Kiwikid wins the UEB Genesis Start-up Contest 2017

07/08/2017 16:40

On July 23, 2017, the final pitch of UEB Genesis Start-up Contest was successfully organized at VNU University of Economics and Business (UEB).

Passing through two shortlisting rounds, seven groups including GoVN, Farmly Homestay, Get Fresh, Kiwikid, Medict, Taca, and Vedetza were selected among the 38 applications to the Final Pitch.

Attending the final pitch, from the UEB, there were Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu - Vice Rector, Dr. Le Trung Thanh - Head of Office of Research and Partnership Development, Assoc.Prof. Hoang Van Hai - Director of School of Business Administration cum Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Dr. Ho Chi Dung - Vice Chairman of the Organizing Committee.

Representatives from sponsors and partners included Dr. Nguyen Thuy Linh - EDNA Vietnam, Mr. Nguyen Minh Tu - Deputy Manager of Mobifone Hanoi 1, Mr. Nguyen Dinh Duc - Deputy Manager of HD Saison Finance, Ms. Do Kim Phuong from Haiha-Kotobuki, Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh from media-sponsored Online Vietnam Students Newspaper, Ms. Ta Thuy Tien - General Manager of Golden Gate Communication. In addition, the contest welcomed all guest speakers of supporting workshops held by the Organization Committee of UEB Genesis Start-up 2017.

The Final Pitch had its judge panel making up of all high-profile figures who had been pre-eminent business practitioners and respected academics, including Dr Nguyen Thuy Linh - Director of EDNA Vietnam, Mr. Bui Quang Tuyen - Manager of Viettel Group, Ninh Binh subsidiary, Mr. Lai Manh Quan - Manager of PTI Trang An Insurance. Dr. Do Xuan Truong - Deputy manager of Center for Human resource forecast, Ms. Le Lan Anh - Manager of IDP Hanoi, Mr. Phan Viet Hoa - Chairman of Mywork.com.vn, Mr. Bach Nguyen Vu - Chairman of Angels Investment, Dr. Ho Chi Dung - Head of Marketing Division, UEB.

Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu gives the opening speech at the Final Pitch

Delivering the opening speech at the final pitch, Dr. Nguyen Anh Thu highlighted “UEB Genesis Start-up is one of most significant cooperative programs among University of Sydney and University Sydney Business School (Entrepreneurship & Innovation Program), Entrepreneurship Development Network Asia (EDNA) and VNU University of Economics and Business. UEB Genesis Start-up Competition has been jointly organized by the parties in Vietnam in the last 2 years. The program provides students and alumni great opportunities to build up, to sustain, and to uphold extraordinary business ideas. On behalf of University of Economics and Business, I would like to take this opportunity to express my special thanks to the late Dr. Richard Seymour, University Sydney Business School and EDNA for initiating this Competition and supporting us to make the event great success. I would also like to send my cordial wish to all finalists and wish all distinguished guests, sponsors and partners successes and health”.

Finalist presents the business ideas

The seven teams have impressed the judges with their business ideas. Farmly HomeStay is a unique homestay service, whereby tourists are living with farmer families to join farming. Get Fresh is a convenient pre-processed food-set-on box solution for the family meal. Go-VN website provides safe travel information for tourists in Vietnam. Kiwikid is an educational and entertaining application to help children avoid the risk of sexual abuse. Medict is an electronic drug search application. Taca is a project to produces traditional dolls to enhance the awareness of cultural values for young generation. Vedetza provides Uber-alike model for beauty and make up services. This shows the strong creativity and high entrepreneurial spirit of Vietnamese students.

Overview of the Final pitch

All the seven finalists spent nearly 3 hours to present their business ideas and respond questions from the judging panel. The winning team was KiwiKid led by Ms. Nguyen Thuy Linh. The second runner-up groups were Taca and Farmly Homestay. The third runner-ups were Get Fresh and GoVN. The last two groups were awarded with praise and certificates of recognition.

Mr. Lai Manh Quan- a member of the judge panel stated: “The judge panel has worked hard to decide the winner since all ideas are innovative and well presented. We truly hope that all ideas could be realized soon. I especially congratulate the wining team and wish the team leader all the best to her trip to Sydney Genesis”.

Judge panel and member of the organizing committee take a photo together

UEB Genesis Start-up 2017 came to an end and finished its mission by finding deserved winners. To end the Final Pitch, Assoc.Prof. Hoang Van Hai - Chairman of Organizing Committee extended congratulations to prize-wining groups and thanks to contribution of all stakeholders. Assoc.Prof. Hoang Van Hai also emphasized the importance and significance of this year competition and strongly believed that it will serve as solid foundation for any further attempts of students. Finally, Assoc. Prof. Hoang Van Hai strongly called for future cooperation and support from partners, professionals, businesses among others in a-like competitions as well as educational activities hosted by UEB.

Huong Thao (SBA)