The Next Founders

About this competition

This challenge is designed by The Business School to provide a platform for RMIT Vietnam students to innovate to make a difference, connect with peers who share similar interests, and collaborate to create sustainable business ideas for the future. ​

Over a span of 10 weeks in Semester 2, students will be given the opportunity to participate in workshops, 2-day Hackathon, mentoring sessions, a Carnival, and the Vietnam Demo Day. These activities are designed to cultivate essential skills such as ideation, prototyping, market testing, and storytelling. The top two finalists from this competition will have the honour of representing RMIT Vietnam in the RMIT Business Global Innovation Challenge (BGIC).​

We are committed to providing a meaningful and engaging learning experience. This is more than just a competition - it's an opportunity to understand the entrepreneurial journey and stand a chance to win substantial seed grants and prizes.  

Challenge statement

How might startup ideas support Vietnam and global economy in bringing forward innovative solutions to deliver an impact to accelerate the achievement of the SDGs by 2030?  ​

This year’s challenge invites RMIT students to ignite the future of Vietnam and global economy. This competition is designed to foster innovative business ideas that address the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 3, 5, 8, 10, and 16. These goals focus on health and well-being, gender equality, decent work and economic growth, reduced inequalities, and peace, justice, and strong institutions respectively.​

the phrase 3 good health and wellbeing in white on a green background
the phrase 5 gender equality in white on a red background
the phrase 8 decent work and economic growth in white on a burgundy background
the phrase 10 reduced inequalities in white on a pink background
the phrase 16 peace, justice and strong institutions in white on a blue background

We challenge you to identify a specific issue related to at least one of these SDGs and develop a groundbreaking startup idea to address it. Your startup should be innovative, sustainable, and scalable, with the potential to generate positive social and environmental outcomes.​

Eligibility

Each team must comprise a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 people​

Team members must be 18 years old or over​

Participants must be enrolled as Business current students of RMIT University Vietnam

Important dates

Dates​

Descriptions​
1 July 2024​ Registration opens​
17 July 2024​ Registration closes​
24 July 2024​ Launch Day​
27 July 2024​ Workshop 1 & 2. Meet and Greet​
9 August 2024​ 1st Pitch​
16 & 17 August 2024​ 2-day Hackathon​
23 August 2024​ Mentoring sessions​
30 August 2024
 2nd Pitch​
12 September 2024​ Carnival (in collaboration with RMIT Career Fair)​
14 September 2024 Vietnam Demo Day​
1 December 2024​ Business Global Innovation Challenge (BGIC) Carnival @SGS Experience Day​
4 December 2024​ BGIC Final Pitch​

Prizes

Grand Prizes:

  • 1st Prize: Cash Voucher & Seed Grant (Total of VND 50 million)
  • 2nd Prize: Cash Voucher & Seed Grant (Total of VND 25 million)
  • 3rd Prize: Cash Voucher & Seed Grant (Total of VND 10 million)

Special Awards:

  • Most Technically Advanced Prototype (Cash voucher VND 5 million)
  • Greatest Social Impact (Cash voucher VND 5 million)
  • Best Commercial Potential (Cash voucher VND 5 million)

Sponsors

Organised by

Incubation partner

Strategic partners

Major International Sponsor ​

Student Club Partner​

Partners and sponsors

About RMIT Activator Vietnam

RMIT Activator Vietnam, RMIT University’s growth engine for innovation and entrepreneurship. Since 2017, RMIT Activator has been unlocking entrepreneurial potential across founders, innovators, educators and student talents.

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