"What does it take to turn a dream into a billion-dollar reality? Get a peek at the exhilarating ride with the main trailer for Mad Unicorn, a captivating series inspired by the true story of Thailand’s first unicorn startup. Directed by the award-winning Nottapon Boonprakob (Come and See), the series promises a blend of high-stakes business drama and personal transformation.
The trailer introduces viewers to Santi, a driven young entrepreneur who transitions from a life in the mountains to the high-pressure world of express delivery. As he navigates betrayal and fierce competition, themes of ambition, resilience, and redemption emerge, painting a vivid picture of his quest to make his business succeed in Thailand.
In Mad Unicorn, Ice-Natara Nopparatayapon (One for the Road, Delete) stars as Santi, the ambitious protagonist who dreams of lifting his family out of poverty. Armed with fluent Mandarin taught by his mother, Santi spots an opportunity in the express delivery industry and launches “Thunder Express.” When a ruthless tycoon, Kanin, portrayed by legendary actor and musician Ek-Thaneth Warakulnukroh (The Sea is Watching), betrays him, Santi teams up with a sharp-witted financier, Xiaoyu (Janeyeh Jiranorraphat), and an antisocial coding prodigy, Ruijie (Dr. Palang Rocksilp).
Mad Unicorn weaves a narrative rich in cultural authenticity and innovation. Set against the backdrop of Bangkok’s dynamic business landscape, the series takes viewers on a wild ride through the world of express delivery services.
Join Santi on his relentless pursuit for his dreams in Mad Unicorn, debuting on May 29, only on Netflix."
This post recently (last night and today) watched at Netflix Mad Unicorn, set in Thailand about entrepreneurship, the first Unicorn (billion dollar valuation in Thailand). They say this is based on true story. We get a glimpse that starting a Unicorn is just like any other start up - its challenging, full of twists and turns and must be overcome.
The story is about a sandman, Santi resident of Thailand mountains, who later on became an employee of sand quarrying. He seemed enamored by the idea of weighing Thai baht. He attended a seminar by Khanin who later on becomes an important protagonist in the series.
He asked Khanin questions which turned out to be basic question in entrepreneurship - how do you become one - "Being first in line" How do you price your product - " Depends on supply and demand" And Santi added that if you control the supply you control the price. Which he did to the sand buyer by asking competitors to dump all his sand to their quarry so that they can sell at Bhat 400. Also to sell condo units which you do not own. He asked reservation for 40 units of condo which he tried to sell to Chinese (whom he served as interpreter)
He tried to drink 40 shots of a strong wine in exchange for 1 unit condo each if does not collapse. But he collapsed. On the way back he happened to sit beside (Kanin) who upgraded his ticket. Kanin traded buying the 40 units in exchange for the peek into his next venture - the great idea - express delivery for only 25 baht vs the current 50 baht currently operating in Thailand. Thus the Express Delivery Easy was born. With Kanin the majority and Santi 19% he being the CEO. He encountered again the lady Xiayou, whom he gypped for lipstick (he still owed 2,500 baht) deal for his interpretation job for a Chinese mogul when Easy was trying to cement a deal with Finix headed by Peter. Xiayou blocked the deal when the latter discovered that they were showing fake clients to the team of Xiayou who were on due diligence mission. Xiayou later on relented, agreed to the deal. However, Kanin increased capitalization to 1 billion baht diluting ownership of 19% to only 1.9%, and being ousted as CEO. Kanin appointed his son.
Santi bowed to put up his own and win over Kanin. He contacted Xiayou (based in Shanghai) to look for him top IT. He was set for an appointment with Ruijie, who was equally mad and antisocial. He asked for a 70:30 equity deal. There Xiayou applied as CFO, and asked for 15% equity share. Santi applied the 15% coming from his 70%
Then they set up the team. The problem was funding. They scoured every places in Thailand and China and managed to contact Alice Wang who was willing to invest $15 million for 15% then 30%. Santi did not agree. But later on she agreed provided the SR name was changed.
Thus they were in business. Ken the CEO son of Kanin waged unscrupulous unethical tactics vs Thunder (the new name no longer SR):
1. Sending 3,000 parcels to defunct address resulting in mounds of returned goods jamming their warehouses;
2. Employing moles in Thunder so that they Easy can properly be informed of Thunder
moves. One was Linux whose ill mother was supported by Easy CEO Ken. The other was head of their logistics
Thunder though waged equally brutal moves vs Easy:
1. Lowered the minimum from 25 bahts to 19 resulting financial difficulties
2. Campaigned in front and even in the offices of Easy to shift to Thunder.
3. Next day delivery
No 3 was paralyzed by Linux (the mole) disabling of the system to run the segregating machine. Ken contracting all the truckers to wreck havoc on their next day delivery service. Kanin even persuaded friend to unload cargo of Thunder bound for NE. (They had to use the plane because there were no trucks. Here we witness the inguinity of Santi, and the teamwork
We see day to day difficulties: employee thefts, resignations, salary reduction to lengthen their survival period (they were estimated to last no more than 4 months thanks to relentless and ruthless effort by Ken to put them down, Xiayou in a spirit of sacrifice (she needed the job to pay fathers gambling debt and build the house) sold her 15% share to Alice Wang for $45 million and lent all them to Thunder. She eventually left Thailand to marry her bf Liam
LESSONS learned
Entrepreneurship:
1. Be the first in line;
2. Go for the big ideas; hustle for the deal, get a good one. On the verge of scamming. (Short selling goods that you do not own yet)
3. In the segment, niche, there is always a hole; look for the hole Say in the niche cheap
but reliable, there are niches: pick up from home, next day delivery. Cherchez le Creneu was true then and now
4. Ideas are weapons and valuable - dont share them without entry fees
5. The myth that since economy is awash with money, funding for start ups is plenty is an illusion. VCs angel investors are hard to come by;
6. Funders are ruthless and will take your flesh and soul. Be equally ruthless
Others:
7. Be realistic and be prepared for it: employees will leave you resign at critical moment;
Competitors are not expected to be honorable. Expect them to be less than honorable
Even name iconic leaders like Kanin
8. Protect your secrets: financial etc, product feature, product launch from possible
sell off to competitors. Go on compartmentalized need to know basis communication
As in the next day delivery fiasco, they kept the flight number secret so Kanin lost steam
in preventing parcels from being delivered to NE
9. Blood is thicker than water. As in case of Kanin appointing son as CEO Santi employing his
problematic brother.
10. Putting up a company is like growing a child. It needs mother and father. And has growing
up problems
9. Solve your problems fast
10. Motivate people
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