Fifty Early-Stage Vietnamese Startups Chosen in Google for Firms: Business Academy
Google for Firms: Business Academy Vietnam, a training and mentoring program for early-stage startup entrepreneurs, has graduated 25 Vietnamese startups from Saigon.
The Highlights:
- Fifty Vietnamese startups have been chosen for the first Google for Firms: Business Academy-Vietnam, a training and mentorship program for early-stage startup entrepreneurs.
- The chosen startups are working tirelessly to address some of Vietnam's most pressing issues in a variety of industries, including healthcare, energy, finance, education, and agriculture.
- In general, startups this year are of extremely high quality. The majority of founders are seasoned businesspeople with a track record of managing and carrying out projects successfully in traditional small- to medium-sized businesses or startup firms.
A training and mentoring program for early-stage business entrepreneurs called Google for Firms: Startup Academy Vietnam has graduated 25 Vietnamese startups from Saigon.
Google organized the workshop from October 3–7 in collaboration with the American Center and the National Innovation Center (NIC).
The businesses participated in mentoring programs and plenary sessions aimed at assisting founders in gaining expertise in leadership, best business practices, product management, technology, and marketing.
The new public-private cooperation between Google and the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the US Department of State includes the five-day boot camp.
According to Susan Burns, US Consul General in Saigon, "this public-private relationship between the US government and Google illustrates our shared vision of Saigon's immense potential to become an innovation powerhouse and a regional tech hub."
“Through this partnership, the US recognizes Vietnam’s important role in achieving sustainable and inclusive economic growth in the diverse and vibrant Indo-Pacific region. And we reaffirm our commitment to support Vietnam in this journey.”
Ten of the top startups (from both Saigon and Hanoi) will be chosen to participate in Demo Day in December when they will be able to present their innovations and make investor pitches.
25 companies from Hanoi will also join the same program in November. For the training and mentorship program, 50 Vietnamese companies in total (25 from Saigon and the rest from Hanoi) were chosen.
Over 20 seasoned mentors from Vietnam and abroad are taking part in the training program to offer advice to the participating entrepreneurs. These mentors include high-ranking Google officials as well as other successful businessmen, investors, or serial entrepreneurs.
Startups this year, according to Tran Hoai Phuong, vice president of Wavemakers Partners, are generally of extremely high quality. The majority of founders are seasoned businesspeople with a track record of managing and executing traditional small- to medium-sized businesses or startup firms.
She added: “Google Startups have been helpful in helping these startups access capital and strategic support via mentoring programs like these, which bring in mentors from venture capital institutions who can bring funding, and from companies who can share valuable operational advice.”
Adapted from Vietnamnews