Participants discuss startup journeys at the launch of the Univentures programme (Photo: NIC)
Vietnam’s university startup ecosystem is receiving a major boost with the launch of UniVentures, a regional innovation programme initiated by BLOCK71 of the National University of Singapore (NUS) in collaboration with Temasek Foundation, and supported by the National Innovation Centre (NIC), Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, Golden Gate Ventures, Singapore Global Network, Google Cloud, IBM and Reactor School.
The programme aims to connect the innovation ecosystems of Singapore and Vietnam, helping startup founders from Vietnamese universities access mentorship, markets and investors. Inspired by the vision “University to Unicorn”, UniVentures targets student, alumni and researcher-founded startups.
Initially set to support 1,000 founders, the programme attracted nearly 1,500 applications nationwide in its first intake, reflecting strong entrepreneurial spirit among Vietnamese youth.
According to Edward Lim, Country Director of BLOCK71 Vietnam, UniVentures is not just a programme but an effort to shape the trajectory of Vietnamese founders and build sustainable innovation bridges between Vietnam and Singapore.
As part of BLOCK71’s expansion strategy in Vietnam and Southeast Asia, UniVentures offers specialised workshops, investment training, pitching coaching and mentorship from regional founders and venture capitalists, culminating in a Demo Day.
Golden Gate Ventures has also partnered with UniVentures to launch the “GGV UniVentures Award” worth 250,000 USD to support up to 10 outstanding startups.
NIC Director Vu Quoc Huy said the programme serves as a national incubation platform, connecting public and private sectors to promote innovation and help Vietnamese youth reach global markets.
The initiative reflects the upgraded Singapore-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, in which innovation, technology and startups are key pillars. It builds on cooperation agreements signed during high-level visits in 2025 and the 2023 MoU between NUS and NIC.
UniVentures has been introduced at leading universities such as Hanoi University of Industry, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and VinUniversity. Selected startups will be incubated at BLOCK71 in both Vietnam and Singapore, with access to investors and venture funds including Golden Gate Ventures.
