The Mekong Innovative Startup Tourism Initiative (MIST) aims to support innovative new travel & tourism-related ventures in the developing destinations and source markets of Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam (CLMV). MIST will mentor new ventures, provide support and guidance, and match them with suitable investors. - See more at: http://www.mekongtourism.org/mist and www.mist.asia

1. MEKONG INNOVATIVE
STARTUP TOURISM (MIST)
BUSINESS PLAN COMPETITION
AND PRE-ACCELERATOR

2. © 2016 - The Mekong Business Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
MIST: THE BASICS
What is it?
A business plan competition and pre-accelerator
that identifies investable tourism projects in
Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam
Why do it?
To catalyse tourism sector innovation, growth,
and jobs
What are the goals?
To line up funding and acceleration for five highly
investable projects
To secure a sustainable future for the MIST
program in 2018 and beyond

3. © 2016 - The Mekong Business Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
HOW MIST WORKS
MIST Tourism
Business
Plan
Competition
5 Pre-
Accelerators
(Cities TBD)
2 Demo Days
Mekong Tourism Forum
(June - Luang Prabang, Lao PDR)
APEC Investors Summit
(November - Danang, Vietnam)
5
Investments/
Accelerator
Commitments
200+ entries 20 semi finalists 10 finalists

4. © 2016 - The Mekong Business Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
WHAT MAKES MIST SPECIAL
ORGANIZERS
MIST is organized cooperatively by:
• Mekong Business Initiative
• Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office
With additional support from:
• Asian Development Bank
• Government of Australia
• Seoul Global Startup Center
• Da Nang Business Incubator
(DNES)
• SECO Entrepreneurship Program
• Cambodia Young Entrepreneurs
Association
• Dulichable: Vietnam’s Tourism &
Hospitality Marketing Magazine
PRE-ACCELERATION
20 semi-finalists identified through the MIST
Tourism Business Plan Competition will be
invited to join a pre-accelerator program in the
Greater Mekong Subregion. There, the
semi-finalists will receive:
• Business plan coaching
• An orientation to the local tourism ecosystem
• Hackathons focused on their business plans, involving
industry experts and local ecosystem participants
• Connections to potential local partners
The location of the pre-acceleration programs will be
chosen to suit semi-finalists’ business plans.

5. © 2016 - The Mekong Business Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
WHO BENEFITS
SPONSORS
• Association with innovation
• Opportunities to network with tourism industry
innovators
• High-value logo placements in MIST
communications and at MIST events
INVESTORS
• Vetted pipeline of high-value opportunities
TOURISM INNOVATORS
• Expense-paid trips to the region
• Pre-acceleration program
• Matchmaking with key players and potential
partners in local tourism ecosystems
• Potential for investment
LOCAL ECONOMIES
• Injections of innovation and investment
• Opportunities for local tourism businesses,
students, destination marketing organizations
(DMOs) and other ecosystem players to learn
from successful international models
• Ongoing innovation infrastructure
(Tourism Innovation Clubs)

6. © 2016 - The Mekong Business Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
TIMELINE - PHASE 1
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Regional
In-
Country
Global MIST
Business Plan
Competition
20
Semi-
Finalists
Chosen
MIST Pre-Accelerators
(4 cities TBD)
Mekong
Tourism
Forum
Demo Day
(10 Finalists TBD)
Tourism Ecosystem
Deep Dive.
Tourism Innovation Clubs
Formed.
MIST Finalists Mapped
& Connected to Local
Ecosystems
Marketing
• Website launched
• Sponsors
committed
• Competition
announced
through industry
partners
• Newswire
announcement
Investor Outreach
Tourism
Innovation
Clubs

7. © 2016 - The Mekong Business Initiative. All Rights Reserved.
TIMELINE - PHASE 2
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov
Regional
In-Country MIST Vietnam
Pre-Accelerator
Vietnam
Tourism
Ecosystem
Deep Dive
MIST Finalists
Mapped &
Connected to
Local
Ecosystems
Investor Outreach
APEC Summit
Demo Day
(5 Finalists TBD)
Tourism Innovation Clubs

8. THANK YOU