Startup Runway 2023 Final: Sparking Creative Spirit, Leveraging Technological Advantages towards “Smart Agriculture”

After more than 08 months of competition, the Startup Runway 2023 entrepreneurship contest has reached its final stage to discover the most outstanding ideas. The final night on August 23, 2023, witnessed exciting and explosive moments of competition among the youth nationwide in the Startup Runway 2023 entrepreneurship contest with the theme “Sustainable Agriculture - From Tradition to Innovation”. The 05 ideas that made it to the final round of the competition completely captivated the judges with their uniqueness, boldness, and, especially, the bold spirit of thinking and doing among the youth. The final night was attended by Dr. Vu Thi Bich Hau - Deputy Director of the Department of Agriculture & Rural Development of Da Nang City; from Da Nang University, there were Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Le Hung - Head of the Science, Technology & Environment Department, Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Phuc Nguyen - Head of the International Cooperation Department, Dr. Nguyen Thanh Dat - Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union - Deputy Head of the Science, Technology & Environment Department, and Dr. Do Le Hung Toan - Chairman of the Student Union; from the University of Economics, there was Assoc. Prof. Vo Thi Thuy Anh - Deputy Rector in charge of the University, along with leaders of faculties, departments, and centers under the university.

This year's competition also heated up with the names in the judging panel: 1. Dr. Vu Thi Bich Hau, 2. Mr. Ly Dinh Quan - General Director of the Song Han Entrepreneurship Incubation Center, 3. Mr. Le Van Hieu - Chairman of the Board of Directors & General Director of SEATECH Company - Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Young Entrepreneurs Association, Class V, 4. Dr. Cao Tri Dung - Chairman of the Danang Tourism Association, and 5. Dr. Nguyen Thanh Dat.

In the opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Vo Thi Thuy Anh affirmed that after 7 years of organization, Startup Runway has still affirmed its name as a playground for startup ideas, a convergence place for young people with great capacity, creativity, and many aspirations and dreams for starting a business. With a completely new theme and contemporary significance, the University of Economics expects that the startup projects in the competition will provide practical solutions for current issues such as “Sustainable Agriculture”, “Smart Agriculture”, and “High-tech Agriculture”. On behalf of the organizers, Assoc. Prof. Vo Thi Thuy Anh hopes that the teams will demonstrate the outstanding qualities and ideas of their projects, impress the judges, and continue to develop projects that contribute value to society.

Assoc. Prof. Vo Thi Thuy Anh delivers the opening speech

The program began with a modern dance performance by the University of Economics art team, warming up the atmosphere in the Da Nang University hall. The vibrant image of DUE youth was conveyed through lively and powerful dance steps and captivating performances. The performance also instilled confidence and motivation for the competing teams as they entered the official competition phase.

In the competition phase, each team had 5 minutes to present the potential and core aspects of their projects to impress the judges. After the presentation, the competing teams and the judges had 15 minutes for negotiations regarding the investment amount or profit sharing. Through these negotiations, the judges had the authority to invest alone, co-invest, or not invest.

Pig care management software project by the C2Pig team

The project received attention and feedback from the judges

Carrying the spirit of this year's theme, “Sustainable Agriculture - From Tradition to Innovation”, the teams on the final night presented solutions, sustainable agricultural value chain management models combined with innovative models, distribution, and diversified marketing. Besides, the young participants also made impressive “investment pitches”, convincing the judges, even in terms of novelty, creativity, and the daring spirit of the youth. Agricultural applications were the leading trend in Startup Runway, including the projects: “Application of C2Pig software in pig care management” by the C2Pig team, “Increasing crop productivity with artificial intelligence applications and data visualization” by the QuanTech team, “E-commerce platform for trading recycled agricultural products” by the REECo team. A new product was also created by the XDINARY team with the project “Shrimp head snack with fruit powder”, which received high praise from both the judges and the audience. Finally, the model “Providing clean food and space for vegetable cultivation, fish farming with aeroponics, hydroponics, and aquaponics” by the DLATO team left an impression with its thorough investment and high competitiveness in the current market of land rental models for agriculture combined with tourism.

XDINARY team with the project “Shrimp head snack with fruit powder”

Presentation by the REECo team

From their practical experience, the experts also provided useful advice for young people to continue developing their business projects in the future, emphasizing that success comes from a high level of realization combined with entrepreneurial spirit. However, projects also need long-term financial and human resource preparations as well as a perfect marketing strategy to bring into practice and create a difference from the current common ground.

The QuanTech team's project left a strong impression on the judges

DLATO team with the Nong Phuc project

After 2 hours of competition, the Startup Runway 2023 final round honored the most deserving names along with valuable prizes. The QuanTech team brilliantly won the championship of Startup Runway 2023 with a total prize value of 96 million VND. The XDINARY and DLATO teams also won the Second and Third prizes, with prize values of 72 million VND and 40 million VND, respectively. Two Encouragement Prizes were awarded to the C2Pig and REEco teams, each with a prize of 10 million VND. The organizers also awarded additional prizes such as the Communication Video Contest Prize, Excellent Team Leader Prize, Excellent Production Department Member Prize, Excellent Business & Marketing Department Member Prize, and Excellent Finance Department Member Prize, each with a prize of 1 million VND.

Dr. Vu Thi Bich Hau and Assoc. Prof. Vo Thi Thuy Anh awarded the First Prize to the QuanTech team

The second Prize of the Startup Runway goes to the XDINARY team

The Third Prize of the competition

Encouragement Prizes were awarded to the C2Pig and REEco teams

These are the most outstanding faces, worthy representatives of the entrepreneurial spirit of the youth across the country. From the Startup Runway 2023 competition, participants will gain knowledge and entrepreneurial skills, continuing their journey in the competitive business environment, and creating solutions and ideas that serve the community.

Organizers award additional prizes at the competition

For the 8th time, Startup Runway continues to be a useful and highly competitive playground for students nationwide. It can be said that the experience from the competition will contribute to shaping the entrepreneurial awareness of young people right from their seats in the school. Moreover, young people also have the opportunity to experience and prepare themselves for the journey of building their careers in the future, giving wings to their business projects that will continue to develop in the future.

Center for Information and Communication Technology