LINE SCALE UP backs Venture Spark Cohort 2 Unlocking Thailand’s 56M+ users with depa, ExpresSo NB, and InnoSpace (Thailand)

Venture Spark, the premier sector-agnostic accelerator established by A2D Ventures, today announced the launch of Cohort 2, powered by a landmark partnership with LINE SCALE UP and supported by Thailand's innovation powerhouses: depa, ExpresSo NB, and InnoSpace (Thailand). This unprecedented coalition creates the ultimate growth engine for Thailand-based startups and high-growth SMEs, combining elite fundraising preparation with unparalleled mass distribution, corporate pilot opportunities, and government backing.

While Cohort 1 successfully put founders on the global stage, Cohort 2 is rewriting the playbook on scaling. By uniting LINE SCALE UP's massive digital infrastructure with the corporate, public, and support of ExpresSo NB, depa, and InnoSpace, Venture Spark is solving the biggest hurdles startups face: perfecting the pitch, securing enterprise partnerships, and reaching the customer.

"We are giving our Cohort 2 founders the ultimate unfair advantage," said Ankit Upadhyay, Founder & CEO of Venture Spark. "Venture Spark is bringing in top-tier consultants to tear down and rebuild your pitch, and public speaking experts to make sure you command the room. But a great pitch means nothing without users. By partnering with LINE SCALE UP, we aren't just getting you ready for investors—we are plugging your business directly into the daily lives and chat windows of millions of Thais."

“We’re excited to partner with Venture Spark to help ambitious founders scale with greater speed and confidence,” said Sirunya Buntornvorapun, Director of Corporate Strategy & Incubation at LINE Thailand. “Thailand has extraordinary startup talent, yet scalable distribution remains one of the most critical growth barriers. Through the LINE ecosystem, startups can directly access over 56 million users and build seamless experiences within a platform that millions of people already rely on every day. By combining Venture Spark’s world-class founder development expertise with LINE’s technology infrastructure, APIs, and mass distribution capabilities, we are accelerating the pathway from product-market fit to meaningful national scale.”

The 'Unfair Advantage' : What Founders Get

Selected startups will gain dual access to an elite mentorship track and a massive technological distribution channel, backed by partners like depa, ExpresSo NB, and InnoSpace (Thailand).

From the Venture Spark Program:

• Massive Investor Access: The program culminates in a blockbuster Demo Day designed to put you in front of a curated audience of over 400+ global venture capitalists, angel investors, and corporate partners.
• The Pitch Clinic: Stop guessing what investors want. Work directly with top-tier consultants who will refine your business model, stress-test your strategy, and rebuild your pitch deck to global standards.
• Expert Public Speaking Coaching: Master pitching and closing deals with dedicated coaching from communication experts, ensuring you deliver your vision with maximum impact and confidence.
• World-Class Mentorship: Learn 1-on-1 from founders who have successfully exited, alongside global industry experts who have navigated the exact scaling challenges you face.

From the LINE SCALE UP Ecosystem:

• 56M+ User Reach: Direct pathways to tap into Thailand’s largest digital audience, accelerating mass adoption for your product or service.
• Deep Tech & API Integration: Expert guidance on building native, frictionless, app-like experiences using LINE APIs, LINE MINI App, and LINE Official Accounts.
• Mastering Chat Commerce: Strategic frameworks for utilizing LINE's commerce and SME digital tools to drive immediate user acquisition and revenue retention.

Supported by Thailand’s Innovation Powerhouses: depa, ExpresSo NB, and InnoSpace (Thailand)

While LINE Scale Up provides the digital mass-distribution engine, Venture Spark’s strategic backbone is fortified by an unprecedented alliance of Thailand’s top public, private, and corporate entities. Together, A2D Ventures, depa, ExpresSo NB, and InnoSpace (Thailand) are pioneering a new era of venture building, creating a platform where founders can achieve their full potential and scale globally.

The Strategic Partners Driving Cohort 2:

• InnoSpace (Thailand): A key partner in fostering Thailand’s innovation ecosystem, InnoSpace is a public-private joint venture that has already backed over 21 startups, primarily focusing on early-stage deep-tech companies with the potential to become new S-Curve global players. Backed by leading conglomerates (including PTTOR, SET, BDMS, C.P. Group, and ThaiBev), InnoSpace provides startups with seasoned advisors, product validation, and pathways to international markets.
• ExpresSo NB (PTT Group): As the innovation and corporate venture arm of PTT Group, ExpresSo NB bridges the gap between agile tech startups and massive industrial infrastructure. Startups in Cohort 2—especially those in deep tech, energy, and enterprise SaaS—will gain unparalleled opportunities to explore corporate pilot projects (PoCs), tap into ExpresSo NB's vast industry expertise, and scale their B2B solutions across PTT’s extensive network and ecosystem.
• depa (Digital Economy Promotion Agency): Bringing the full support of the Thai government, depa empowers startups with essential digital infrastructure and regulatory navigation. Their involvement ensures founders have a direct pipeline to government-backed matching funds, smart city initiatives, and public-sector deployment opportunities.

Through this powerhouse collaboration, Cohort 2 participants gain an "unfair advantage." They are not just refining their pitch decks; they are actively bridging academia and early-stage tech to massive corporate pilot projects, government-backed scaling opportunities, and a network of over 400 global investors.

Who Should Apply

Venture Spark Cohort 2 is seeking the boldest tech startups (Fintech, HealthTech, SaaS, Deep Tech) and high-growth Smart Commerce brands building from Thailand for the world. The program is open to both Thai and expat/digital nomad founders who have an MVP ready to scale or are in their pre-seed/seed stages.

Applications for Venture Spark Cohort 2 are now open. Startups interested in accelerating their growth can apply and find more information at https://venturespark.asia