TECHFEST Vietnam 2025: Grand finale of the national innovative startup talent search competition
On 12 December 2025, at Dong Kinh Nghia Thuc Square, Hanoi, the grand finale of the national innovative startup talent search competition within the framework of TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 gathered 10 most outstanding teams, both domestic and international, strongly spreading the spirit of innovation associated with green growth and digital transformation.
The event attracted the attention of a large number of the startup community, experts, investors, innovation support organizations, along with locals and tourists.
The competition was organized by the National Startup Support Center (NSSC) and the Agency for Enterprise Development and Technology (NATEC) in coordination with partners: Start-up World Cup Vietnam, Impact Square, and the Management and Sustainable Development Institute MSD United Way Vietnam. From hundreds of domestic and international applications, 10 most excellent teams were selected to participate in the final round, representing the most typical innovative ideas, models, and solutions of the startup ecosystem.
Innovation associated with green growth and digital transformation
The national innovative startup talent search competition - TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 was organized with the theme "Green Growth and Digital Transformation: Innovation for a Sustainable Vietnam." The competition was built on the orientation of promoting innovative startup models associated with social responsibility, environmental protection, and a long-term development vision, while highlighting high-tech, environmentally friendly projects that are closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Delivering the opening speech for the final, Mr. Le Toan Thang, Director of the National Startup Support Center, Agency for Enterprise Development and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology (MST), emphasized the role of the TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition in implementing major policies of the Party and State. Director Le Toan Thang affirmed that the TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition is an important activity implementing the spirit of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW dated December 22, 2024, on breakthrough development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, and Resolution No. 68-NQ/TW dated May 4, 2025, on private economic development.
According to Director Le Toan Thang, this year's competition did not merely stop at selecting potential projects but was also a process of capacity building support for startups through multiple rounds lasting from October to December. This process helped the competing teams gradually perfect their products and business models and access ESG standards, thereby enhancing their capacity for sustainable development and international integration.
The venue for the final at Hoan Kiem Lake pedestrian street was considered a prominent highlight of the TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition. Bringing innovative startup activities to a public space created conditions for locals, tourists, and the startup community to directly experience new technological products, models, and solutions, contributing to strongly spreading the spirit of innovation and strengthening the bond between startups and society.
Expanding international integration and social open innovation
The TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition marked an important milestone by welcoming international teams to the final for the first time. The participation of foreign teams not only enhanced the integration and professional quality of the competition but also created a foundation for multilateral cooperation, connecting global knowledge and technology to the process of solving Vietnam's development challenges.
From an international perspective, Ms. Silvie Park, Executive Director of Start-up World Cup Vietnam and Representative of Pegasus Technology Investment Fund, commented that Vietnam's startup ecosystem is entering a strong development phase. According to Director Silvie Park, the confidence, eagerness to learn, and adaptability of the competing teams show that many Vietnamese startups have reached a competitive level equivalent to regional startups, not only in technology but also in business models and sustainable development orientation. She stated that the Start-up World Cup will continue to accompany the TECHFEST Vietnam competition to support outstanding Vietnamese projects in accessing the international investment network.
From the aspect of promoting social open innovation, Ms. Nguyen Phuong Linh, Director of MSD United Way Vietnam, stated that one of the notable changes in the TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition is the integration of a set of criteria for assessing social and environmental impact and sustainability, accurately reflecting national strategic orientation and international trends. Director Nguyen Phuong Linh emphasized that this brings not only technology but also sustainable solutions, clearly demonstrating the mindset of responsible development entrepreneurship. According to Director Nguyen Phuong Linh of MSD United Way Vietnam, the diversity of participating forces, from scientists and young entrepreneurs to women-led groups, is contributing to shaping a more inclusive, open, equitable, and profound nationwide innovation ecosystem in Vietnam.
In his concluding speech, Impact Square CEO Timothy Dho assessed that the TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition demonstrated effective coordination among management agencies, support organizations, and the investment community in promoting innovation. Impact Square CEO Timothy Dho suggested that many teams showed a long-term vision, knowing how to combine technology development with social impact orientation, thereby enhancing their competitiveness and readiness to expand their models. Impact Square CEO Timothy Dho also emphasized that the journey of the teams will continue to be supported through cooperation networks and post-competition accelerator programs.
Honoring outstanding projects and spreading sustainable impact
Following the presentation and Q&A session, the Judging Council conducted an independent evaluation based on criteria including the level of innovation, implementation feasibility, quality of the operating model, potential for scaling up, and the impact value of each project. Based on this, the main awards of the TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 competition were announced.
The champion prize, with a cash reward of 20,000 USD and a ticket to represent Vietnam at the Start-up World Cup 2026 in San Francisco (USA), went to the Growlab team. The Runner-up prize, with a cash reward of 7,000 USD, was awarded to Volterra - an AI solution and PaaS platform for electric vehicle charging infrastructure developers, contributing to optimizing operating costs and supporting the Net Zero 2050 goal. The second Runner-up prize, with a cash reward of 20,000 USD, went to IDO E-commerce and Services Co., Ltd. with the product Biglead CRM, providing a comprehensive technology solution that helps enterprises promote digital and green transformation, while supporting vulnerable groups in society.
In addition, two subsidiary prizes worth 15,000 USD each were also awarded to Dayladau and PLANTNER, recognizing the growth potential and sustainable impact of the projects.
Following the final round, the competing teams will continue to receive support from the TECHFEST Vietnam ecosystem in the process of commercialization, market expansion, fundraising, and increasing social impact.
TECHFEST Vietnam 2025 is considered a milestone that clearly demonstrates the new thinking of innovation in Vietnam: Innovation for people, for the community, and for a green, digital, and sustainable Vietnam./.
Copyright belongs to the Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology (VJST-MOST).