VietChallenge

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VietChallenge

The first global entrepreneurship competition for Vietnamese. The scope of mentorship includes business plan, presentation, pitching skills.

FORMAT

VietChallenge is held in three rounds and contestants participate as teams.

- Registration: Startups will sign up by their field: Tech, Life Sciences, or General.

- Screening: the Judges reviews pitches and promotion video clips submitted online via VietChallenge's website.

- Vietnam Round and International Semi Final Round: Selected teams compete with each other (on stage in Vietnam a

nd online for international track).

- Final Round: Finalists present in person in Hanoi, Vietnam.

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MENTORSHIP PROGRAM

Our Mentors who have years of experience in business will help the Semi-Finalists become a better version of themselves throughout a 6-month mentorship program. All of the mentoring sessions will be held online.

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FINAL ROUND

The grand final round will provide the bridge necessary to help young Vietnamese entrepreneurs get access to business connections and resources in order to facilitate the development of their business plans.

07/10/2026

We are excited to announce the launch of VietChallenge Capital.

Built on VietChallenge’s decade-long mission to support Vietnamese and Vietnam-linked entrepreneurs, VietChallenge Capital is a curated network connecting high-potential startups with angel investors, family offices, and ecosystem partners.

Through startup screening, investor preparation, targeted introductions, and showcase opportunities, VietChallenge Capital will help founders build relationships with aligned investors and create new pathways to capital.

The culmination of this network will be three pitching events each year, where curated companies pitch in person to VietChallenge Capital’s angel investors and receive investment decisions on the spot. This format is designed to move at the speed of ambition, connecting high-potential founders with the capital and conviction they need to grow.

“For over a decade, VietChallenge has connected founders with the capital, mentorship, and relationships they need to grow,” said Mai Zymaris, President and Founder of VietChallenge and Co-Chair of VietChallenge Capital. “VietChallenge Capital is the natural next chapter, connecting talented, visionary entrepreneurs directly with a curated network of angel investors and family offices, and giving those investors the chance to back founders who are changing the world.”

“Talent has never been the bottleneck for Vietnamese founders, access has,” said Danny Duong, Co-Chair of VietChallenge Capital. “VietChallenge Capital closes that gap, connecting ambitious startups with investors ready to move with them.”

The first pitching event is expected in October 2026 in the Bay Area.

Startup applications and investor interest forms open July 10. If your startup is interested in pitching at a future VietChallenge Capital event, or if you are an angel investor or family office looking to connect with promising founders, we invite you to learn more at vietchallenge.org/capital

[Tiếng Việt]

VietChallenge vui mừng công bố thành lập VietChallenge Capital.
Tiếp nối sứ mệnh hơn 10 năm đồng hành cùng các nhà sáng lập người Việt và các startup có kết nối với Việt Nam, VietChallenge Capital là mạng lưới kết nối các startup tiềm năng với các nhà đầu tư thiên thần, văn phòng quản lý tài sản gia đình, và các đối tác trong hệ sinh thái khởi nghiệp.

Thông qua hoạt động tuyển chọn startup, hỗ trợ cho nhà sáng lập, kết nối với các nhà đầu tư và tổ chức các sự kiện giới thiệu startup tới nhà đầu tư, VietChallenge Capital định hướng tiếp tục giúp các nhà sáng lập xây dựng quan hệ với đúng đối tác và mở rộng cơ hội tiếp cận nguồn vốn.

Điểm nhấn của mạng lưới VietChallenge Capital sẽ là ba sự kiện pitching mỗi năm, nơi các startup được tuyển chọn trực tiếp trình bày trước các nhà đầu tư thiên thần của VietChallenge Capital và nhận quyết định đầu tư ngay tại sự kiện. Đây là mô hình được thiết kế để chuyển động cùng tốc độ với tham vọng của các nhà sáng lập, kết nối những startup tiềm năng với nguồn vốn và niềm tin cần thiết để phát triển.

“Trong hơn một thập kỷ qua, VietChallenge đã kết nối các nhà sáng lập với nguồn vốn, cố vấn, và những mối quan hệ cần thiết để phát triển,” Mai Zymaris, Nhà sáng lập kiêm Chủ tịch Tổ Chức Khởi Nghiệp VietChallenge và Đồng Chủ tịch VietChallenge Capital, chia sẻ. “VietChallenge Capital là chương tiếp theo trong hành trình đó, tiếp tục kết nối trực tiếp những doanh nhân tài năng, có tầm nhìn với mạng lưới nhà đầu tư thiên thần và văn phòng quản lý tài sản gia đình được chọn lọc, đồng thời tạo cơ hội để các nhà đầu tư cùng đồng hành với những nhà sáng lập đang tạo ra thay đổi tích cực cho thế giới.”

“Rào cản lớn nhất đối với các nhà sáng lập Việt Nam chưa bao giờ là tài năng, mà là khả năng tiếp cận nguồn lực,” Danny Dương, Đồng Chủ tịch VietChallenge Capital, chia sẻ. “VietChallenge Capital ra đời để thu hẹp khoảng cách đó, kết nối các startup giàu tham vọng với những nhà đầu tư sẵn sàng đồng hành cùng họ.”

Sự kiện đầu tiên dự kiến diễn ra vào tháng 10 năm 2026 tại Vùng Bay Area, California.

Cổng đăng ký dành cho startup và nhà đầu tư sẽ mở vào ngày 10 tháng 7. Nếu startup của bạn muốn tham gia tại các sự kiện sắp tới của chúng tôi, hoặc nếu bạn là nhà đầu tư muốn kết nối với các startup tiềm năng trong mạng lưới của VietChallenge Capital, chúng tôi mời bạn tìm hiểu thêm và đăng ký tại vietchallenge.org/capital

02/17/2026

🧧 Wishing our global VietChallenge community a joyful Lunar New Year 2026! May the Year of the Fire Horse bring bold ideas, courageous leadership, and new opportunities for innovation, collaboration, and impact.

✨Thank you for being part of our journey to empower Vietnamese founders and connect ecosystems across borders!

Tiếng Việt:

🧧 VietChallenge kính chúc cộng đồng khởi nghiệp một Năm Mới An Khang, Thịnh vượng. Chúc mọi người một năm Bính Ngọ tràn đầy nguồn năng lượng mạnh mẽ, tinh thần tiên phong, và có thêm thật nhiều cơ hội mới để cùng nhau hơp tác, kết nối và tạo nên nhiều thành công mới.

✨Xin cảm chân thành cảm ơn các đối tác và bạn bè đã luôn đồng hành cùng VietChallenge trong hành trình hỗ trợ các nhà sáng lập Việt và kết nối hệ sinh thái khởi nghiệp trên toàn thế giới.

01/21/2026

Our VietChallenge team kicked off the year 2026 with a gathering for the VietChallenge Hanoi Chapter, co-hosted alongside ThinkZone Ventures. The evening was filled with laughters, warm connections, and inspirational stories of years and years building and operating within the rapidly burgeoning Vietnamese ecosystem.

As Do Bui, Founding Partner of ThinkZone captured in his fireside chat, the startup ecosystem of Vietnam has pushed past years of growing pains to reach build conditions that prioritize and reward operating excellence and grounded fundamentals, buoyed by new sets of favorable policies that acknowledged the role of entrepreneurship in Vietnam's growth: entrepreneurs will continue to play an undeniable role in Vietnam's next chapter.

VietChallenge is proud to continue partnering with founders and investors to usher in the global breakthrough chapter of Vietnamese entrepreneurship. We are grateful for the friends, partners, and supporters who have joined us this evening and contributed their insights to this evening of meaningful conversations.

Onwards and upwards: to an explosive 2026 and beyond! 🚀🧧💥

12/13/2025

✨ An Evening of Dialogue, Leadership, and Community at VietChallenge Boston

Last night, in the historic Old City Hall at the heart of Boston, VietChallenge gathered founders, investors, policymakers, and community leaders for an evening of dialogue, reflection, and connection.

This was not just an end-of-year celebration, but a shared pause to reflect on how far Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem has come and what it will take to move forward together. We opened the evening with welcome remarks from the VietChallenge team. Mai Zymaris, President of VietChallenge, and Jensen Vu, CEO, shared our vision for the next decade and reaffirmed our commitment to empowering Vietnamese entrepreneurs and strengthening ties across borders.

✨A Special Dialogue followed with H.E. Ambassador Do Hung Viet, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to the United Nations, moderated by Natalie Bui. The Ambassador shared with the audience the role of the United Nations as a norm-setting platform and as a place where Vietnam’s story of transformation can be shared with the world. He also reflected on Vietnam’s new comprehensive strategic framework, including Resolution 57, and what it means for the country’s next era of growth. Most powerfully, he offered concrete ways the Vietnamese and Vietnamese diaspora can contribute, not abstractly, but in practical, meaningful ways.

✨The Keynote Conversation, “Vietnam’s Path toward Innovation and Technological Advancement,” brought together Dr. Loi Nguyen (Marvell), Thomas J. Vallely (Fulbright University Vietnam), and Tuan Pham (J.P. Morgan), moderated by VietChallenge founder, Mai Zymaris. The discussion was rich, candid, and wide-ranging. The speakers reflected on mentorship, the current capital environment, and the importance of Vietnamese professionals stepping into leadership roles, not only excelling technically but shaping institutions and systems. They explored the role of energy, infrastructure, and policy mechanisms in advancing technology, grounding big ideas in their lived experience.

✨The evening closed with a Fireside Chat, “Building Globally, Rooted Locally: Stories from Vietnamese Founders,” featuring Dimitry Tran (Harrison.ai), Christy Trang Le (Alabaster), and Jean Pham (Cellens), moderated by Jensen Vu. The conversation was energetic, encouraging, and full of humor. A common thread emerged as each founder spoke about how personal motivations, family, and a desire to help others shaped their entrepreneurial journeys. They spoke about surrounding themselves with excellence, relying on community during difficult moments, and the ongoing discipline of moving from being good to becoming great through continuous learning.

We are deeply grateful to our speakers, our guests, and everyone who made this gathering possible. Last night was a reminder that progress is not built alone, but through trust, shared values, and a community willing to show up for one another.

More to come! 🚀

12/11/2025

⭐ Founder Spotlight: Jean Pham

We are proud to feature Jean Pham, Co-Founder and CEO of Cellens, at the VietChallenge Boston End-of-Year Gathering on December 12. This event will bring together 25 to 30 founders, investors, and leaders shaping the future of Vietnamese innovation.

Jean Pham leads Cellens with a mission to transform cancer diagnostics through the combined power of mechanobiology, single cell analysis, and machine learning. The company is developing a non-invasive diagnostic platform that detects cancer by analyzing the biophysical properties of individual cells from a simple urine sample. This approach has the potential to reduce the discomfort, cost, and frequency of invasive procedures used today to monitor cancers such as bladder cancer.

Under Jean’s leadership, Cellens has built a strong scientific foundation. The company has been supported by competitive funding from the NIH, NSF, and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, and has earned recognition through the LabCentral Golden Ticket Ignite Award, SOSV’s Human Health 100 list, and Springboard’s Healthcare and Technology program. These milestones reflect the credibility and momentum behind Cellens as it advances toward clinical validation. In 2024, Cellens announced a collaboration with Bruker BioAFM, a global leader in atomic force microscopy instrumentation, to accelerate the translation of its mechanobiology platform into clinical settings.

Jean will join the Fireside Chat at the Boston gathering, where she will share her experiences building a deep tech biotech company, navigating translational science, and working at the intersection of engineering, biology, and patient care. Her work stands alongside the advances being made at Harrison.ai in applying machine learning to radiology, highlighting how founders of Vietnamese heritage are driving innovation across multiple fronts in diagnostic medicine.

We look forward to welcoming Jean and learning from her vision at this year’s VietChallenge Boston Gathering. Stay tuned for the final speaker spotlight!

12/09/2025

⭐ Founder Spotlight: Dimitry Tran (Harrison.ai)

We are honored to feature Dimitry Tran, Co‑Founder and Managing Director Americas of the clinician‑led AI healthcare company Harrison.ai, at the VietChallenge Boston End‑of‑Year Gathering on December 12. This invitation‑only dinner will bring together 25–30 founders, investors, industry experts, and community leaders who are advancing Vietnamese innovation across sectors and across global markets.

Harrison.ai was founded in 2018 by Dimitry and his brother, Dr. Aengus Tran, with a vision to democratize access to high‑quality healthcare. The company combines cutting‑edge deep learning technology with clinical expertise to develop AI solutions that assist doctors in diagnosing complex conditions. Harrison.ai’s technology provides radiologists with real‑time AI interpretations of chest X‑rays and CT scans. Today, it is available in 40+ countries and to half of all Australian radiologists, helping clinicians improve diagnostic accuracy and speed. The company’s total capital raised to date exceeds US$240 million.

Dimitry leads Harrison.ai’s growth in the Americas, bringing together medical practitioners, engineers, and investors to scale AI‑powered healthcare solutions. His work bridges global innovation with social impact, reflecting a commitment to making advanced diagnostics more accessible to patients worldwide. At the Boston gathering, Dimitry will share insights on building clinician‑driven AI, expanding internationally, and shaping frameworks for AI use in medicine.

We look forward to welcoming Dimitry and learning from his experience as we celebrate entrepreneurs of Vietnamese heritage at this year’s VietChallenge Boston Gathering. Stay tuned for more speaker spotlights.

12/08/2025

⭐ Keynote Conversation Spotlight: Tuan Pham

We are honored to feature Tuan Pham as one of the keynote speakers for the VietChallenge Boston End-of-Year Gathering on December 12. This gathering will bring together 25 to 30 founders, investors, researchers, industry experts, and community leaders who are helping drive Vietnamese innovation across sectors and across global markets.

Tuan Pham is a Managing Director at J. P. Morgan, where he has built a distinguished career advising top entrepreneurs and venture funds. He is widely respected within the Vietnamese professional community for his leadership, insight, and integrity, as well as for his long-standing commitment to supporting Vietnamese entrepreneurs and emerging leaders.

Tuan Pham has been an active champion of VietChallenge from its early years. His guidance and encouragement have supported our mission as we expanded from a Boston-based startup competition into a global network that empowers Vietnamese founders across multiple industries. His experience navigating global finance and his deep understanding of economic trajectory allow him to offer unique perspectives on how Vietnamese innovation can grow and compete on the world stage.

At the Boston gathering, Tuan Pham will join Thomas Vallely, Senior Advisor for Vietnam at Columbia University, and Loi Nguyen, PhD, Executive Vice President Emeritus at Marvell Technology, for a keynote conversation titled "Vietnam’s Path toward Innovation and Technological Advancement." Together, they will explore Vietnam’s evolving innovation landscape, opportunities for global collaboration, and the long-term strategies needed to support Vietnam’s next generation of innovators.

We look forward to welcoming Tuan Pham back to Boston and to learning from his insights as we gather with leaders who are shaping the future of our community.

12/05/2025

⭐ Keynote Conversation Spotlight: Thomas J. Vallely

We are honored to welcome Thomas Vallely as a featured speaker for the VietChallenge Boston End of Year Gathering on December 12. This invitation-only dinner will bring together 25 to 30 founders, investors, industry experts, and community leaders who are contributing to the future of Vietnamese innovation in the United States and Vietnam.

Thomas Vallely is Senior Advisor for Vietnam at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute at Columbia University, where he supports research, academic engagement, and policy dialogue related to Vietnam. He is also the Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Fulbright University Vietnam and previously served as the founder and director of the Harvard Vietnam Program, an institution that played a central role in shaping modern intellectual exchange between the United States and Vietnam. His leadership helped establish the Fulbright Economics Teaching Program in Ho Chi Minh City, which became a foundation for public policy education and institutional development in Vietnam.

Throughout his career, Thomas Vallely has been a respected voice on Vietnam’s economic strategy, higher education reform, governance innovation, and international cooperation. His decades of work have supported Vietnam’s transition toward a more dynamic, globally engaged future and have influenced generations of scholars, policymakers, and young leaders.

At the Boston gathering, he will join Dr. Loi Nguyen, Executive Vice President Emeritus at Marvell Technology, and Tuan Pham, Managing Director at J. P. Morgan, for a keynote conversation titled "Vietnam’s Path toward Innovation and Technological Advancement." Together, they will explore how Vietnam can strengthen its innovation ecosystem, deepen global partnerships, and support the next generation of scientific and entrepreneurial talent.

We look forward to welcoming Thomas Vallely in Boston and to learning from his insights as we close out the year and continue building the next decade of VietChallenge’s mission.

Stay tuned for additional speaker spotlights in the coming days.

12/02/2025

⭐ Keynote Conversation Spotlight: Dr. Loi Nguyen

We are honored to welcome Dr. Loi Nguyen, PhD, as a featured speaker for the VietChallenge Boston End-of-Year Gathering on December 12. This exclusive dinner will bring together 25 to 30 founders, investors, industry experts, and community leaders who are shaping the future of Vietnamese innovation across the United States and Vietnam.

Dr. Loi Nguyen is one of the most respected Vietnamese-American figures in the global semiconductor industry. As the co-founder of Inphi Corporation and the Executive Vice President Emeritus of Marvell Technology, he has spent decades advancing high-speed data movement technologies that support cloud computing, AI infrastructure, and next-generation communications. His contributions include multiple patents and scientific publications that reflect a lifetime of dedication to engineering and innovation at the highest level. He also played a central role in expanding Marvell’s engineering footprint in Vietnam,

Our community has had the privilege of learning from Dr. Loi Nguyen before, and we are grateful to welcome him back for this year’s Boston gathering. Arriving in the United States with limited resources and building his path through determination, hard work, and an unwavering commitment to science and engineering, his life journey continues to inspire many Vietnamese founders and young professionals who seek to combine global ambition with meaningful impact.

At the Boston event, Dr. Loi Nguyen will join Thomas J. Vallely, Senior Advisor for Vietnam at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute and Founding Chairman of Fulbright University Vietnam, and Tuan Pham, Managing Director at J.P. Morgan for a keynote conversation titled "Vietnam’s Path toward Innovation and Technological Advancement." Together, they will explore Vietnam’s evolving innovation landscape and offer insight into the opportunities and challenges ahead for the next decade.

Outside of technology, Dr. Loi Nguyen is also an award-winning wildlife photographer and a committed conservation advocate who has supported habitat restoration efforts in the Mekong Delta. His passion for both innovation and the natural world continues to inspire a generation of Vietnamese founders and leaders.
We look forward to hearing his perspectives in Boston as we close out the year and look ahead to the next phase of VietChallenge’s mission.

Stay tuned as we continue to spotlight additional speakers for this year’s program.

12/01/2025

⭐ VietChallenge Boston Gathering
👉 https://forms.gle/JAnL73ib8WHPaWqf9

VietChallenge is excited to share more details about our upcoming exclusive gathering in Boston on Friday, December 12, 2025. Building on the momentum of our chapter communities in Boston, New York, Hanoi, and the Bay Area, this event will bring together a curated group of 25 to 30 founders, investors, industry experts, and community leaders who are shaping the future of Vietnamese innovation.

The evening will feature two signature conversations that reflect our commitment to connecting high impact voices across policy, technology, and entrepreneurship.

✨Keynote Conversation: Vietnam’s Path toward Innovation and Technological Advancement
• Dr. Loi Nguyen, Executive Vice President Emeritus, Marvell Technology
• Thomas J. Vallely, Senior Advisor for Vietnam at Columbia University’s Weatherhead East Asian Institute and Founding Chairman of Fulbright University Vietnam
• Tuan Pham, Managing Director, J.P. Morgan

✨Fireside Chat: Stories from Vietnamese Founders Building Across Global Markets
• Dimitry Tran, Co-Founder and Managing Director Americas, Harrison.ai
• Jean Pham, Co-Founder & CEO, Cellens
We will continue to update the speaker list as additional guests confirm their participation.

If you are an entrepreneur, investor, or industry expert of Vietnamese heritage, or if you work closely with Vietnam and would like to be considered for this gathering or future chapter programming, we invite you to share your interest using the form below. Space remains extremely limited.
👉 https://forms.gle/JAnL73ib8WHPaWqf9

We look forward to welcoming more members of our community as we build deeper connections across cities and continue shaping the next decade of Vietnamese innovation.

Address

University Of Massachusetts Boston, 100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA
02125

Telephone

+18579194015

Website

https://vietchallenge.org/

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