One distinctive project introduced in the event is Testuru, a technological platform to aid English language learners do an online IELTS mocking test anytime and anywhere they wish. This mobile app especially aims at IELTS test-takers who want to know results quickly in 3 to 5 days in order to improve their language skills.
Another impressive project is the T-Farm model to create a mini indoor vegetables garden. It is supposed to help people fight against climate change all over the world and the issue of dirty food or air pollution.
GRAC, an app to deliver precise instructions and notifications on garbage classification at the household and garbage collection, is also a very promising solution. The clear schedule among garbage collection units or the detailed directions related to garbage in this app to some extent contributes to raising the public’s awareness about the necessity of waste sorting, recycling, and appropriate waste disposal.
One more prominent solution presented on Vietnam Startup Day 2019 is the app ‘Tho Xay Dung’ (House Builders) for both iOS and Android operation systems, developed by Ngo Van Quan. It can be accessed at https://thoxaydung.xyz . Realizing that human resources in housing construction is always the thorny issue of many contractors, and that it is troublesome for the freelance staff in this field to seek suitable job with satisfying wage, Mr. Quan created this app to actively connect contractors and freelance builder. Only after a short time running, this app has been warmly welcomed by both partners with nearly 10,000 members.
Another remarkable project is the solution to save energy for Airbnb hosts. This is a smart system to automatically turn off air conditioners when room renters are out. It operates based on the wireless technology in a customized range, and takes only 15 minutes for setting up without much interference in the existing electric system of the building. To control this equipment, users only need to install a mobile app or obtain a small controller which can be attached to a key chain.
In this event, a contest was held for nearly 200 startup project owners to find the 10 most outstanding Vietnamese and 5 most typical foreign ones. These 15 winners will take part in the final round of the Vietnam Startup Wheel 2019 to obtain the cash prize worth VND10 billion (approx. $434,400). This year’s contest attracted people from 12 nations, consisting of Vietnam, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Nepal, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia, England, Germany, the US, Canada, and Australia. The contest is considered to be essential for startup teams to earn more experience, raise their own value, and seek suitable investors.
According to Mr. Ngo Minh Hai, Deputy Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union in HCMC, the wholeheartedly participation of hundreds of startup companies, both local and international, in Vietnam Startup Day 2019 signals the strong will of the young in innovative startup activities. These people are positively contributing to the development of Vietnam in general, and of HCMC in particular.
Agreeing with this view, Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi, Director of VinTech City, stated that the event is also to express the interest of the global community in Vietnam.
Vietnam Startup Day 2019 was co-held by the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC), the HCMC Department of Science and Technology, and the Young Business Association of HCMC (YBA-HCM).
