What are the must-know tips for an unforgettable experience with the Innovation Challenge?

Let’s dive into the insights shared by Vũ Long Nhật – Team Leader of Stravel, Lưu Phương Thảo Vy – Team Leader of RONG, and Trần Nhân Kiệt – Team Leader of BINKS, the Top 3 finalists of Innovation Challenge 2024, to get fully prepared!

Insights from Vũ Long Nhật – Team Leader of Stravel

• Winner of Innovation Challenge 2023
• Project: ReCo – An AI-powered solution for recycling old clothes, promoting sustainable fashion
• Field: Social Impact Business

“We learned a lot from our mentors and practiced what we learned. Innovation Challenge is truly a useful playground and a stepping stone for students to get acquainted with start-ups. I also learned a lot from talented IC-ers. In particular, I was very impressed with Cormis – a non-profit organization that our project is collaborating with, helping many people with disabilities and aiming for positive impacts on the community.

We implemented “Application of AI to the model of recycling old clothes towards sustainable fashion” – a project in the field of Social Impact Business. An advantage is that our whole team has an interest and major in technology, so it is convenient for designing solutions. And especially, each member is very enthusiastic and dedicated to the project.

However, our team really did not have much knowledge about recycling, so we had to find information from many channels and meet to brainstorm ideas a lot. Luckily, the team had support from Mr. Ho Quang Dung – someone with experience and knowledge in this field to guide the team to find the right direction and bring the most value.

One thing that the teams need to keep in mind is not to forget to think critically and seek “insight” from stakeholders to see the big picture. IC-ers 2024, be bold to experience, observe reality and give your own perspective. Don’t worry too much about other people’s judgments, electric cars were just a toy until they changed the entire world automobile industry. Wish you success in this year’s IC season!”

Sharing by Luu Phuong Thao Vy – Team Leader RONG

• Second Prize IC 2023: RONG Team
• Product: RONG NUTRIENTS: NUTRITIONAL SEAWEED FOOD
• Field: Industry, product manufacturing

“Innovation Challenge 2023 has given me extremely useful skills and wonderful relationships with friends and teachers that I will never forget. From coming up with ideas to creating a satisfactory product is a process that I am very proud of myself and my teammates. At first, I only entered the competition with a happy mindset and a spirit of learning, but unexpectedly, it was that carefree attitude at that time that led me through memorable challenges, helping me turn the tide in the finals with a truly worthy result. So, I hope everyone doesn’t think too much and boldly register, who knows, maybe they will win the prize like my group?

We brought to the competition RONG’s products, including: grilled rice paper, dipped rice paper and shrimp crackers made from seaweed. The project is in the field of industry, product manufacturing. With the mindset of a first-year newbie, I only found it difficult, not easy at all. From ideas that were constantly changed after many consultations with mentors, to The rice paper pieces that had to be thrown away because the ingredients were not adjusted correctly made me lose sleep. However, I still feel very lucky to have teammates who are always actively encouraging and supporting each other. Above all, it is the dedication of the mentors and the organizing team that has made a new contestant like me not feel overwhelmed in this competition.

Therefore, I realize that finding a direction for the project is not just the job of an individual, but the common task of the whole group to be able to “absorb” the suggestions from the mentors. Therefore, do not hesitate to seek help as well as cultivate the necessary skills for the project to develop properly.

For me, the most important thing to succeed in this competition is to give it your all and become a responsible teammate. Although I do not put much emphasis on participating in the competition, I am always passionate about this project and respect the members of the group. Not to mention whether there will be a prize or not, but with the spirit of determination, you and your teammates have really succeeded. Our team won convincingly together and I believe that you can do the same at Innovation Challenge 2024.”

Shared by Tran Nhan Kiet – BINKS Team Leader

• Third Prize IC 2023: BINKS Team
• Product: BINKS – Vegetable Ink
• Field: Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries

“Participating in the VNUK Innovation Challenge 2023 is a valuable experience, helping me develop my professional skills, creative thinking and teamwork ability. Each round is an opportunity to learn, receive feedback and improve the project. In particular, the competition creates an environment to connect with VNUK-ers who share the same passion for startups, promoting the spirit of innovation and creativity.

My team developed the BINKS project – Vegetable Ink, in the field of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The surplus vegetable source in the production process, through the process of biochemical “transformation”, will become safe vegetable ink. Biochemistry is a field with high potential for application in medicine, environment and food technology with many opportunities to solve practical problems, such as improving health, protecting the environment or optimizing production processes. This field also has a rich source of research documents and advanced supporting technology.

However, research will require a long time and large resources, especially with complex experiments and encountered difficulties in commercialization due to the gap between ideas and actual products. So when implementing the project, our team started from practical problems, listened to social needs; built a team with the same vision and complementary skills; and persevered, ready to learn from other teams and from our own journey.

One point to keep in mind is the combination of creativity and practicality: The ideas of the teams must be both creative and feasible to apply in life.”

Thank you Team Leaders for your valuable experiences. Surely with these shares, our teams feel more confident to compete in the Innovation Challenge 2024. Wish the teams will have great experiences in this year’s competition season!