Launch of the National Innovation Technopreneur Contest – TECHFEST VIETNAM 2025: Green Growth and Digital Transformation – Innovation for a Sustainable Vietnam

National Startup Support Center (NSSC) – National Agency for Technology Entrepreneurship and Commercialization (NATEC), together with co-organizers (Startup World Cup Vietnam, Impact Square, and Management and Sustainable Development Institute – MSD United Way Vietnam), officially launched the National Innovation Technopreneur Contest 2025. This contest is a flagship activity within the framework of Vietnam National Innovation Festival – TECHFEST Vietnam, the country’s largest annual event for the innovative startup community.

This year’s contest is themed “Green Growth and Digital Transformation – Innovation for a Sustainable Vietnam”, with the goal of discovering, supporting, and honoring innovative startups founded by Vietnamese entrepreneurs at home and abroad. Participants will gain not only access to investment opportunities and funding but also connections with a multidisciplinary expert network, domestic and international venture capital funds, as well as intensive training and mentoring programs.

The 2025 contest embodies the spirit and momentum of Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW, issued on December 22, 2024, by the Political Bureau on breakthroughs in the development of science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation, laying the foundation for Vietnam’s startup ecosystem to integrate globally and grow sustainably. Key highlights of this year’s contest include:

• Focus on Green Growth and Digital Transformation: For the first time, ESG standards, social impact, and sustainable transition are set as core evaluation criteria.
• Largest-ever support package: The total value of financial prizes and support packages for the top startups amounts to up to USD 50,000. In particular, the champion startup will have the opportunity to compete at the Startup World Cup in San Francisco (USA) for a chance to win a grand prize of USD 1 million.
• Intensive, hands-on training: The TOP 100 startups will join a capacity-building program tailored for founders.
• Global connectivity: With support from three co-organizers and top venture funds from more than 30 countries.
• International exposure: The TOP  10 teams will not only compete in the national finals but also gain direct access to global startup platforms and ecosystems.

Eligible participants include startups with founders or co-founders who are Vietnamese or of Vietnamese origin, living inside or outside Vietnam, as well as foreign startups officially registered in Vietnam. Applications must feature innovative products, services, or technologies that have reached the prototype stage.

The application period runs from August 26 to September 30, 2025. After the screening round, the TOP 100 startups will proceed to the training and preliminary selection. The Semifinals, held online, will allow the TOP 30 teams to pitch their solutions before a panel of judges, who will select the TOP 10 finalists. The National Final Round is scheduled for November 2025 in Hanoi, where the Champion, Runner-up, and Third place winners will be honored after live presentations before a jury of experts, investors, and leading technology organizations.

The evaluation criteria this year highlight not only creativity, market demand, business planning, and competitive advantage but also social impact, green transition, and digital innovation. Solutions in renewable energy, circular economy, sustainable agriculture, and digital technologies (AI, Blockchain, IoT, Big Data, etc.) that address specific socio-economic issues with measurable impact and a long-term vision for green and digital transformation will gain a competitive edge.

Mr. Le Toan Thang, Director of the National Startup Support Center (NSSC), the lead implementing agency for TECHFEST Vietnam 2025, stated: “The National Innovation Technopreneur Contest 2025 is not just about finding a champion. It is about opening a pathway for Vietnamese startups to expand globally, with innovation as the driving force for sustainable development. We look forward to welcoming breakthrough ideas and bold entrepreneurs who dare to think big, take risks, and turn challenges into opportunities. Each startup participating in TECHFEST is a vital piece of the puzzle for a sustainable, green, and digital Vietnam – not only a platform to prove technological and business capabilities but also a launchpad for solutions that directly contribute to green growth and digital transformation. We expect the teams to bring forward initiatives with tangible social impact, helping Vietnam affirm its position as a hub for sustainable innovation in the region and the world.”

With the support of domestic and international partners, the National Innovation Technopreneur Contest – TECHFEST 2025 promises to become a highlight of the startup community, contributing to positioning Vietnam on the global innovation map.

More information and application submission at: https://www.facebook.com/techfestvietnam