On the eve of the new season of the VNUK Innovation Challenge, let’s take pride in looking back at the remarkable achievements that student teams have accomplished through VNUK’s startup incubation programs!

TOM PROBIOTICS – Winner of Third Prize at the National Startup Competition SV-Startup 2022

As the sole representative from VNUK and the University of Danang, TOM PROBIOTICS – a probiotic product for shrimp farming – had to compete fiercely against 508 other startup projects. The team made its mark at the 5th National Startup Day for Students (SV-Startup) by outshining over 500 strong contenders. From the Top 80 to the Top 30, the “warhorse” TOM continued to surge ahead, ultimately winning Third Prize in the student category for agricultural, forestry, and fishery training institutions.

TOM Probiotics in front of their exhibition booth

HORIZAN – Champion of the “I’MPOSSIBLE – Launchpad for Startups” Competition

After nearly three months of competition, five talented students from VNUK – University of Danang made a strong impression and earned their spot in the Grand Finale of a National Startup Competition. With confidence, unwavering determination, and captivating presentation skills, the Horizan S-Company team impressed the judges spectacularly and was crowned the Champion with their project “A Simulation Platform for Workplace Skills Training.”

I’MPOSSIBLE – Launchpad for Startups is a project initiated and developed by The Dariu Foundation (Switzerland) in 2022 with the goal of building a digital technology entrepreneurship platform for young people. The competition was founded to enhance the skills of students nationwide.

Growing Through VNUK’s “Startup Incubator”

Trần Nhân Kiệt, a member of the TOM PROBIOTICS team, expressed his deep gratitude to the lecturers at VNUK, who supported the project from its early days. “Our team received great help and strategic guidance from Ms. Thuỳ Dương – currently a PhD researcher in the UK – to win the VNUK Innovation Challenge 2022 at the school level and become city champions in the same year. We also gained tremendous motivation from the enthusiastic support of Ms. Lê Vy and other staff members at the university.”

Similarly, Tú, a member of the champion team of the I’MPOSSIBLE – Launchpad for Startups competition, shared: “Ms. Nguyễn Vân Anh – Lecturer at the Faculty of International Business and Management – enthusiastically helped us with both knowledge and professional skills. With 4 out of 5 members being first-year students, her support gave us a great deal of confidence.”

Beyond technical expertise or facilities, it was the belief in their students’ potential that VNUK lecturers instilled, sparking the brilliant and proud victories achieved.

A Message to the 2nd Season of VNUK Innovation Challenge

Although they already hold achievements many students dream of, both Kiệt and Tú are determined to bring fresh startup projects to this year’s VNUK Innovation Challenge, with the goal of learning even more.

Kiệt shared: “Our team will return to the competition with a new name, a new look – BINKS – and we promise to give our best once again to sharpen our skills and improve our biomedical research abilities.”

For Tú, the value lies beyond the results: “I have joined many startup competitions before, and in some, I didn’t even make it past the qualifiers. But those competitions introduced me to friends who share the same passion, gave me countless valuable lessons, and nurtured my dedication to community-driven startup projects.”

More than just a competition, the VNUK Innovation Challenge – Innovation and Creativity Contest will be the “key” to opening new horizons in entrepreneurship.

Key Milestones of VNUK Innovation Challenge 2023

Special thanks to Trần Nhân Kiệt (member of TOM PROBIOTICS) and Lê Văn Tú (member of HORIZAN) for their heartfelt and meaningful sharing. The VNUK Innovation Challenge will always welcome contestants who are passionate about startup projects. Don’t miss the chance to be part of Season 2 of the VNUK Innovation Challenge!

Find out more details about the VNUK Innovation Challenge Season 2 here: https://bit.ly/InnovationChallenge_Handbook