INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY SUCCESSFULLY HELD THE FINAL ROUND OF “IU STARTUP DEMO DAY 2024”

On May 25, 2024, International University – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (IU – VNU HCMC) organized the final round and awarded the 6th IU Startup Demo Day 2024.

IU Startup Demo Day 2024 – an annual startup competition – was organized to search for and support innovative startup projects, research products in student laboratories, and researchers in accessing the market.

After 2 months of launching the competition, the Organizing Committee received 22 registered projects in various fields from students of 08 Schools, Departments of the university, along with students from 06 other universities in HCMC.

Following the preliminary specialization round, the Jury Committee found 8 potential projects to advance to the Final Round with the improved demo of the products. The final round of the competition energetically took place with 2 competitive sections including the business plan presentation – Q&A round and the exhibition round. In the morning of the final round, the demo/actual products from the exhibition round and the projects altogether were displayed. Representatives of the businesses were pleasantly surprised at the startup ideas of the 8 projects. The top 8 contestants also had the opportunity to exchange, learn, and accumulate new valuable knowledge.

The jury judged the startup ideas in the Exhibition Round.

The presentation of the 8 groups attracted positive attention from the Jury Committee and students.
Many projects received the praise of the Professional Council and the audience attending below throughout the 15-minute presentation and Q&A.

The projects presented the plan and answered the Q&A before the Jury Committee.

With the innovative idea, breakthrough solution and significance to the community, the project E-MOTION – Electric power steering – helping the disabled to move freely in urban areas, where there are many obstacles, easy to disassemble when going to the toilet, changing sitting positions,… completely captivated the Jury to win the First Prize of the competition.

Dr. Tran Thi Ngoc Diep – Head of the Center for Innovation and Technology Transfer – awarded the First Prize to the E-MOTION project.

The second prize was awarded to the project THE PLANTAE – “An implication for recognising and providing detailed information, especially about the medical properties and health assessment of plants” by a group of students from International University and the University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Ho Chi Minh City. This project was also the audience’s favorite and most voted-for project in the competition. Notably, it is the only project among the top 8 that have been commercialized.

Prof. Assoc. Dr. Huynh Thanh Cong – The Deputy Head of the Science and Technology Department of VNU-HCM–awarded the second prize to THE PLANTE

Third prize was awarded to the project LOLLIPUP – “Application of Vietnamese agriculture products in developing pet food” by International University students. Presenting the project to the Judge Panel, LOLLIPUP also successfully garner the award for the most impressive presentation with their lively and youthful style.

Ms. Nguyen Quynh Anh – Director of Swiss Entrepreneurship Program – award the third prize to the LOLLIPUP project

In addition to the prize, the top 3 winning projects will participate in the School’s incubation activities to further develop their products, connect with experts and organizations to support practical development. Additionally, the projects in the top 8 will also receive development support and have the opportunity to represent the school in various competitions and events in the future.

The judging panel took commemorative photos with the participating teams.

After five successful seasons, the IU Startup Demo Day 2024 season 6 officially returns, with the support of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology and Sunwah Innovation Center, and other partners such as the Center Business Incubation of Agricultural High Technology (AHBI), Lead The Change Education Organization, Youth Startup Support Center (BSSC), and InnoLab Asia.