Building a Tech Company Far from Silicon Valley
When I started Broken Duck Media, it wasn’t from an office in San Francisco or New York. It was in a coffee shop in Chiang Mai, Thailand — laptop open, iced coffee sweating beside me, and about a hundred other people doing something similar.
I’m Craig, the founder of Broken Duck Media. When I was deciding where to build a company, Chiang Mai just made sense.
Why Chiang Mai?
The cost of living here is a fraction of what you’d pay in the States. Rent, food, even office space — it’s dramatically cheaper. That stretches your runway if you’re bootstrapping. Instead of burning $8,000 a month on rent like you might in Silicon Valley, you can actually focus on building.
But it’s not just about the money. Chiang Mai has a real community feel. Cafes are full of developers, designers, writers, and entrepreneurs. It’s like a low-key, less-stressed version of the startup scenes in California. People are here because they want to create — not because a VC is breathing down their neck.
Challenges of Starting in Thailand
It’s not all perfect. One of the biggest hurdles is that if you want to officially register a company here, Thailand requires 51% Thai ownership. That’s just the law.
For Broken Duck Media, the answer was partnering with someone I trust — Amber, my Thai partner. Amber also co-owns Green Light Studio here in Chiang Mai with Jake, and together they’ve been a huge part of making this work. Having a real local partnership makes a huge difference when navigating the legal and business landscape.
Government Support for Startups
One of the reasons Chiang Mai is becoming more popular with tech entrepreneurs is the Thai government’s support for startups. Programs like the Smart Startup Visa make it easier for founders to stay and work legally. Compared to the brutal immigration hurdles you’d face in the U.S., it’s refreshing — and it shows Thailand sees the opportunity to become a regional tech hub.
Final Thoughts
Starting Broken Duck Media here wasn’t the traditional choice — but it was the right one. It gave me breathing room, creative energy, and a community of people who are building for the right reasons.
We’re just getting started.