Dr. Kid Parchariyanon
Dr. Kid Parchariyanon, a former medical doctor turned entrepreneur and investor, is the founding partner of SeaX Ventures, a $100M venture capital firm investing in deep tech and climate innovation across Southeast Asia. Based in Thailand, he focuses on early-stage startups that can both cut global carbon emissions and drive economic growth, with investments spanning lab-grown meat, quantum computing, and other breakthrough technologies. Having co-founded several successful companies, including one of the region’s largest corporate innovation consultancies, Kid has been instrumental in shaping Thailand’s startup ecosystem. Today, he serves as a bridge between Southeast Asia and global capital, connecting local founders to international markets, while his transition from medicine to entrepreneurship reflects his mission to create planetary impact and economic progress through innovation.
Paul Powell
After taking over his family’s business, Paul Powell experienced a dramatic financial downfall—losing the millions he had earned from the sale of his successful investment practice. While it was a devastating loss at the time, Paul now considers it one of the greatest turning points of his life. That moment of hardship became the catalyst for personal transformation, resilience, and a renewed sense of purpose that continues to guide his journey today.
Jay Williams
Jay Williams, founder and CEO of Free Bird Southern Spring Water, is reinventing hydration with a disruptive beverage brand that infuses Southern soul and bold personality into drinking water. Packaged in beer-like aluminum cans and sourced from the Blue Ridge Mountains, Free Bird makes water feel as fun and social as soda or beer, resonating at tailgates, music festivals, and community gatherings. After building a billion-dollar career in real estate, Jay boldly pivoted into consumer packaged goods with no prior experience, embodying reinvention and grit. His mission is to grow Free Bird into a nationally beloved brand that transforms hydration from a basic need into a cultural identity.
