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On September 15, 2026, the Innovation and Incubation Center at Nguyen Tat Thanh University organized the Pitching Training and Demo Day program for the finalist teams of the NTTU Innovation Startup Challenge 2026. Beyond equipping students with presentation and fundraising skills, the program offered projects the opportunity to practice pitching, receive direct feedback from experts, and connect with enterprises before entering the Final Round.
The program took place at the campus on 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, Xom Chieu Ward, Ho Chi Minh City, with the attendance of representatives from the Innovation and Incubation Center, experts, enterprises, lecturers, and the outstanding teams that advanced to the Final Round of the NTTU Innovation Startup Challenge 2026.
Distinguished guests attending the event included Ms. Nguyen Thi Thuy – Standing Vice Chairwoman of the Southern Advisory Council for Startup Support; Ms. Vu Kim Anh – Deputy Director of the Business Studies and Business Support Center (BSA); MSc. Thai Thi Nhu Hong – Director of Nhu Hong Trading Service Co., Ltd.; and Dr. Jolie Rose – CEO of Paris Institute of Aesthetic Sciences (ABI).
Representing Nguyen Tat Thanh University were Dr. Hoang Thinh Nhan – Vice Director of the Innovation and Incubation Center, and MSc. Huynh Hong Mai – Vice Director of the Innovation and Incubation Center.
Perfecting pitching and fundraising skills for startup projects
With the theme “From Idea to Business: Impactful Entrepreneurship in the Digital Economy Era”, the NTTU Innovation Startup Challenge 2026 aims to create an environment for students to foster innovative thinking, refine business models, connect resources, and step-by-step bring startup ideas, products, and solutions closer to the market.
In that journey, pitching is one of the crucial skills that helps founders transform an idea or product into a compelling business story capable of convincing customers, partners, and investors.
At the program, MSc. Nguyen Le Kha directly presented the topic “Pitching and Investment Fundraising for Innovative Startup Projects”. Drawing from his extensive experience in business, investment, consulting, and startup ecosystem networking, the speaker focused on delivering practical knowledge and insights to help teams structure clear pitch presentations, highlight project value propositions, and improve their ability to access investment resources.
MSc. Nguyen Le Kha presenting on Pitching and Investment Fundraising for Innovative Startup Projects
Going beyond sharing theoretical knowledge, the program dedicated time for teams to engage in direct Q&A with the speaker on common challenges faced during pitch development, presentation techniques, fundraising strategies, as well as methods to approach businesses and investors.
Through this interactive session, teams had the chance to review their projects from the perspective of the audience and the market: what problem the project solves, who the target audience is, what the unique value proposition is, and why the product or solution holds potential for real-world growth.
Taking projects into the “test chamber” before the Final Round
One of the highlights of the program was the Mock Pitching and Business Matching session held in the afternoon. Instead of merely absorbing knowledge, teams put their projects directly into realistic presentation and defense scenarios.
The activity was organized across designated mock pitching and business networking areas. During pitching sessions, each team presented their project to experts, then directly received questions, feedback, and constructive advice to fine-tune their content prior to the Final Round.
Teams taking turns presenting their projects to experts
Simultaneously, in the business matching area, teams introduced products, solutions, business models, collaboration needs, and development roadmaps while discussing markets, target customers, commercialization viability, mentorship opportunities, product testing, market expansion, technology transfer, investment, and strategic partnerships with enterprise representatives.
This structure turned Demo Day into an effective “test chamber” for projects ahead of the decisive round. Direct feedback from experts and businesses served as a foundation for teams to identify limitations, validate product value propositions, and further perfect their business models.
Diverse ideas addressing practical challenges
According to the expert panel, this year’s participating projects demonstrated impressive diversity in fields and approaches, focusing on pressing contemporary issues such as technology, artificial intelligence, healthcare, smart agriculture, circular economy, green materials, and sustainable development. Notably, many teams showed innovative mindsets by moving beyond proposing ideas to actively targeting specific market and social needs.
Alongside praising positive aspects, the panel offered detailed recommendations to help teams further clarify product differentiation, define target customers accurately, refine business models, and validate feasibility and commercial potential. These are considered crucial factors for a creative idea to advance from a deck presentation to a value-generating solution in practice.
The Expert Panel providing constructive feedback on projects
Featured projects included the Circular Agriculture Ecosystem – elevating the value chain of Vietnamese cashew nuts; MicroCarbon Campus – a carbon footprint measurement tool for student events; EaAgri – a smart agricultural ecosystem powered by AI and IoT; Gluco360 – a comprehensive 360° monitoring platform for diabetic patients; MedReminder Family – a medication reminder app for multi-generational families; BioPectin+ – a solution for producing bio-pectin from agricultural by-products for food, pharmaceuticals, and green packaging; and PinaViet EcoTex – eco-friendly fabric made from pineapple leaves.
In addition to physical product developments, several teams chose challenges linked to digital transformation and artificial intelligence, such as DocuMind – an AI assistant for reading, summarizing, and auditing administrative documents; AI CEO Command Center – an AI CEO platform for enterprise coordination; and Agricultural Brain – an AI platform for data integration and farming decision-making.
This diversity highlights how the spirit of innovation is being approached by connecting ideas with practical societal and market demands, rather than ending at purely conceptual solutions.
Representatives of Nguyen Tat Thanh University presenting flowers and letters of appreciation to guests
From a startup contest to innovative capabilities of NTTU students
Through the Pitching Training and Demo Day program, competing teams not only gained knowledge in pitching and fundraising, but also had the chance to practice, handle Q&A, and directly connect with businesses. These are essential experiences that help learners gradually build market-oriented project development mindsets and enhance their ability to commercialize ideas.
This activity also reflects Nguyen Tat Thanh University’s commitment to building a thriving ecosystem that fosters innovation and entrepreneurship, connecting education and research with corporate partners and real-world needs.
Following Demo Day, teams will continue perfecting their projects, adjusting pitch presentations, and preparing for the Final Round of the NTTU Innovation Startup Challenge 2026, scheduled for October 3, 2026.
Transforming an initial idea into a project capable of generating real market value is a journey requiring more than creativity. It demands validation, adaptation, persuasion, and resource mobilization capabilities. The NTTU Innovation Startup Challenge 2026 is thus not merely a competition, but a dynamic proving ground where student ideas are tested against the practical demands of the entrepreneurial journey.
