LKYGBPC Roadshow 2025 – A Journey of Connection, Learning, and Inspiration for the Startup Community

March 15, 2025 – On the morning of March 8, 2025, the LKYGBPC Roadshow 2025 (Lee Kuan Yew Global Business Plan Competition Roadshow) was successfully held at Hall B1.302, UEH Campus B. The event drew over 200 students, emerging founders, and leading experts in the ecosystem. (ueh.edu.vn)

Organized collaboratively by:

• Institute of Innovation (UII), UEH

• Institute of Smart Cities & Management, School of Technology & Design, UEH

• The Innovation & Startup Institute of SMU (Singapore)

• Accompanied by the BSSC (Startup & Youth Support Center)

The roadshow aimed to help startups understand entrepreneurial journeys, technology commercialization, and fundraising strategies. It also provided opportunities to connect with key individuals and organizations influential in the innovation ecosystem. 

Key Highlights & Themes

Sustainable Cities & Green Mobility – Future Startup Trends

One of the focal topics during the roadshow was the growing domain of urban sustainability and green mobility — fields ripe with opportunity for innovation-driven startups. Speakers shared insights on how these domains are evolving and where new ventures can make an impact. 

Expert Contributions

Distinguished contributors to the event included:

• Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Tú Anh (UEH) — on challenges and opportunities in smart urban development

• Dr. Sze Tiam Lin (Singapore) — senior consultant at SMU’s innovation institute

• Dr. Lê Khánh Duy (UEH) — specialist in user experience & technology

• Paul Nguyễn — Founder & Growth Director at MET EV

Their presentations covered topics ranging from green mobility technologies to design thinking, and from strategies for co-creation with users to scaling startup models in sustainability sectors. 

Panel Discussions & Depth Insights

A dedicated panel discussion unpacked the opportunities and challenges that startups face in sustainability, smart cities, and green mobility sectors. Experts provided practical viewpoints on market entry, partnership strategies, and iterative product development in fast-evolving domains. 

Bridging Research to Market

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trịnh Tú Anh emphasized the importance of closing the gap between academic research and real-world application. She introduced the Living-Lab model at UEH, a platform that facilitates direct feedback loops between end users and innovators to refine solutions iteratively. 

Paul Nguyễn, representing the startup and business end, advocated for agile responsiveness to user feedback and strategic leveraging of design thinking and co-creation to accelerate product-market fit. 

The speakers also discussed scalability, the importance of strategic partnerships, and intellectual property protection as fundamentals for ensuring startup longevity. 

Opportunity Spotlight: LKYGBPC 2025

As part of the program, a session introduced LKYGBPC 2025, one of the leading global student startup competitions. With a total prize pool of VND 45 billion, the competition offers more than financial incentives: it grants access to mentorship, investor networks, and global startup communities.

The roadshow also shared eligibility criteria, application process, and benefits to help aspiring teams prepare for the competition. A notable example, YaBezlab (winner of LKYGBPC 2023), shared its journey—from concept to commercialization—providing real-world lessons for participants. 

Significance & Implications for the Ecosystem

The LKYGBPC Roadshow 2025 represents more than an event—it embodies UEH’s and UII’s strategic role in connecting, educating, and inspiring the next generation of Vietnamese innovation-driven founders.

By bringing together academic research, startup practice, and investor perspectives under one roof, the event fosters a more integrated Startup and Innovation ecosystem. The emphasis on smart cities, green mobility, and sustainability positions participants at the frontier of sectors with high growth potential.

Through such platforms, UII continues to align with its mission: cultivating entrepreneurship, building bridges across knowledge and practice, and amplifying Vietnam’s voice in global startup and innovation forums.