Over the past year, my partners and I set out on an project to establish a co-living and co-working space in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Despite my initial unfamiliarity with such ventures, I took the plunge and began the journey.
Initially selecting a location on Huey Kaew Road for a smaller setup, discussions with property owners and consultations with contractors led us to the decision to forgo that particular project.
During this period, I stumbled upon an insightful article on Chiang Mai's co-living scene, authored by John Ho. Intrigued, I reached out to him, resulting in a meeting and walk-through of Alt 1st project, ALT Chiang Mai. It had broadened my perspective and deepened my appreciation for the co-living concept.
Fast-forwarding, we not only decided to invest in the project but, with John's trust, I am now part of the Board of Advisors and contribute to shaping the technological strategic direction of the parent company, Co-living Concepts. Collaborating with John and his team, we're currently working on the second ALT Chiang Mai, named ALT Ping River, set to launch in the first quarter of 2024. It's an exhilarating project, not just for us, but also in response to the growing demands of the Digital Nomad lifestyle—a lifestyle that resonates with me and many others.
This endeavour goes beyond business—it cultivates connections, from shared smiles to meaningful conversations and collaborative work sessions. These interactions not only create a dynamic atmosphere but also pave the way for new business opportunities and outcomes. I feel fortunate to be on this transformative journey with my connections and hope that you, too, will discover new friendships as we navigate the exciting intersection of remote work and community.
About the author
Stephen Chan is the founder of ASIA Technology Ventures. As a creative and entrepreneurial thinker with deep knowledge in both business and technology, he has accomplished more than 2 decades of high-growth businesses, developed revolutionary Go-To-Market strategies, led & built teams across Asia Pacific. He also has strong understanding of technology like SaaS/Cloud infrastructure, mobile apps, developer tools, blockchain, artificial intelligence, etc. Asia Technology Ventures was founded to help Asia's businesses transform, scale and compete beyond their comfort zone.
This is driven by his personal belief that "Success is a journey, not a destination", in-line with his pursuit of helping others as the foundation for true, happy, and meaningful living.
