Splice Beta 2025. November 26-27, Chiang Mai.
Thank you for celebrating the apocalypse at Splice Beta
We’ve rarely seen a group of people so happy to spend two and a half days together. You laughed, cried, ate, and shared your most profound experiences with each other. You showed us what you did. You showed us who you are. You kicked ass.
If this is what it means to celebrate an apocalypse, we can’t wait to see you again.
Thank you for coming to Splice Beta.
“Re-build, re-connect, re-think. It felt like a calling. Leading a tiny, independently funded media outlet is lonely, and I knew this community would bring back my spark. Splice Beta [was] smaller this year, but I think I love it even more. The connections feel warmer. Why does this community make me so happy?”
— Catur Ratna Wulandari,
digitalMamaID
What Beta 2025 looked like
“Why do people seem to care so deeply about a festival like yours? That is a question I keep coming back to.
It is a special reminder that offline, online and then offline experiences done well is something humans like us, in media or otherwise, treasure. The usefulness of course is in the sessions and connections.
But what is more powerful is after the event. You are empowered to go do the thing you want to do — an internal boost that can last a few months, before you get cynical and life gets in the way.”
— Zakaria Zainal,
Studio Zainal & Zainal
See the speaker presentations
We’ll add more as they come in
Venkatesh HR: Can journalists build products? What I learned making a word game
Nicolás Ríos: How Documented rebuilt its infrastructure and workflows to allow immigrant voices in every decision-making process
Michael J. Oghia: Why you should support alternative tech infrastructure for journalism – and how
Intan Febriani + Pongpan Suriyapat: What the vanishing Thai mackerel taught us about rethinking journalism, action, and art
Darshini Kandasamy: How I took over a media business while grieving — and somehow made it work
Marga Deona: What you can learn from Swifties and BTS Army about turning communities into diehard fans
Madeline Earp and Ceej Tentangco-Malolos: How to stop reporting on your community and start working with them (feat. Go Hard Girls)
Jacopo Ottaviani: How to recalibrate your grant work in the post-USAID era
Eva Constantaras: Global funders come with agendas. We avoided those, and used our funding for community-driven investigations
Carl Javier: How I reset my life, found myself in AI ethics, and stumbled back into media
Tessa Pang: Your reporting is nothing without impact. This is how you stand up for a community through journalism
Altanzul Batochir: How a psychologist turned a mental health project into Mongolia’s first well-being media startup
Clare Cook: Media needs money. Here's how to incentivise and activate local capital
Sanne Breimer: How a leadership reset toolkit can rebuild your team's well-being
Khalil A. Cassimally: Here’s how to build independence from the expertise you already have
Adriana Lacy: How I’m rebuilding journalism’s trust infrastructure by working with creators
“It’s a shame we have 365 days in a year and only 2 days of Splice Beta.”
— Michael J. Oghia,
Journalism Cloud Alliance
The Splice Beta 2025 program
A crisis is too good to waste. All year, like you, we’ve struggled with a once-in-a-lifetime shake up of the media industry — funding, AI, increased threats to journalists.
Splice Beta 2025 was a call for a restart. We’re not here to preserve old workflows, old funding models, old business playbooks. This year, we asked: What good must come of this apocalypse?
“It was my first time attending Splice Beta—and my first international conference—so it was an especially valuable experience. Everyone was very inclusive, which made it an ideal introduction for me. I gained a lot in terms of socialising, building networks, and learning how to break out of old ways of thinking.
I’d say the coffee was my favorite part. I noticed that many of the sessions focused on starting your own venture after an “apocalypse,” which I totally understand and appreciate. However, I was also hoping for topics that would be beneficial for someone working within an organisation, not just for those pursuing independent projects.”
— Anonymous
Splice Beta 2025
The Splice Beta books
Tap the book covers to see each book.
Probably best on a device larger than your phone, but you’re the best judge of that.
“The coffee was great, the badges and merch were cute, and overall the event organising was excellent. The food, however, not so much—quite bland, unfortunately.
As for the sessions, I felt the line-up was somewhat repetitive and leaned a bit too heavily on content creators (or maybe I missed the memo that journalism is supposed to pivot fully in that direction?). I felt the panel format didn’t really work. I struggled to follow the main points and found myself drifting. The single-speaker format worked much better for me.”
— Anonymous
“Our workshop had a higher turn up than expected and we built 3 tech idea prototypes right within the workshop!”
— Kyaw,
Sozo Lab
The Beta 2025 speakers
Look at these amazing people!
“Sharing and learning with this community are the absolute best things. [I want] more days! Beta is the only conference I wish would last longer.”
— Khalil A. Cassimally,
Consultant
Why we Beta
At Splice, we like to think that
things will break,
if things don't break, break them, and
destruction is an opportunity for new growth
This was our sixth Splice Beta, and nothing you saw here was anything like the last five.
“Is everyone at Beta inherently affectionate? Why does everyone greet you with a smile, genuinely try to understand your work, check in on you, ask if you’re okay? These little gestures don’t often happen at other events. And that is exactly what makes Beta feel like a safe space. This isn’t networking, this is meeting friends who happen to work in the media.”
— Priti Salian,
Reframing Disability
The Splice Beta cXc reCulture Climate Startup Pitch Stage
Reculture climate. Five minutes. Five slides. Five thousand dollars.
Huge congratulations to Catur Ratna Wulandari from digitalMamaID for winning the Pitch Stage!
“Thank you again for organising this wonderful event. My team and I are super inspired.”
— Altanzul Bat-Ochir,
Positive Dadal
What is Splice Beta?
An inclusive and diverse media startup festival in the northern Thai city of Chiang Mai.
Beta is the only event in Asia that brings together the global media ecosystem.
We’re Alan and Rishad, the co-founders of Splice, and we still think this is the golden age of media. Let us show you what it looks like.
Tuktuk therapy for all.
The Beta 2025 venue
In the late nineteenth century, migrants from southern China, barred from settling within Chiang Mai’s city walls, established an enclave of their own.
Today, Chiang Mai’s Chinatown is an eclectic warren of shophouses and cafés, and home to a thriving arts community. This is the setting for this year’s Splice Beta.
The Splice Beta 2025 venue
The Goodcery
71 Ratchawong Rd, Tambon Chang Moi, Mueang Chiang Mai District, Chiang Mai 50300, Thailand
The Goodcery is the heart of Beta 2025. This three-story shophouse features a Thai street-style restaurant, a cafe, elegant Burmese cuisine, a grocery section, a wine bar, an architecture business, and a tattoo studio. (The owner doesn't know how to describe it either — but we love the flexibility.)
Pattranit Srichandorn (call her Namtan) owns The Goodcery — a family shophouse that once sold AM and FM radios. She comes from a family of Muslim immigrants from southern China and today's Myanmar, and taught politics at Chiang Mai University before starting The Goodcery about 3 years ago.
Namtan's business partner Trish is a Michelin-trained chef from Myanmar and has catered for us at previous Splice Betas. As a community activist, she provides support for exiles and diaspora from Myanmar in Thailand. Trish is the founder of Bamama, a food initiative for social change.
A big thank you to our sponsors for bringing this community together in a very difficult year 😍
Why you should sponsor Splice Beta 2026
It’s a great marketing platform
Link to your organisation’s programs, work, and resources on the Splice Beta website, newsletters, Slack channel, and socials.
Launching a product, program, service? Announce it at Beta. Let us help you get the word out.
You meet the community
We facilitate introductions to participants. Find your next upcoming media entrepreneur or creator.
We have private meeting rooms for quiet conversations. No one likes noisy cafes for important meetings. We’ll have great spaces for you.
Here’s last year’s Beta so you can see what the fuss is about 😍
It’s your chance to build the community
Host a session to recognise the heroes from your programs. Let’s give them the acknowledgement they deserve.
You can help the community learn what they need
Run a workshop or presentation. Do you have case studies to present? Best practices to teach? That’s very Beta.
We appreciate you!
We’ll show our appreciation for your support on stage, at the sessions, on our website, newsletters, social media, printed materials, signage. It matters to us, truly.
Don’t have a sponsorship budget this year? Donate to our Splice Pay It Forward Fund.
“Some days, working in media feels like watching a house crumble from the inside but then you meet people who are building new ones: lighter, kinder, more focused and inclusive.
And that’s what Splice Beta felt like. A spark, a catalyst, and a reminder that the future isn’t inherited, it’s designed.”
— Gosia Klimowicz-Wong,
Hello, Thursday
“Thank you for another lovely Splice. As always I met former and future collaborators that I would likely have never met in person otherwise.”
— Eva Constantaras,
Lighthouse Reports
Spiffy is the Splice Pay It Forward Fund.
Help someone get to Beta
Plane tickets and hotels are out of reach for a lot of people. Please consider donating to our Beta fund.
Splice Beta helps connect to opportunities for all of us in media — from business models and audiences to grants and jobs. Let’s make sure everyone has a seat at the table.
This is not a Beta ticket, friend. This is a donation to our fund so that we can help people who can’t afford travel to get to Splice Beta. Thank you for considering paying it forward 😍
Özge, Niki, Sue, Eunice, Janie, Mattia, Maya, Tom, Beatrice, Hui Yee, Eliza, Krystal, Sonny, Khalil, Darsh, Shirley, Yaling, and Anu, thank you for your kind donations to the Splice community 😍
“Hopefully my donation will help someone get Beta’s transformative experience!”
— Beatrice Go
Atleta Filipina, Philippines
“Thank you for creating a safe space to share, co-create, care, and just be present with a community of brilliant minds and empathetic souls.”
— Yasmin Tang,
Probe Media Foundation
“I’m a newbie! My first impression? Probably the free morning coffee (just kidding!). In Thailand, we don’t get many chances to meet newsroom folks from all over the continent, so this has been really special. I love the apocalypse theme too — it really pushes us to think creatively and rethink how we work. I joined about 7-8 sessions and had one 1:1 clinic. Super valuable. And honestly, everyone’s been amazingly friendly.
The speakers were great and the topics were really interesting. But sometimes they felt a bit clickbaity — like I’d leave the room feeling the main question wasn’t really answered… I get that the goal is to spark discussion and brainstorming, and it’s tough to have a definitive answer, and that in the end it all comes down to value proposition.”
— Sutthimas Roongwitoo,
Bangkok Post
Who is Beta for? The global information ecosystem
Media startup founders, funders, creators, tech folks, investors, journalists, media support donors, product builders, media program managers, and academics.
Diversity, inclusivity, and access are a big deal for us.
71.4% of the 184 attendees at Splice Beta 2025 had never attended Beta before, came from 32 countries, were 55.49% female, and worked at over 122 organisations.
This year, we had 38 speakers and clinicians from 20 countries. 81.1% of them had never spoken at Beta before. 51.4% were female — 48.6% were male.
These numbers are not a coincidence: they’re 100% intentionally designed like this with pride. So if we mess up on these stats, please hold us accountable.
— Alan & Rishad,
Splice
Some of the roughly 122 companies you met at Beta 2025
317 Group, AI Ethics PH, AIT, Amber Studios PH, Asia New Zealand Foundation, Asia Tech Lens, Asian American Journalists Association (AAJA), Association of European Journalists Bulgaria, Bangkok Post Group, Baraza Media Lab, BehanBox, Bollo.id, BOOM FactCheck, Capsule, Central Desi, Child.mn, Climate Tracker Asia, climateXchange, Code for Africa, Critical2, Dawei Watch, Deutsche Welle, Digital Rights Foundation, digitalMamaID, Documented NY, Dow Jones, DreamSpace Academy, DVB, DW Akademie, Earki, Ekuatorial, Ethereum Foundation, Factual TV, Fojo Media Institute, Foreign Correspondents Association of the Philippines, Free Press Unlimited, Frontier Myanmar, Gereg Magazine, Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD), Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN), Global Strategic Communications Council, Go Hard Girls, Good Commons, Google, HaRDstories, Hello, Thursday, Himal Southasian, Honest Information, Hunter Global, IDation, Impact Tech Innovation Lab, Inclusive Journalism, Influencer Journalism, INKLUSI-DFAT, Inquirer.net, International Media Support (IMS), JamiiAfrica, Jubi, Kachin News Group, Kaddadle, Karen Information Center (KIC), KBR Media, Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), Lighthouse Reports, Malaysiakini, Maldives Independent, Mandalay Free Press, Meantime, Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF), Media Sprint, Media4Change.co, Mizzima Media Group, Mongabay, Much Much Media, Myanmar Internet Project, Myanmar Now, Myanmar Women in Media (MWiM), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), NBC News, Nest Center for Journalism Innovation & Development, Newslaundry, Now That's an Idea, NZ Herald, OpenSpeaks, Pakistan Press International (PPI), People's Spring Media, Positive Dadal, Probe Media Foundation, Project Multatuli, Proto, Pulitzer Center, Raftar, Raomanachai Media, Rappler, Reframing Disability, Report for the World, Scroll Media, Shan Herald Agency for News (SHAN), Sifter, SimPPL, Soch Fact Check, Sozo Lab, Studio Zainal & Zainal, TanahAir.net, Tatkala.co, TCM News, Tempo, Than Lwin Khet News, Than Lwin Times, The Continent, The Conversation Indonesia, The Download News, The Marvel of Everything, The Nation Voice Myanmar, The Spinoff, The Stance, Thibi, Tribal News Network, Trident Media, Ub.life, VoiceDeck, and WAN-IFRA WIN
Who came to Beta 2025?
We’ve crunched the registration data. Here’s who you met:
Leaders 1 in 3 attendees is a Founder or C-Suite Exec.
Product Leads 1 in 5 attendees leads product, data, or AI.
Journos 1 in 5 attendees is a working journalist or creator.
Their goals 100% are looking for friendships, viability, and a reset.
“Beta keeps me grounded in my work. The community at Beta are people who are marginalised at other conferences but center staged here, and that makes all the difference. I learned about media leadership and mental health through sessions in which personal experiences were shared, about the challenges and advantages of leading an organisation where mostly mothers work, and about opportunities and hurdles in investigative journalism in the Maldives. I can go on. The main takeaway from Beta is: it's okay to be yourself, try your best, fail and learn, keep going.”
— Sanne Breimer,
Inclusive Journalism
Pop your details in here so you get notified about Splice Beta, the smartest, kindest little media festival in the world 😍
“This Beta was special because it was my third, and by this time, I didn't need to look at the program to be excited. I was sure that there would be some valuable lessons to be learned (and indeed there was), but the major reason was the people that I'll get to see, the conversations I'll have, the energy I'll be surrounded with, the understanding, empathy, and relatability. Delivered across the board. Thank you!”
— Maya Misikir,
Sifter
Frequently asked questions
I just saw that Beta registrations are closed. Isn’t there any way I can get a ticket?
No. We’re really sorry, but we’re working on a super tight budget this year, so every spot counts. And we don’t sell tickets at the venue. But we really hope you’ll come back (earlier) next year!
Can I bring my partner or colleague or spouse or friend or child or pet to Beta?
No.
We have a strict policy at Splice Beta around capacity due to limited budgets, space, and security. This means that your companions, partners, family, kids, friends, or coworkers or animals cannot be accommodated in any Beta sessions, social events, or meals. Please spare us and yourself the logistical hassle and awkwardness and arrange to meet them outside of Beta. Splice is a two-person team, and we can use all the help we can get. Thank you 🙏
Who’s coming to Splice Beta?
We’re so glad you asked! Just look at this list of champions in this community.
Is Splice Beta only for Asian people?
Absolutely not. If you work in, fund, invest in, research, teach, study, train, or create information or media anywhere in the world, you’re welcome at Splice Beta — and in the Splice community. We usually get folks from around 50 countries worldwide every year, and we’d love to see you in Chiang Mai.
Why are you charging higher prices for Beta institutional tickets?
The sponsorship space has changed greatly and we no longer have the same level of support as we had previously. Your US$450 corporate ticket helps us pay for venues, meals, drinks, and all the hands that go into putting this event together.
The pricing for individual tickets stays the same at US$50.
What is the Splice Beta venue?
The venue is Goodcery, in the Tha Phae Gate area of the Old City in Chiang Mai. For more venue specifics, please check back on this website, your email, and the Splice Beta Telegram group.
Can I turn up at Splice Beta and buy a ticket at the venue — or attend without a ticket?
No.
Where should I stay?
In the Tha Phae Gate area of the Old City in Chiang Mai. You’ll be surrounded by plenty of restaurants and cafes — and very reasonably priced hotels and Airbnbs.
Airbnbs in Thailand are great if you’re coming as a group — there are some great houses you could share.
I can't make it to Beta. Can I get a refund?
Sorry — we can’t do refunds on your Beta ticket. Splice is a two-person startup, so we’re managing the entire process ourselves, and the refund process is time-consuming and expensive. But we have a fund for people who can’t afford flights and hotels to get to Beta (it’s called Spiffy, which stands for the Splice Pay It Forward Fund), so we hope you don’t mind if we pay it forward on your behalf 🙏
I can't make it to Beta. Can you give my ticket to someone else?
Sorry to hear you can’t come. But let us know here as soon as you can, and we'll let someone in from the waitlist.
How do I get to Chiang Mai?
There are some direct flights from Southeast Asia, but some of you will be transiting through Bangkok, where it’s just a quick 75 min flight from the capital.
I’ve heard Chiang Mai has great food. And coffee. And bars. Do you have a list of places you recommend?
You’re in luck! We have something better than a list — welcome to the Splice Beta 2025 map of this community’s favourite places in Chiang Mai.
I can’t afford to attend Beta. Can you help?
Yes. So many people have generously donated to the Splice Pay It Forward Fund (we call it Spiffy). Email us and we’ll see what we can do.
I don’t have a credit card. How do I register and buy a ticket?
Please email us and we’ll figure something out.
I want to help others get to Beta. How can I donate?
It’s so kind of you to offer. Please donate to our Splice Pay It Forward Fund here (we call it Spiffy). Thank you for your generosity!
Is it too late to sponsor Beta?
Noooooooo! Email us and let’s put your budget to use in helping grow this community.
Do you guys have a dress code?
Of course not — we’re not that kind of event. But we recommend shorts, t-shirts, and flipflops.
What you should know Thailand is in a period of national mourning following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, to honour her lifelong dedication and contributions to the country. Thailand remains open and fully operational. All tourist attractions, transportation services, restaurants, shops, and events are continuing as usual. The public is encouraged to dress in black or subdued colours as a mark of respect.
Do you have a Splice t-shirt I can buy?
We’re so happy you asked! Yes, we do. (Also — mugs!)
I need a visa. Can you send me a letter of invitation?
Sure. Email us.
How do I get a SIM card?
The airport is the easiest and it’ll save you time for later. If not, head to the third floor of Maya Mall, or to Central Festival Mall, depending on where you’re staying. (Thanks for the tip, Ganesh.)
How do I get around Chiang Mai?
Like most Southeast Asian cities, Grab is all you need. So make sure you download the app and set up your payment methods before heading out. Grab is also useful if you need snacks delivered in the middle of the night!
Also, English may not be commonly used. So download the Thai language into your Google Translate to make things easier. (Thanks, Ganesh.)
What about money? Do I need cash?
Cash is always useful, but more places are starting to accept credit cards and other cashless payments (like Singapore’s PayNow and Malaysia’s DuitNow). The ATM machine at the airport is also useful if you need quick cash.
Expect to spend about $3-$5 a meal and $2-$5 for drinks.
What kind of electric plugs do I bring?
Thailand commonly uses the round European two-pin plugs.
Will there really be a pink tuktuk?
Yes.
Will Ellie make a return this year?
Yes! Ellie the elephant was all over Beta last year. She is a symbol of your user — the big elephant in the room that so few of us pay any attention to. Or reader or listener or viewer or customer or fan or patron or whatever you feel like calling them. Either way, they’re the people you’re creating your content for — whether it’s news, journalism, updates, stories, posts, programs, funds, courses, or training. It’s time to give them some love.
