UII Showcase Day 2023 – A Milestone on a Challenging Entrepreneurial Journey

"The program is not just for presenting ideas, but it also reflects the entrepreneurial spirit of today’s youth. Students now have a significant advantage - the freedom to explore, experiment, and push their boundaries in any field. This is a spirit that must be nurtured and fueled, and that is the mission of UII," shared Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Bích Nguyệt, Director of the UEH Institute of Innovation (UII).

On the morning of June 10, the UII Showcase Day 2023 was successfully held, with participation from UII incubatees, experts, investors, faculty members, students, and individuals passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation.

This year’s UII Showcase Day welcoming the presence of experienced faculty and industry experts, including Ms. Nguyễn Thị Phương Thảo (Head of Administration at UEH College of Technology and Design and UII Executive Director), Mr. Huỳnh Ngọc Quang Anh (Lecturer and Incubation Program Coordinator), Mr. Phạm Nguyễn Hoàng Thịnh (Founder of STEMax, a UII Incubation Program startup), and Ms. Hồ Thanh Thuỷ (External Relations Manager at Sunwah Innovations). The event was honored to have the attendance of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Phan Thị Bích Nguyệt, Chairwoman of UEH’s Advisory Council on Strategy and Policy.

This year's UII Showcase Day 2023 introduced participants to various engaging activities, including:

• Sandbox Pitching Day: Startups presented their projects to experts, investors, partners, and potential customers.

• Sandbox Showcase: An exhibition of products, services, and business models.

• UII Incubation Program – Cohort 1/2023 Orientation: A welcoming event for the new startups in the first batch of the 2023 Incubation Program.

The Sandbox Showcase drew a large number of students, experts, investors, and startup enthusiasts. Twelve incubatees from the Sandbox Program and Incubation Program had the chance to showcase their products and services and receive direct feedback from potential customers.

During Sandbox Pitching Day, startups had the opportunity to present their business ideas to a panel of experts, investors, partners, and potential customers. With 12 pitches from a wide range of industries - such as career guidance, tourism, fashion, and food - the incubatees demonstrated thorough preparation and passion, capturing the interest of the experts and investors.

After receiving constructive feedback from the panel and enthusiastic support from the audience, the judges had an intense discussion to select the Top 2 Best Startup Projects. Congratulations to the winners: Rượu Hào Sảng and ROAD from Sandbox Cohort 1/23.

• Rượu Hào Sảng is a startup specializing in fermented spirits made from malt and Phú Lễ yeast, offering a bold, distinctive flavor.

• ROAD is a startup addressing the growing demand for career guidance among high school students and schools. ROAD connects resources to provide career consultation services for teachers and students.

Having spent three months in the UII Sandbox Incubation Program, these two startups earned well-deserved recognition for their dedication and entrepreneurial spirit.

Additionally, the event marked a significant milestone with the Orientation Day for the 7 new members of the UII Incubation Program – Cohort 1/2023. This orientation served as the starting point for the new batch of startups and the first meeting between the UII Startup Incubator and the incubatees. During Orientation Day, participants learned about the Incubation Program, its benefits, the support provided by UII, and the commitments required during their participation. The event also allowed incubatees to connect, share experiences, and grow within the UII startup community.

The UII Showcase Day 2023 wrapped up on a high note, signaling the beginning of new opportunities for the incubatees from both the Sandbox Program and the Incubation Program.

With the mission of supporting the development of innovative business initiatives and fostering groundbreaking ideas for a sustainable society, we hope that with UII's continued support, the incubatees will find greater success on their entrepreneurial journey.

Photos of the event:

UII – Where Every Idea Has a Story!