Alumni Update
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From left to right: Ong, Bright, Heart
Celebrating Alumni Success
Alumni Update
Online Platform Sasom Founded
by three Concordian alumni, Sasom is Thailand's leading next generation platform for buying and selling authentic sneakers, fashion items, and collectibles. When a transaction occurs, the seller sends their sold item to Sasom for authentication. After the authentication process, Sasom pays the seller, and ships the item to the buyer, making the transaction easy, efficient, and worry-free. Using the bid/ask method, Sasom's model allows buyers and sellers to transact at the true market price for each item according to demand and supply, enabling the world of alternative appreciating assets to users within a few clicks. The founders of Sasom sat down with Impact to give us an insight into their venture into entrepreneurship and how Concordian has been instrumental in their journey so far.
What motivated you to start your own business? First it was the fact that I did not want to work in my family’s business. Second, I think entrepreneurs really are the problem solvers of the world -- you start viable businesses by solving other people’s problems at scale. Third, I really look up to figures like Steve Jobs and Elon Musk, both of whom made a huge impact on the history of mankind. Fourth, I do not believe that you can gain financial freedom by renting out your time. You need to own equity in a business, or cleverly allocate your finances in appreciating assets. What has been the most surprising thing about becoming an entrepreneur? How so many startups are run just like a college work project but with real-life stakes, and how corporations all have their own problems to deal with no matter how big or small they are. I am also surprised by how many people were willing to help us along our journey. It’s almost as if they believed and shared the same visions as we do, and once they saw us trying our best to work on it, they wanted to see it manifest into reality. We would not be here without all of those who helped us along the way.
Kasit Nganthavee (Ong) Class of 2014
What advice would you give to the graduating class of 2022? Pursue your genuine curiosity and passion - try to form your own specific knowledge. Keep re-defining/re-iterating until you've found your calling. Learn to code, learn to produce media. These are permissionless leverages. Life is too short to be working on things that you don’t truly enjoy.
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Co-Founder/CEO Sasom Co., Ltd (บริษัท สะสม จำ�กัด)
How did Concordian prepare you for the real world after school? Apart from the Mission Statement, I feel like you really learn and build your foundation at Concordian: countless presentations, group projects, math problems, essays, sports tournaments, talent shows, field trips, Week Without Walls, community service, and much more. Looking back, all of these experiences could not be achieved elsewhere. Sometimes you take it for granted and only realize later in life that it really plays an important role in shaping who you are today. A concrete example would be how I utilized the oral presentation skills from Concordian to pitch investors on my startup which turned out to be easier than presentations that I had to prepare for Ms. Baertschy!
Alumni Update
What has been the most surprising thing about becoming an entrepreneur? Without sounding too much like a cliché, the most surprising thing about becoming an entrepreneur is the growth journey. In the initial stage of growth, it’s necessary to figure out every bit with your team and with total accountability. If things are not working, there is no one to blame but yourself. Fun. Your perspective on startups and companies changes too, you will realize that other companies and even bigger ones are just like yours - strategizing different ways to grow and improve. There is no reason to run things the way other people have done it because every company is unique. Cultures are set by you in the way you would want your working environment to be like. Besides the exciting growth of the company, the most surprising growth would be of your peers and yourself. Everyone adapts to the growth of the company and slowly becomes a different version of themselves from when they first started out.
Gunpod Lertkomolsuk (Bright) Class of 2014 Co-Founder/CTO/Head of Product Sasom Co., Ltd (บริษัท สะสม จำ�กัด)
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What motivated you to start your own business? I think a big influence was living in the States and consuming startup content. Although it seemed shortsighted, I was interested in software engineering because of Facebook's success story. However, if we are talking about motivation, it started with a growth mindset and a yearning for adventure. Everyone has different motives when deciding on life-changing decisions but for me it was a combination of a couple reasons. The first reason is growth. I saw that I could utilize my Computer Science degree to create value from software that can potentially scale. It seemed like a practical decision for exponential growth. The second reason is financial freedom through practical risk taking. Startups are risky businesses but the upsides are high. You risk embarrassing yourself in exchange for financial freedom. Worth it. Getting into it means a risky pathway, and failing sooner and younger means more time to learn and iterate through mistakes. The last reason is because of Ong and Heart. We grew up together so I knew the chemistry and what everyone was bringing to the table. Most importantly, I would not have been motivated to go through it all if not with the people I trust.
How did Concordian prepare you for the “real world” after school? Concordian prepared me to be an individual striving for excellence. The school has a solid mission and vision statement. That statement hit home. In all seriousness, I believe it is the values, the teachers and the friendship. My mind was most stimulated in Theory of Knowledge and Lit/Language classes even if I was not great at it. I realized the most important thing was how the teachers delivered those messages. I was lucky enough to have amazing teachers that were great at teaching these concepts and unpacking things for more than what it seemed. I am also grateful for teachers that kept it real. I remember not loving Economics but the teacher always kept it real when talking to students. I only appreciated it later in life. The friendships developed at Concordian are what I cherish most, they are still my closest friends and that can take you far in the “real-world”. What advice would you give to the graduating class of 2022? I am probably not qualified to give advice to the younger generation yet because I am also still young and figuring it out. However, if I had to, I would tell them to create a big goal, and think really hard before making long-term decisions. Imagine if you decided to work on something big that will take you at least 5 years, what and who would you put in consideration for that decision. There go your 20’s. Think about what practical risk-taking means because you have to dream big but also understand the practicality of being successful or what you might have to sacrifice. Make sure it is something you are ok with. Most importantly, harness a growth mindset by not limiting yourself. Once you start doing something well, you or other people may put you in a box. Sometimes it could be a good thing but you need to break free from that if you want to grow and branch out. I hope that makes sense one day if not now. Lastly, enjoy your college years because it will be one of your most cherished experiences in your life.
Alumni Update
What motivated you to start your own business? I am always driven by challenges and excitement. When I was approached by Kasit to do a marketplace for sneakers reseller, I did some research on the subject and found out that it is an interesting idea that each country should have and, unsurprisingly, Thailand did not at the time. When the opportunity presents itself to you, it is difficult to pass. Thus, I committed myself to Sasom as a Co-founder and CFO. What has been the most surprising thing about becoming an entrepreneur? Personally, the most surprising thing is that nothing is surprising at all. As an entrepreneur, you will face many challenges and surprises so often that you are immune to it. We have faced an employee who faked the entire CV to a customer who sent in a pair of sneakers in which one side is real and the other is fake. Becoming an entrepreneur is an exciting journey, you will experience many people and events, some are helpful and some aren’t. This all depends on your willingness and ability to overcome obstacles to become successful in whatever you wish to achieve.
Co-Founder/CFO Sasom Co., Ltd (บริษัท สะสม จำ�กัด)
What advice would you give to the graduating class of 2022? College life is short, enjoy every moment of it.
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Harit Achanapornkul (Heart) Class of 2014
How did Concordian prepare you for the “real-world” after school? Concordian prepared me well academically and socially. I met both of my co-founders here at CIS. Our relationship has been great since then. The school’s mission statement emphasizes the core ethical way of living your life. When you have to make a tough decision in the future, please remember the days during you time at CIS when you had to spend late hours studying for subjects where 90% of the contents will not be used again in your life. If you can overcome the obstacle named “IB”, you can overcome anything in your lifetime.