In a world drowning in plastic and burning through waste, three teenagers from Bangkok dared to imagine something different—and now they’ve started building it.
Their project, EcoPinet, earned the gold medal in the AIHM Business Plan Competition 2025. The annual event—hosted in Bangkok and judged by top executives and academics—challenges high school students to rethink the way the world does business. The students come together to imagine creative new ventures for the hospitality industry.
Teams from throughout Thailand, and even some from abroad, pitched their business ideas and fought for a place in the winners’ circle. With their biodegradable, seed-embedded packaging made from discarded pineapple leaves, the Shrewsbury International School team proposed a business idea that shouted for attention. The students’ proposed business, EcoPinet, pioneers a sustainability-driven product that dramatically transforms the environmental impact of hotels, restaurants and even businesses outside the hospitality realm.
“The EcoPinet team absolutely crushed it,” said judge Olivier Dombey, Managing Director of AlphOmega8. “They built a functional app and came prepared with mockups, custom branding, and a compelling business model. Midway through, I caught myself thinking, ‘Yes, I’d back this!’”
Next-Gen Entrepreneurs: Meet the Teens Behind Thailand’s Most Promising Eco Startup
The concept behind EcoPinet unfolded through countless brainstorming sessions, research deep dives and spontaneous late-night calls between teammates. The three team members—Shrewsbury International School students Premmanee Ariyasantichai, Nalinrampai Gomutputra and Sarisa Manopinives—worked tirelessly to develop their innovative product idea and a strategic business plan that could launch the product to success.
“Our business idea was definitely a slower, evolving journey rather than a single moment of inspiration,” the team explained in their post-win interview. “At first, embedding seeds wasn’t even part of the plan—it came later as we kept researching ways to make our products even more meaningful and impactful for the environment.”
The team’s original focus was tackling Thailand’s growing agricultural waste crisis. In particular, they were shocked to learn that pineapple farming alone generates 1.8 million tons of waste annually, much of which is simply burned, contributing to the country’s PM2.5 air pollution crisis. As their research evolved, so did their vision.
Each fresh insight added a new facet to what would eventually become EcoPinet: a sustainable packaging solution that not only biodegrades, but also grows into plants. In short, EcoPinet offers a true circular economy model.
Grounded in Real-World Research
One key factor that set EcoPinet apart was their deep stakeholder engagement. The team visited pineapple farms, spoke with local producers and forged relationships that shaped their entire business model.
“Everything changed when we visited pineapple farms in person,” they shared. “Witnessing the scale of agricultural waste—piles of pineapple leaves often left to burn—made the environmental impact very real to us.”
The EcoPinet team leveraged this community engagement into an impressively grounded entrepreneurship model. “The farmers weren’t just suppliers,” the team noted. “They became co-creators in our project.”
These real-world interactions helped define the logistics and features of the business. The idea to develop an app allowing farmers to schedule pineapple waste pickups and receive payments was born directly from on-the-ground conversations.
EcoPinet emphasized how integral this outreach and collaboration with farmers was. “Their feedback reminded us that sustainability isn’t just about the product—it’s about the people behind it too,” the team said.
Professionalism Beyond Their Years
From their product mockups to their live pitch, EcoPinet consistently displayed a level of professionalism far beyond their age.
“These are Grade 11 students—but the way they approached their business idea was something I’d normally expect from final-year undergraduates,” said Chris Meylan, Chief Operating Officer of Minor Education. “Before even stepping into the room, they’d already done the kind of legwork most adult entrepreneurs skip.”
Judge Wimintra J. Raj agreed: “The idea is simple and easy to understand. The team went above and beyond in researching both the product and the market. Their dedication is clear. The effort they’ve invested in the project and the pitch reflects not only how much they care, but also how genuinely passionate they are about their idea.”
EcoPinet’s preparation was thorough, and their dedication paid off. “We practiced multiple times with friends, family, and teachers to simulate pressure,” said the team. “We also spent time anticipating judges’ questions and prepared detailed responses, assigning roles so each of us was ready to answer with clarity and confidence.”
Making It a Reality
While business plan entries in the competition remain hypothetical, EcoPinet is already in motion. The team has begun preparing to bring their concept to life and have plans to visit Rayong and meet with pineapple farmers again. The student-entrepreneurs aim to develop their pilot product line and refine distribution models in partnership with local stakeholders.
When asked about how they marked their win, the Shrewsbury students laughed. “We haven’t celebrated yet because of exams,” they said. “But we plan to share a meal and then use the prize money to visit pineapple farms and start implementing what we’ve built.”
What began as a student project has grown into a living, evolving business that merges environmental vision with practical action. “EcoPinet have offered a full-circle vision of ESG,” said Meylan. “Environmental, social, and governance values are woven into every part of their plan.”
Meylan highlighted that the young entrepreneurs didn’t treat sustainability simply as a buzzword. He explained, “EcoPinet have looked at environmental and social responsibility from every angle: supporting farmers, engaging young people like themselves, and creating value for customers.”
Spotlight on the Other Winners
Second-Place Winner: Safa Thai from Chindamanee School
The Safa Thai team from Chindamanee School brought forward a bold and timely proposal: a Halal-certified spa and wellness center that integrates Thai hospitality with Islamic values. At a time when Halal tourism is booming, their project addressed a clear market gap.
“Most wellness services in Thailand lack Halal certification,” the team explained. “We want to offer a luxurious, respectful and faith-aligned experience for Muslim tourists and local communities.”
Safa Thai’s business plan included both brick-and-mortar locations and mobile spa services to Halal-certified hotels, creating flexible service channels. Every detail has been considered: gender-segregated facilities, Halal-certified oils, prayer rooms, ethical treatment protocols, and a design that merges Thai and Islamic aesthetics.
They backed their proposal with clear market data, highlighting their business’s potential to tap into the service gaps for Thailand’s 3.5 million Muslim visitors annually, in addition to appealing to the local Thai Muslim population.
“Safa Thai isn’t just a business,” they concluded. “It’s a cultural shift in the wellness industry.”
Third-Place Winner: Ruby, Eva & Dylan from HeadStart International School
The team from HeadStart International School in Phuket captured judges’ attention with their agile business proposal: pop-up luxury accommodations for music festival attendees, combining eco-consciousness, convenience and high-energy design.
“We wanted to create something that lets festival-goers stay immersed in the atmosphere,” said the team. “And we saw a big opportunity during the EDC festival in Phuket.”
Their vision is a fully branded 'glamping' village with themed LED-lit tents, chillout lounges, soundproof sleeping pods and luxury showers—with an emphasis on construction using recycled materials. They also proposed social impact incentives, including discounts for beach clean-up volunteers and donations to charity from activity revenue.
Add-ons like AR dance zones, smart mirror wardrobes, and personalized LED wristbands synced to the music turned a practical idea into a vibrant hospitality ecosystem.
“This is about more than a place to sleep,” the team said. “It’s about memories, community and impact.”
A Platform for Young Changemakers
The AIHM Business Plan Competition continues to grow in scale and reputation. Launched in 2023, the Competition marked its third year with the latest round. This year, 33 teams from 19 schools submitted elevator pitch videos—double the participation from 2024. Eight finalist teams were selected for the live final, held on 3 May 2025 after a short postponement due to the April earthquake.
Judges included top executives and educators from across the region, including:
Each pitch was evaluated for its creativity, commercial viability, research, stakeholder engagement and presentation quality.
2025 Finalists
Advice from the Champions
As for students thinking about entering next year, EcoPinet offers one simple piece of advice:
“Immerse yourself fully in your idea and treat it as something real, not just a short-term project. The more you believe in your concept, the more naturally your passion and confidence will come through.”
“You shouldn’t just remember your lines—you should understand the 'why' behind every part of your business and how it connects to the hospitality industry.”
Want to Be the Next Champion?
Are you a student with a brilliant idea—or a teacher looking to empower the next generation of innovators?
Join us for the AIHM Business Plan Competition 2026.
Visit aihm.education/businessplancompetition to learn more.
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