinlapakitkosol, Marketing Communication Team, Privage