UEH Institute of Innovation – A Trusted Hub for the Startup Community

UEH Institute of Innovation – A Trusted Hub for the Startup Community

In recent years, the UEH Institute of Innovation (UII) has become a prominent destination for both domestic and international startups. To gain deeper insights into UII’s activities, nhaquanly.vn interviewed Mr. Trần Cao Trí, SeedPlanter at UII, about its operations.

nhaquanly.vn: UII's Incubation Program is currently selecting startup projects for 2021. This is the third year UII has implemented this initiative. Can you share why UII launched such a meaningful program?

Mr. Trần Cao Trí: UEH has been a pioneer in developing Vietnam’s national innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, following Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc's 2016 call to action. In 2017, UEH launched an entrepreneurial management program, followed by a network of student startup clubs, including DYNAMIC, which spans 13 universities nationwide. Many UEH alumni have successfully launched startups.

Mr. Trần Cao Trí, SeedPlanter of UII

With this real-world demand, UEH established the Institute of Innovation in 2018, transferring Singapore Management University’s startup incubator model.

Our leadership team’s vision is to create a nurturing space for youth entrepreneurship, while connecting resources and building a sustainable ecosystem for the startup community.

Through practical activities like entrepreneurship training programs and major events like Techfest 2020 in Southern Vietnam and the upcoming Student Startup Day 2021, UII is committed to providing the most practical value and being a companion for young entrepreneurs on their journey.

The UII Incubation Program is a key initiative aimed at creating a sustainable launchpad for future companies, giving every project the chance to develop their plans with the necessary support in their early stages.

nhaquanly.vn: Startups selected for UII Incubation Program receive one year of training. After two years, how many startups have been trained by UII, and what industries do they represent?

The program began in April 2019, and this year marks the fifth cohort. To date, UII has supported nearly 40 startup projects across various fields, including economics (F&B, e-commerce, digital economy), technology (fintech, blockchain, cloud platforms), education, and even nonprofit organizations.

Interestingly, UII Incubation isn’t just for young entrepreneurs or students. It also includes international projects from countries like Singapore, South Korea, and even high school student initiatives. This diversity creates a unique and collaborative environment where projects learn from and support each other.

nhaquanly.vn: There’s a statistic showing that around 90% of startups don’t survive their second year. Does this make you feel like UII's efforts are in vain?

Firstly, I believe the 90% figure is understated. Based on my observations, if we include projects still at the idea stage or in prototype development, the number is even higher.

However, UII’s mission is deeply rooted in its social responsibility. We believe every project revolves around its founders. While a project may fail at a certain stage, if the founder team is equipped with knowledge and resilience, they will learn from their mistakes and emerge stronger for future endeavors. These founders might also become intrapreneurs—entrepreneurs who drive innovation within larger companies.

Thus, UII places great importance on supporting each project’s founding team, providing a solid foundation in knowledge, practical experience, and resource connections. Our ultimate goal is to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset among the next generation of young business leaders.

Testimonials

Mr. Hồ Thái Bình, CEO of Survival Skills Vietnam (SSVN), shared his positive experience with UII. Initially, SSVN joined the Incubation Program looking for a new office location but ended up gaining much more. SSVN received invaluable marketing advice and mentorship for its specific business needs.

SSVN, being a social enterprise, greatly benefited from UII’s support, which has been instrumental in helping the company grow and succeed.

However, when SSVN applied to join UII, they received many benefits that the incubator provided. According to Mr. Thai Binh, the UII of the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City is particularly suitable for companies operating in the field of education like his. Additionally, at UII, SSVN received advice on marketing plans, and mentors provided specific suggestions for each of the company’s activities. Whenever SSVN needed help, the UII incubator was always fully supportive. “As a startup, especially a social enterprise, being part of UII has given us many practical benefits for our operations,” Mr. Binh shared.

Author: Ngọc Hùng (nhaquanly.vn)