When Vedant Chawla first visited Chiang Mai in February 2016, he did not know the city would one day become home. Originally from Agra, India, the city known around the world for the Taj Mahal, Chawla says Northern Thailand gave him something he had been looking for but could not easily describe at the time: balance.
Now 32, Vedant Chawla, whose Thai name is วิดาล ชาวลา, has lived in Chiang Mai since 2022. He is the founder of Ownware Innovative Technologies, a digital services company working with clients overseas, including businesses in the United States. His work covers websites, social media, video content, online advertising, public relations, and, more recently, helping small businesses understand how to use artificial intelligence in practical ways.
In this interview with Chiang Rai Times, Vedant Chawla spoke about leaving India, building a business in Thailand, learning Thai, creating jobs, and why he believes the future belongs not to artificial intelligence alone, but to people who learn how to work with it.
You are originally from India. How did Thailand become such an important part of your life?
I am from Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal. I first visited Chiang Mai in February 2016, and honestly, I felt something different here. At that time, I did not know I would live here later. It was just a visit.
But when I came back and started living here from March 2022, the feeling became stronger. Chiang Mai always felt like home to me. It is not too fast, not too slow. You have nature, cafés, mountains, good food, friendly people, and still you can work and build something. For me, quality of life matters a lot. I think many people chase only money, but after some time you realize that peace, health, and the environment also matter.
What first brought you to Thailand? Was it business, travel, or something else?
It started with travel and curiosity. I always liked exploring new places and understanding different cultures. But Thailand was not just another country for me. It had a certain comfort.
There is access to a wide variety of foods, many cultures, and a balanced lifestyle. Especially in Northern Thailand, you can be close to nature and remain connected to the world. I work online, so I do not need to be in a big city all the time. Chiang Mai gave me that space to think clearly and work better.
Was there a particular moment when you realized you wanted to build your life here?
I think it happened slowly. When I first arrived in Northern Thailand, I expected to stay for a short period. But the longer I stayed, the more I appreciated the lifestyle.
I found myself becoming more productive, less stressed, and more focused. In bigger cities, there is always pressure. Traffic, noise, rush, competition everything feels heavy. Here, I could focus on building my business without constantly feeling that pressure.
One day I realized, okay, I am not just staying here temporarily. I am building a life here. That was a big moment for me, even if it was quiet. No big celebration, just a feeling.
What do you do now through Ownware Innovative Technologies?
I work online with clients, mostly from different countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Japan, etc. Through Ownware Innovative Technologies, also known as Ownware Digital Marketing, I help businesses build their presence on the internet.
That can include many things: graphics, websites, social media, video creation, PR, ads, and digital systems. In simple words, I help businesses get more customers and save time using technology.
Many business owners are very good at what they do. Maybe they run a hotel, restaurant, travel company, online store, or local service. But they may not have time to build a website, create content, manage ads, reply to every customer inquiry, or use new technology properly. That is where I help.
For example, if someone owns a small business, we can help them make a professional website, improve their visibility on Google, manage their social media, automate customer replies, and use AI tools to make daily work faster. The goal is not to make things complicated. The goal is to make business easier.
What does a normal workday look like for you in Chiang Mai?
My day usually starts with checking messages from clients and my team. Because I work with people in different time zones, the morning often begins with updates from overnight.
After that, I plan the priorities for the day. Some days I am reviewing a website. Some days I am checking marketing campaigns. Some days I am writing content, creating ideas for videos, or testing a new AI tool. I also spend time talking with clients and understanding what they actually need.
I think one mistake in digital work is assuming every business needs the same solution. They do not. A restaurant, a travel company, and a personal brand all need different things. So I try to understand the real problem first.
Do you work alone, or do you have a team?
I have a full-time team of five people, including three women. We also work with three to five freelancers depending on the project.
For me, building a team is very important. I do not want to build something only for myself. One of my goals is to create stable jobs and meaningful career opportunities, especially for women and people from lower-income backgrounds.
Talent exists everywhere, but opportunities are not always equal. Some people just need the right chance, the right training, and someone who believes in them. I try, in my small way, to create that.
Why is creating jobs so personal for you?
For me, success has never been only about making money. Of course, a business needs profit to survive, but that is not the whole story.
When people have stable work and reliable income, it changes more than one person’s life. It gives confidence. It supports families. It creates long-term stability. A society with more meaningful work becomes stronger.
I am especially passionate about creating opportunities for women and people from lower-income backgrounds because opportunity is not distributed equally. Some people have talent but no platform. If I can build a company that helps people learn skills, use technology, and create a better future, then the business is doing something bigger than just earning revenue.
Business growth and social responsibility should go together. I really believe that.
What was the hardest part of starting again in another country
Leaving your comfort zone is not easy. When you move to another country, you leave behind your network, your reputation, your familiar systems, and even small things like knowing how everything works. In many ways, you start from zero.
There were times when things did not go as planned. Building a business in a new country takes patience. You have to understand regulations, adapt to culture, communicate carefully, and earn trust. Sometimes I questioned whether I had made the right decision.
But giving up was never really an option for me. I had to keep moving. Looking back, those difficult moments became my biggest teachers. They taught me patience, curiosity, and how to keep going even when progress feels slow.
I think people often see the final result and assume it was easy. It was not. There were failures, money lost, uncertainty, and many days where I had to tell myself, just continue.
What has living in Thailand taught you personally?
It has taught me to keep an open mind. When you live abroad, you realize there is not only one right way to live or do business. Different cultures have different rhythms.
Thailand has taught me patience. It has also taught me respect. You cannot come to another country and expect everything to work exactly like your home country. You have to listen, observe, and adapt.
I am still learning Thai. I would say I am maybe 30 percent there, and 70 percent more to learn. I learn new words every day. One day, I want to become Thai. I say that with respect, not casually. This country has given me many opportunities, and I want to keep growing here.
What do you enjoy most about life in Chiang Mai?
The quality of life. That is the main thing.
I enjoy the balance between work and personal life. The people are friendly, the food is great, nature is close, and there is a sense of safety. Whenever I have free time, I prefer going to the mountains, visiting cafés, temples, or national parks. I like Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai a lot. Northern Thailand has a special energy.
I am not someone who needs a very busy city all the time. I like being outdoors. Hiking, camping, traveling, exploring local places- all of that helps me recharge. Many of my best ideas come when I am away from the computer for a while.
You work with technology every day. Many people are searching for answers about AI, the future of work, and whether AI will replace jobs. What is your view?
I do think AI will replace some jobs, especially jobs that involve repetitive tasks. But I do not believe it will replace all jobs. It will change the way we work, just like the internet and smartphones changed how businesses operate.
The biggest mistake people can make is ignoring it. My advice is simple: spend one hour a day learning AI. Just one hour. It sounds small, but that is around 30 hours a month. Over time, those hours add up. They can put you far ahead of people who never take the time to learn.
I do not think the future belongs to AI alone. It belongs to people who know how to work with AI. The sooner we adapt, the better prepared we will be.
For small businesses in Thailand, AI can be very useful. It can help reply to customers, write content, organize bookings, analyze sales, prepare marketing ideas, and reduce repetitive work. It does not have to be complicated. It can start with simple tools that save time every day.
Do you think small businesses in Thailand are ready for AI?
Some are ready, some are still unsure. That is normal. Many small business owners are busy running daily operations. They may hear about AI, but they do not know where to start.
I think the best approach is not to scare people with big technical words. Start with real problems. Are you spending too much time replying to the same questions? Are you struggling to create social media posts? Do you need a better way to follow up with customers? Then use technology to solve that.
AI should not feel like a luxury only for big companies. Small businesses can use it too, but it needs to be explained in simple language.
What are you most proud of so far?
I am proud of building something that serves clients and also creates jobs. Having a team of five people and being able to provide stable opportunities matters a lot to me.
Business milestones are good, but they are not the only measure. When someone in your team grows, learns a new skill, becomes more confident, and starts supporting their family better, that feels meaningful.
I am still building. I do not want to sound like I have achieved everything. I have a long way to go. But I am proud of the direction.
What are your plans for the next five years?
My goal is to build a technology company that helps businesses use AI effectively and creates solutions with a positive social impact. I also want to expand my team and create more career opportunities.
I want Ownware Innovative Technologies to be known for practical solutions, not just fancy words. Many businesses do not need complicated systems. They need useful systems that work.
I also want to continue building my life in Thailand. I hope to become a permanent resident one day, and eventually a Thai citizen. Thailand has become home for me. I have been to many major Southeast Asian countries, and I think Thailand and Vietnam are at the top of my list. But Thailand is where I have built my business, relationships, and future.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start a business or move abroad but feels afraid?
I would say start small, but start honestly. You do not need to have everything figured out from day one. Nobody does.
Moving abroad or starting a business can feel scary because you leave your comfort zone. You may lose money. You may make mistakes. You may feel alone sometimes. But every step teaches you something.
Do not wait for perfect confidence. Confidence comes after action, not before. Learn every day, respect the culture around you, and create value for people. If you can solve real problems, opportunities will come.
And remember, where you come from does not define where you can go. Your background matters, but it does not limit your future.
For Vedant Chawla, Chiang Mai is no longer just a city where he lives. It is the place where he rebuilt his rhythm, expanded his work, and began thinking more deeply about the kind of business he wants to create.
His story is not presented as a simple success story, and perhaps that is what makes it more relatable. It includes uncertainty, slow progress, mistakes, adaptation, and the quiet decision to keep going.
As he sees it, success is not only about personal achievement. It is about learning, creating value, opening doors for others, and building a life that feels meaningful. From India to Chiang Mai, Thailand, that is the path he continues to follow.
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