Semi-final round of the “2022 Design Thinking Camp for young generation” contest

On September 26th, 2022, at Saigon Innovation Hub – No. 273 Dien Bien Phu Street, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City, the Innovation and Incubation Center in cooperation with Nguyen Tat Thanh University Student Union, Innovative Design Thinking Village, the HCMC Department of Science and Technology held the semi-final round of the “2022 Design Thinking Camp for young generation” contest. The contest aims to celebrate the Startup and Entrepreneurship Week of Ho Chi Minh City (WHISE 2022) and the launching event of the Innovative Design Thinking Village within the series of events during Techfest 2022.

Guests of honors and partners included Mr. Luong Ngoc Trung – Chairman of the Board of Directors, Elephant Technology Solutions Joint Stock Company; Mr. Hua Phu Doan – Chairman, Tan Viet My Trading Service Co., Ltd. and Chairman of the Business Club of Nguyen Tat Thanh University; Ms. Nguyen Thuy Dung – CEO of D&D Care Co., Ltd; Dr. Nguyen Van Tan, Dean of the Faculty of Management – International Economics, Lac Hong University; Ms. Tran Thi Ngoc Hanh – Director of Viet Anh Environmental Engineering Construction Company Limited; Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Dinh – Dinh Vang Computer Joint Stock Company.

From Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ms. Huynh Hong Mai – Deputy Director of the Innovation and Incubation Center and the staff in charge of startups division, especially the representatives from businesses, entrepreneurs, and students from TOP 20 excellent projects entitled to the semi-final round participated in the event.

Representatives from the organizers and judges took a group photo

The contest, which was promoted and opened for registration from August 15, 2022, attracted many participating projects with creative and unique ideas. From the preliminary round, the judges selected the TOP 20 excellent projects for the semi-final. Before reaching the semi-final, the Innovation and Incubation Center organized skills training sessions on Design Thinking for the participating teams. As a result, the NTTU project teams were able to apply the theories to perfect their products and business models, along with improving important factors to attract investors in decision-making and final investments.

Judges for the semi final were qualified experts in the field of entrepreneurship, including Dr. Tran Quy – Director of Vietnam Institute Of Digital Economy Development; Mr. Dang Thanh Tu – CEO of Gbrown Wedding Decoration and Event Services Co., Ltd; Ms. Hoang Thi Thoa – Deputy Director of the Center for Admissions and Communication, HCMC University of Food Industry; Ms. Mary Bui – Founder and CEO of Vietnam Startup Incubator; Mr. Nguyen Le Kha – CEO of Sigma Investment Trading Joint Stock Company, Chairman of IPO Entrepreneur Club – SIHUB; Ms. Truong Dieu Oanh – Reporter of Business Forum Magazine; Mr. Pham Cong Nhat – reporter in charge of the Startup segment of Tuoi Tre Newspaper; Ms. Thai Thi Nhu Hong – Director of Nhu Hong Trading and Service Company.

Speaking at the opening ceremony on behalf of the organizers, Ms. Huynh Hong Mai – Deputy Director of the Innovation and Incubation Center thanked the partners  for supporting the contest. Besides, Ms. Huynh Hong Mai also congratulated the TOP 20 excellent projects participating in the semi-final and wished the project teams to be successful during the contest, eventually starting their startups in the near future.

In the semi-final round, the product exhibition  of TOP 20 teams took place, the judges visited each exhibition booth to assess and select the TOP 7 excellent projects to enter the upcoming final round that will take place on October 14th, 2022.

The Top 7 excellent projects included:

1. DT 23 – Q ORGANIC – the project “Research on the potential and application of orange peel after extracting water in the production of essential oils and ORGANIC fertilizer” from Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
2. DT 22 – GREEN ORGANIC FERTILIZER – the project “Fruit peels – compost as organic fertilizer” from Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment.
3. DT 3 – BROCVIA – the project “Functional foods to support and prevent “Brain Fog” from Thu Dau Mot University.
4. DT 19 – TIA BIO – the project “Organic fertilizer from black soldier fly from Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
5. DT 2 – ALGAE – the project “Algae skin care mask from Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Ho Chi Minh City University of Natural Resources and Environment.
6. DT 10 – GLENDA – the project “Formulation of a multi-purpose herbal bath bomb for body care from Nguyen Tat Thanh University.
7. DT 4 – Moc Tinh Sac Company – the project “HBO herbal pillow” from Moc Tinh Sac Company.

During the semi-final, the organizers connected Mentors with the project teams. The network session aimed to expand the network of experienced mentors and project teams, facilitating the active participation of students and the project teams with the opportunity to learn, orientate and set up feasible goals in the process of developing and commercializing their research products.

With the desire to expand community networks, share values, develop ideas into feasible research projects under the professional consultation of experts to transfer into successful startups, Nguyen Tat Thanh University and Innovative Design Thinking Village believe that the contest will help young generation, as well as startup leaders develop their mindsets and maximize creativity, thereby contributing to the development of startup ecosystem in Vietnam.

Some photos at the semi-final:

Quý Duyên ( NIIC)