Grade 11 student Elmond Aphiwetsa ’26 launched Traditee, an online marketplace with a big goal: to help rural communities in Thailand thrive. The platform connects small retailers with a wider market, promoting Thai-made products while staying true to its name—a blend of "trade" and "tradition"—which reflects its mission to bridge traditional products with the modern online marketplace.
The best part? It’s completely free for vendors to use, making it an accessible space for everyone.
“I wanted to help solve some of the economic challenges Thailand faces, especially in rural areas,” said Elmond. “Traditee is my way of giving these communities the opportunity to share their products and culture with the world.”
Elmond came up with the idea for Traditee after noticing some big economic gaps in Thailand. From the perception that foreign products are better than Thai-made goods, to the concentration of resources in cities like Bangkok, he saw an opportunity to make a difference.
With a strong desire to break barriers, Elmond set out to create a marketplace that would allow villagers to sell their products easily and without fees, all while celebrating the uniqueness of Thai culture.
A Challenging but Rewarding Journey
Creating Traditee was not an easy road. Elmond had some basic programming skills but had never built a website. Determined to do it himself, he spent over a year learning everything from web hosting to database systems, eventually writing more than 25,000 lines of code.
Through the initial stages of building the platform, Elmond frequently met with Mr. Hlannan, SMUS Director of Educational Technology, for guidance.
“I could have used website builders like WordPress, but I wanted full control,” said Elmond. “It was a lot of work, but I was committed.”
This past summer, Elmond took his idea to the streets, visiting rural towns like Chiang Mai and Lamphun to introduce the platform. He quickly realized that not everyone was ready to embrace the digital shift right away.
“There were some technical challenges," Elmond highlighted. "People had trouble logging in or uploading pictures and some questioned the platform, thinking it might be a scam."
Elmond didn’t give up. He worked with retailers, teaching them how to use the platform, share their product stories, and take good photos to showcase their goods.
Traditee’s Big Impact
Elmond’s vision for Traditee goes beyond simply selling products; he wants to make a lasting impact on rural communities in Thailand. He hopes the platform will help villagers earn a steady income by connecting them with more buyers, reduce wealth inequality by opening up access to a larger market, and highlight Thai craftsmanship to show the world that Thai-made products are high-quality and worth supporting.
One of Elmond’s proudest features of Traditee is the no-fee model, which ensures that sellers don’t have to pay transaction fees, making the platform more inclusive.
Creating Traditee has been a huge learning experience for Elmond. At first, it was just him working solo, battling self-doubt and technical challenges. As the project grew, so did his confidence and leadership skills.
“I have had to learn how to organize a team, motivate others, and manage deadlines," he said. "It was not easy, but it taught me a lot about resilience and teamwork."
For Elmond, technology is all about solving real-world problems. His advice to students who want to make a difference through tech is simple:
“Find a problem you face every day and figure out how to solve it with technology. Chances are, you’re not the only one with that problem.”
By creating Traditee, Elmond has not only empowered rural retailers but hopes to inspire others to think outside the box and use technology for good.
