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Student Startup Idea Competition – INNOSTAR 2026

03/09/2026 23:51

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INNOSTAR 2026 – STUDENT STARTUP IDEA COMPETITION OFFICIALLY LAUNCHED WITH AN UPGRADED VERSION

The 2026 Student Startup Idea Competition officially returns with a new name – INNOSTAR. With an expanded scale and a focus on quality enhancement, INNOSTAR 2026 aims to build a practical and internationally connected startup platform.

INNOSTAR 2026 – VIETNAM – SOUTH KOREA STUDENT STARTUP IDEA COMPETITION 2026 is a program for students passionate about innovation and creativity, who wish to develop their ideas into viable projects in an environment of exchange and collaboration between Vietnam and South Korea.

TOPIC: APPLYING SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY TO MODERN BUSINESS

COMPETITION SECTORS

Projects across various fields, especially encouraging those in trending and strong sectors of Ho Chi Minh City:

The competition encourages projects with technological applications, while also providing opportunities for ideas in the early development stage to participate.

PRIZE STRUCTURE

Total prize value up to 200,000,000 VND, including:

1st Prize: 30,000,000 VND

2nd Prizes: 15,000,000 VND per prize

3rd Prizes: 10,000,000 VND per prize

️ 4th Prizes: 9,000,000 VND per prize

️ SPECIAL PRIZE: 10 ‘Special Prizes’ for the first time with a value of 7,000,000 VND per prize, awarded to the top 10 creative projects.

EVALUATION CRITERIA

Projects will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

Implementation Ability: 30 points

Creativity: 20 points

Potential Market: 20 points

Economic Effectiveness or Social Impact: 10 points

Technology Application: 10 points

Business Model: 10 points

TARGET AUDIENCE & ELIGIBILITY CONDITIONS

Students currently enrolled at universities in Ho Chi Minh City and South Korea

Have an innovative startup idea

Have the ability to communicate in English

Commit to fully participating in all activities within the competition framework

Project with high practical application value, bringing benefits to the community

SELECTION AND EVALUATION PROCESS

Preliminary Round: Project evaluation and selection through application documents by the expert committee

Semifinal and Final Rounds: Teams present their projects and answer questions from the jury

Evaluation is conducted based on criteria and scoring scales according to the Regulations and Rules issued by the Organizing Committee

The number of projects selected in each round will follow the program’s regulations

PROJECT SCHEDULE

April – June 2026: Accepting and preliminary selection of projects

June 2026: Participating in intensive training sessions, equipping knowledge and skills needed to develop the project

Semifinal Round 1: July 2026: Project pitching to qualify for Semifinal Round 2

Semifinal Round 2: July 2026: Project pitching to qualify for the Final Round of the Competition

Mentorship: July – August 2026: Finalist projects are developed by expert mentors

Bootcamp Connecting Vietnam – South Korea: August 2026: Exchange and idea sharing, cultural interaction between Vietnamese and South Korean teams

Final Round and Award Ceremony (within the framework of HCMC K-Brand Expo 2,026): 28 & 29/08/2026

DISTINCTIVE FEATURES OF INNOSTAR 2026

Opportunity to connect with the Vietnam – South Korea startup ecosystem

Training and mentorship by experts and startup support organizations

Experience developing a project from idea to a complete business model

Opportunity to access investors and post-competition incubation programs

INNOSTAR 2026 is not just a competition, but a journey supporting students in gradually realizing their startup ideas, contributing to the development of an innovation ecosystem in the context of international integration.