Startup forum bridges Silicon Valley and local innovation ecosystem

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH), Saigon Asset Management (SAM), and Plug and Play Tech Centre co-hosted the “From Vietnam to Silicon Valley” forum, exploring AI innovation, venture capital, and pathways to integrate Vietnam’s startup ecosystem with Silicon Valley and global markets.

“From Vietnam to Silicon Valley: How Startups Enter Global Innovation Ecosystems” brings together nearly 1,000 participants from universities, startups, venture capital funds, technology enterprises, and innovation support organisations from Vietnam and abroad
“From Vietnam to Silicon Valley: How Startups Enter Global Innovation Ecosystems” brings together nearly 1,000 participants from universities, startups, venture capital funds, technology enterprises, and innovation support organisations from Vietnam and abroad

The forum, held in Ho Chi Mnh City on May 27, brought together nearly 1,000 participants from universities, startups, venture capital funds, technology enterprises, and innovation support organisations from Vietnam and abroad.

The event highlighted Vietnam’s accelerating transition toward a knowledge-based economy driven by science and technology, artificial intelligence (AI), digital transformation, and a growing private sector. Against the backdrop of rapidly expanding tech startups and increasing corporate demand for innovation, open innovation collaboration models are emerging as a key trend to connect research, technology, markets, and investment capital.

At the forum, international investment funds shared their perspectives on Vietnam’s startup ecosystem and discussed global technology trends, particularly in AI, that are reshaping industries worldwide.

Experts share their perspectives at the forum
Experts share their perspectives at the forum

Key discussions focused on practical challenges faced by startups, including fundraising, market expansion, and strategic pathways to enter global ecosystems such as Silicon Valley.

According to representatives from Plug and Play Tech Centre, international investors are showing growing interest in Vietnam’s investment environment, particularly in the technology and AI sectors. With a strong pool of technical talent and evolving policies that increasingly support innovation, Vietnam is viewed as a promising destination for technology investment in the coming years.

Louis Nguyen, chairman and CEO of Saigon Asset Management, speaks at the forum
Louis Nguyen, chairman and CEO of Saigon Asset Management, speaks at the forum

Louis Nguyen, chairman and CEO of Saigon Asset Management, emphasised that such initiatives aim to build a shared platform connecting the government, investors, enterprises, and universities to foster innovation and attract international capital into Vietnam.

He noted that strengthening collaboration among stakeholders is essential to accelerating startup growth and improving access to global markets.

Organisers said the forum is expected to create long-term partnerships between startups, universities, enterprises, and investment funds. It also aims to accelerate the commercialisation of academic research and leverage AI as a competitive advantage for the next generation of Vietnamese tech entrepreneurs.

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