“I never thought five days could take me this far.”

That reflection captured the energy of the first cohort of Unicorn LaunchPad Camp 2026, a five-day program hosted by CMKL University that challenged high school students to turn early ideas into AI startup concepts with working prototypes, future development directions, and pitch-ready narratives.

Over five intensive days, students explored real-world problems, learned directly from founders and industry practitioners, visited leading AI companies, developed working prototypes, and brought their ideas to life on Demo Day. The camp introduced participants to the early stages of AI venture building, from empathy and ideation to rapid prototyping and final pitching.

For CMKL, the program reflects a core principle of its AI-focused education model: students learn best when they build. As Thailand’s AI and innovation-focused university, CMKL treats artificial intelligence not as a stand-alone subject, but as a foundation for practical problem-solving, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-world implementation.

Each day of the camp pushed students to think more deeply about users, define problems more clearly, test ideas more quickly, and communicate their solutions with greater confidence. The experience required students to combine technical curiosity with entrepreneurial thinking, product design, teamwork, and storytelling.

The students developed six AI-powered startup concepts:

Portforfuture — An AI-powered counseling platform designed to support students and families in making college and career decisions through more accessible and personalized guidance.

Animo — An AI application that helps pet owners assess symptoms quickly and consider whether a situation may be manageable at home or requires urgent veterinary care.

Winsight — A performance-focused AI solution for tennis players, using data to help athletes improve their readiness before competition.

Eldenfarm — A game-based learning platform that makes programming practice more engaging through an automation farming experience.

Acuity — A smartphone-based AI screening tool that helps users detect possible vision issues early and seek care sooner.

Melisos — An AI-powered hairstyle recommendation and barbershop booking application that helps users preview looks and connect with service providers more confidently.

Beyond the prototypes, the camp gave students a closer look at how AI products are built in real industry settings. CMKL extends special thanks to Botnoi Group and Gosoft for welcoming students and helping them connect classroom learning with real-world AI product development. The university also thanks the speakers, mentors, instructors, and supporters who guided students throughout the week.

Together, the projects showed how young learners can move beyond using AI tools passively and begin applying AI as part of a broader innovation process. Students were asked not only to build, but also to explain why their ideas mattered, who they were designed for, and how their solutions could create value.

By the end of the camp, every team left with a stronger startup idea, a clearer prototype direction, and greater confidence in presenting what they had built. More importantly, students experienced what it means to move from curiosity to creation, from asking what AI can do to discovering what they can build with it.

Through programs like Unicorn LaunchPad Camp, CMKL continues to create pathways for young learners to engage with AI early, practically, and responsibly. These experiences help prepare the next generation of innovators, engineers, and entrepreneurs who will contribute to Thailand’s growing AI and innovation ecosystem.