Lots of potential for AI startups

Tuoi Tre Startup Award 2025 entered the Coffee Talk round on October 29 with the presence of the top 5 best startups participating in this year's competition. They had a direct meeting and discussion with investors, experts and members of the professional council.

Representatives of the five most outstanding startups in the Coffee Talk round with the expert panel and guests of Tuoi Tre Startup Award 2025 - Photo: QUANG DINH

Journalist Tran Xuan Toan, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Tuoi Tre newspaper, said that Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in science , technology, innovation and national digital transformation sets out very clear goals. That is to build a generation of entrepreneurs who are competitive enough in the world market and startup competitions are the launching pad for that goal.

With Tuoi Tre Startup Award 2025, we hope to spread the message of entrepreneurship as well as contribute a small part of our efforts to the country's development process.

Journalist TRAN XUAN TOAN

Startups need to solve real problems and needs

Mr. Andrey Shirben, an investor from Follow(the)Seed fund, emphasized that Vietnam is currently in a very strong development phase with a steep growth trajectory, a very special opportunity on a global scale. Although the level of technology in general and artificial intelligence (AI) in particular in Vietnam is not as advanced as some other countries, there are very typical AI applications.

These include computer vision, agriculture , local languages ​​and localization, which are very specific areas, sometimes more advanced than elsewhere. So the opportunities for growth will lie in slightly different areas than in other countries around the world.

Meanwhile, Mr. Daniel Kashmir - co-founder of Momentick Company - commented that the potential in the domestic market with specific needs such as in the fields of health, environment and energy or education is also a field in which Vietnam has great potential to apply technology to develop the country.

"The business model in Vietnam is not much different from other countries. The important thing is that the idea must solve a real problem or a real need. The ability to expand and the size of the domestic market in Vietnam is what attracts investors," said Mr. Daniel.

Program advisor Pham Phu Ngoc Trai talks with 5 outstanding startups of Tuoi Tre Startup Award 2025 - Photo: Q.DINH

Strong steps of young startups

Listening to the five most prominent startups present their projects, Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai - Chairman of the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO Vietnam) - shared that the economy is entering the AI ​​2.0 era, in which digital transformation and innovation contribute more than 40% to the private economy.

He assessed that the projects are on the right track with the view that AI is increasingly important, being applied practically and repositioning the mindset of using machines.

Mr. Ngoc Trai said that together with the professional council, we are proud to be contributing to the common aspiration associated with the common vision. "Think harder so that your startups can go further, becoming strong developing businesses in the future. I hope you will keep in touch with investors, banks, and businesses at Tuoi Tre Startup Award", Mr. Trai said.

Israeli investors and entrepreneurs advise startups to be humble but ambitious and move fast, do it fast, learn fast and keep going. Both Andrey and Daniel encourage startups to collaborate and share with each other, speak up and get feedback because even negative feedback is useful, saving time to invest in what really matters.

"If you truly feel the fire in your heart and believe that this is your path, never give up. This path is very difficult, sometimes you have to run around everywhere to find capital, but you have to be creative and believe in yourself throughout the journey," the two guests confided.

Don't just think, do!

Sharing, Mr. Andrey said that he could wake up with 20 different great ideas but they would all be worthless if not implemented, the key lies in execution. An international investor evaluating a technology startup does not really care much about the idea but looks at the team, the ability to execute and what the team has achieved.

Regarding growth potential, Mr. Daniel said that investors entering the local market want to see an idea that can be implemented both domestically and internationally. Startups need to have a regional vision because Vietnam has the opportunity to become a regional hub thanks to its young, well-educated and ambitious workforce.

“The Vietnamese government is pushing for a legal framework and market expansion in this sector. But companies also need to be able to expand into Southeast Asia and, if ambitious enough, can compete globally,” said Daniel.

Meanwhile, Mr. Andrey emphasized that the problems that startups solve must be real problems, real needs. The project can start in the domestic market, but investors want that problem to be expanded and solved on a global scale. "I think we need venture capital, capital from the Government or the private sector. This is the key factor to help startups move forward," Mr. Andrey advised.

The 5 most prominent startups have been found

The five most outstanding startups were screened from more than 100 applications coming from five different fields but sharing the same spirit of using AI to solve life's problems.

These are AirCity - smart building management technology, Ecombox - e-commerce operation optimization platform, Enfarm Agritech - sensor and AI solution for sustainable agriculture, Nuoa.io - sustainable development management and emission inventory platform, Saner.AI - AI assistant to improve personal productivity.

Tuoi Tre Startup Award 2025 "Building the future with AI" is organized by the Ho Chi Minh City Youth Union and Tuoi Tre newspaper in collaboration with the Business Startup Support Center (BSSC). Asia Commercial Joint Stock Bank (ACB), Thanh Thanh Cong - Bien Hoa Joint Stock Company (AgriS), VinaCapital Group, An Hoa Construction Inspection Joint Stock Company, Dai-ichi Life Vietnam Insurance Company accompany the program.

The 100 million VND prize for the best startup is supported by Mr. Pham Phu Ngoc Trai - founder and chairman of the Vietnam Packaging Recycling Alliance (PRO VIETNAM), program advisor.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/rat-nhieu-tiem-nang-cho-startup-ung-dung-ai-2025103009421858.htm