On October 18, 2026, the Finals of the 7th HUIT Startup Competition (2026) took place at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (HUIT) under the theme “Innovation Towards Sustainable Development Goals”. Featuring 37 outstanding projects competing across three tracks—High School, University Student, and Enterprise—the event highlighted high-potential startup ideas while expanding networking opportunities with experts, corporate partners, and investors.
The Finals of the 7th HUIT Startup Competition (2026) unfolded under the theme “Innovation Towards Sustainable Development Goals”
The Finals were held as part of HUIT Startup Day 2026, an integral component of the University’s Career, Employment, and Innovation Week. The competition was co-organized by HUIT in partnership with the Vietnam Business Forum Magazine and the Vietnam Network of Entrepreneurship and Innovation in Higher Education (VNEI), under the auspices of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology and the National Innovation Center (NIC).
Attending the ceremony were representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology, HUIT leadership, and representatives from co-organizing bodies, educational institutions, enterprises, investment funds, and startup incubator organizations. The event also drew an esteemed lineup of experts, judges, mentors, faculty advisors, and a large turnout of students.
Expanding Scale, Igniting Creative Drive
The 7th HUIT Startup Competition marked a major milestone by expanding to a municipal scale, featuring three distinct tracks: High School, University Student, and Enterprise. This edition attracted 244 projects comprising over 1,000 contestants from more than 70 high schools, universities, and colleges, alongside 20 enterprises and organizations. Nearly 400 experts, judges, mentors, and faculty advisors provided guidance, significantly elevating the technical caliber and practical viability of the competing projects.
Following preliminary and semi-final rounds, the Organizing Committee selected 37 finalists, including 14 High School projects, 15 University Student projects, and 8 Enterprise projects. The entries spanned diverse domains, such as artificial intelligence, digital transformation, food technology, agriculture, environmental sustainability, education, healthcare, and social impact business models.
During the final pitch sessions, teams delivered project presentations, showcased products, detailed business models, and fielded Q&A from the Board of Judges. Expert feedback and constructive critiques helped teams refine their project feasibility, market alignment, and product development roadmaps
Leading up to the final stage, teams participated in six specialized startup skill training modules, 1-on-1 mentorship coaching sessions, and an experiential retreat at Oceanami Villas & Beach Club under the "HUIT Startup Tour 2026." This comprehensive sequence equipped contestants with practical knowledge, strategic skills, and field experience to pitch with confidence.
Bridging Innovations with Markets and Capital Resources
As part of the festival, an exhibition space featured 43 booths—37 dedicated to finalist teams and 6 hosted by enterprise partners and sponsors—showcasing creative products, prototypes, and technological solutions. The exhibition provided a vibrant platform for teams to promote their ventures, gather direct user feedback, and explore strategic partnerships.
In the afternoon, Demo Day offered finalist teams a high-profile platform to pitch their growth potential directly to angel investors, venture capital funds, corporate executives, and startup support organizations. Concurrently, a seminar titled "Innovative Startup Incubation Models in Higher Education Institutions" gathered stakeholders to exchange best practices in constructing incubation frameworks, implementing operational mechanisms, and strengthening ecosystem linkages.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Thai Doan Thanh, Vice President of HUIT and Head of the Competition Organizing Committee, expressed deep appreciation to government agencies, sponsor organizations, domain experts, and academic institutions for their steadfast partnership. He underscored the importance of community collaboration in fostering a dynamic, bold, and innovative mindset among youth, encouraging contestants to nurture their ideas and leverage their learnings from the competition as a launchpad for future success.
The total pool of awards and enterprise support packages reached up to VND 5 billion, encompassing cash prizes, specialized mentorship, intellectual property support, enterprise digital management ERP platforms, and direct pathways into incubation programs, startup accelerators, and investor networks. The season enjoyed strategic backing from two Diamond Sponsors—Sai Gon Thang Long Joint Stock Company and VINATHIS HOLDING Joint Stock Company—alongside numerous corporate partners and startup support organizations.
Honoring Outstanding Ventures
Concluding the festival, the Closing and Award Ceremony of the 7th HUIT Startup Competition (2026) celebrated the remarkable journey and dedication of all participating teams. The Organizing Committee formally acknowledged the contributing sponsors, co-organizers, partner agencies, judges, mentors, and faculty advisors whose guidance drove the program's success.
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