HCM CITY — The fourth Start-up Project Competition was launched in HCM City on Wednesday.

Called “Developing local resources by technological power”, the competition this year focuses on start-up businesses or projects that add value to local resources, develop eco-tourism and an environment based on local resources, and have market potential and technological content.

Vu Kim Anh of the Centre for Business Studies and Assistance (BSA), one of the organisers, said the competition is open to people of all ages.

Start-ups that are already up and running should be less than three years old, she said.

From now until July the organisers will bring in leading experts in technology, local resources, marketing and other areas to provide training in developing business and financial plans, investment solicitation skills, developing local resources using technology and other topics in localities and to potential contestants.

Training will also be provided to contestants entering the semi-final and final rounds of the contest.

Applications can be sent by mail to BSA or email to thiduankhoinghiep2018@bsa.org.vn by August 31.

The semi-final round will be held in September in the three places with the largest number of contestants, and the final in October in HCM City.

Up for grabs is VND380 million (US$16,666) of prize money.

BSA is organising it together with the Vietnamese High Quality Goods Association, the Trung Nguyen Group, Vinamit JSC, and others.

Vietnam Start-up Wheel

Also in HCM City, the Business Start-up Support Centre and the HCM City Young Businesspeople Association on May 15 launched the 2018 Vietnam Start-up Wheel contest to establish links between start-ups and start-up support programmes.

Unlike previous years the sixth edition of the competition is open to contestants of all ages and nationalities who have a start-up in Viet Nam, including researchers and overseas Vietnamese students, Truong Ly Hoang Phi, director of the centre, said.

Contestants will be given intensive training in starting a business, as well as chances to learn from successful and prestigious entrepreneurs, she said.

Registration for the contest closes on May 31.

On offer are attractive cash prizes, sponsorship for training courses in and outside the country, and opportunities for getting investment from businesses and competition partners to develop winning ideas or projects.

Start-up Wheel was launched in HCM City in 2013 and became a national event two years later.

This year it has become part of the Government’s Project 844 to support a national innovative start-up eco-system and has been renamed Vietnam Start-up Wheel. — VNS