31/08/2026
Our New Weekly Blog Series: Showcasing our members and their journey to Entrepreneurial Success
In a episode of The Business Talk, a podcast by the South African Thai Chamber of Commerce, host Kyle Daniels sat down with Tanapol Devahastin to explore his dynamic career and deeply rooted entrepreneurial family history. From defense contracts to event venues, Tanapol's story is a masterclass in adaptation, situational awareness, and the power of a strategic pivot.
The Evolution of Amcore House Currently, Tanapol’s main venture is Amcore House, a lush event venue featuring a garden right in the center of Bangkok. The property itself holds a rich 30 to 40-year business heritage for his family. For decades, Tanapol used the space to run a consultancy firm that helped overseas companies, including South African businesses, operate in Thailand.
However, the COVID-19 pandemic brought consulting to a standstill. Facing mounting expenses and a frozen economy, Tanapol was forced to make a nearly 180-degree pivot. He initially renovated the property into a photo studio and meeting space. Soon, organic demand transformed it into a bustling venue for weddings, music videos, and commercial shoots. Interestingly, the name "Amcore" is a nod to his family's roots it is an abbreviation of his father's original business, Annex Motors Company.
A Legacy of Innovation: Annex Motors and South African Ties Tanapol’s entrepreneurial spirit was undoubtedly inherited from his father, who famously built Thailand's first car, the "Hasten", right in his backyard using a Citroen chassis, a Leyland engine, and a custom fiberglass body. While the Hasten never reached mass production, Annex Motors flourished. Today, the company is run by Tanapol's brother and stands as one of Thailand's largest suppliers of remote control gates and swimming pool products, proudly maintaining strong import ties with South Africa.
Tanapol's own connections to South Africa run deep across various industries:
Defense & Aerospace: He previously held contracts with Thai defense agencies and collaborated with the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in Pretoria. His work involved creating a data-link project for the Royal Thai Air Force's Gripen aircraft.
W**e Importing: After a suggestion from a former South African ambassador, Tanapol became the biggest importer of a specific South African Chardonnay into Thailand. Before the pandemic, he was supplying 10,000 to 20,000 bottles a year to Bangkok Airways for their international flights.
Lessons in Media and Realism Tanapol is a true polymath. He was a founding team member who wrote the business plan to launch the PPTV television station in Thailand. Through this high-stakes media venture, he learned a critical lesson about the danger of unchecked optimism. He watched rival networks spend billions recklessly and lose money, while successful stations stayed grounded, focused on their core audience, and managed their budgets realistically. Tanapol advises that while entrepreneurs are naturally optimistic, they desperately need a healthy dose of realism to survive long-term.
Today, Tanapol continues to explore his media and automotive passions through "Comeback Car," a Thai-language YouTube channel where he and his friends provide brutally honest car reviews rather than standard promotional fluff.
The Entrepreneur's Toolkit Tanapol credits his early years studying mechanical engineering at the University of Sydney in Australia where he moved at age 11 for widening his worldview and developing his social skills. But when asked for his best advice for new entrepreneurs, his answer comes straight from his defense background: situational awareness and the ability to listen.
He notes that it is easy to surround yourself with people who make you feel good, but a true leader must keep their eyes open, understand the changing environment, and truly listen to the fears and desires of others. Furthermore, Tanapol emphasizes that success doesn't come from a single skill. Instead, business owners need a "bag full of tools" knowing when to talk, when to listen, when to fall back, and when to push forward.
To learn more about Tanapol’s current ventures, you can find AMCO House on Facebook and Instagram, or check out his honest automotive reviews on the Comeback Car YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/
