I'm Speaking at CosmoLocal CNX: Turning Ideas Into Repeatable Offers

I am excited to share that I will be speaking and leading a practical workshop for the CosmoLocal CNX Solopreneur residency in Chiang Mai this September.

The four-week program runs from September 1–28, 2026. It brings together a small cohort of 10–12 first-time founders who are ready to move from employee or independent professional to building something of their own. The month moves from clarity and community into traction, systems, and a final Show and Tell.

My workshop will take place on September 14 during the program's traction phase. The working title is:

Turn Your Idea Into a Repeatable Offer — and Test It in 72 Hours

Why I Said Yes

I have known John Ho, one of the organizers, for a while, and I respect what he and the CosmoLocal team are building in Chiang Mai. This is not just a conference where people sit in a room and collect ideas. It is a month-long environment designed to help people do the work, learn alongside a cohort, and leave with something real.

That is exactly the kind of founder education I believe in.

I began selling online in 2004 and moved to China in 2007. Since then, I have spent more than 20 years learning ecommerce, sourcing, logistics, marketplaces, and brand building through action. Some lessons came from things that worked. Many of the most useful ones came from mistakes, uncertainty, and having to adjust after the market gave me better information.

The common thread is simple: founders rarely think their way to complete certainty. We make progress by reducing the size and cost of a test, taking action, and paying attention to what happens.

What We Will Build Together

The workshop will be interactive rather than a long presentation. Each participant will work through a simple repeatable-offer canvas:

• Who is the specific customer?
• What problem, desire, or situation makes them look for help?
• What useful outcome do they want?
• What is included — and excluded — in version one?
• How will the offer be delivered?
• What price, deposit, pilot fee, preorder, or commitment should be tested?
• What is the riskiest assumption?

The goal is for everyone to leave with one clearer offer, one assumption to test, and one action they will take within 72 hours.

This works whether someone is exploring a service, a digital product, an ecommerce idea, or a physical product. The first version does not need to be perfect. It needs to be clear enough to put in front of a real person and learn from the response.

A Small Program With Real Momentum

What I like about the Solopreneur residency is that the workshop is only one part of a larger progression. Participants first clarify what kind of business and life they want. They build relationships with the cohort and Chiang Mai's founder community. Then they create traction, develop systems, and share their progress at Show and Tell on September 26.

I am grateful to John, Grace, and the CosmoLocal team for inviting me into that journey. I hope my session helps each participant make one useful decision and take one concrete step before the energy of the room fades.

If you are a first-time founder — or know someone who is ready to make the leap — you can learn more about the dates, residency, and application at the CosmoLocal CNX Solopreneur page.

And if you join us, come ready to test something.

About Mike Michelini

Mike Michelini has spent more than 20 years building, buying, and selling ecommerce businesses across Asia. Drawing on hands-on experience in sourcing, logistics, marketplaces, and brand development, he helps founders turn ideas and services into repeatable offers, test them in the market, and learn through action.