HATCH! FAIR, an international startup conference, will return to the three cities of Ha Noi, HCM City and Da Nang, the event’s organiser said on Tuesday.

HATCH! FAIR Elite conference, which discusses challenges and opportunities to promote the role of businesses in sustainable development, will take place in the capital city on Saturday.

A similar conference, slated to be held in Da Nang on October 7, will showcase leading influential entrepreneurs, while discussing actions towards improving the early-stage startup ecosystem in the city.

The conference will be held in HCM City on October 27-28, as part of HCM City’s Innovation and Entrepreneurship Week 2017. It will gather international and national players within the startup ecosystem in Viet Nam and feature top national and international leaders, entrepreneurs, investors and ecosystem builders.

An annual startup exhibition will be held at the same time as the conference, showcasing more than 200 innovation-based startups, which will be vying for the attention of potential customers and media coverage.

Notably, over 30 shortlisted early-stage innovation-based companies will compete for awards including cash, investment and field trips in HCM City.

Since 2013, HATCH! FAIR has been organised by HATCH! Ventures Vietnam with support of the United Nation Development Programme in Viet Nam and the Embassy of Australia in Viet Nam.

The previous event witnessed the participation of 128 start-up companies and orgnisations while attracting over 80 speakers from 20 countries, including successful entrepreneurs, experienced investors and top experts in their own industries. — VNS