SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2023, TOP 3 STARTUPS ANNOUNCEMENT
30/11/2023

Demo Day SK Startup Fellowship 2023 (SKSF 2023) officially took place

The SKSF program is an annual initiative by SK Group, aimed at identifying and supporting early-stage startup talents, particularly those with a strong social impact. This program signifies SK Group’s enduring commitment to investment and collaboration in Vietnam. The launch of SKSF Batch #4 on May 22, 2023, drew nearly 200 applications, underscoring the program’s growing prominence in the Vietnamese startup ecosystem after three successful batches.

With startups spanning various sectors, boasting integrated core technologies, robust research capabilities, and valuable patents, the SKSF participants share a common vision of creating positive societal impacts. These startups are led by founder teams comprising both Vietnamese and international talents, bringing diverse educational backgrounds and startup experiences in both domestic and international markets.

On July 27, 2023, SK Group organized an Orientation Day to unveil the Top 15 startups. Following this, a Judging Panel meticulously evaluated and selected the Top 10 outstanding startups for the acceleration phase. Over the next six months, these chosen startups embarked on a comprehensive journey featuring one-on-one mentoring sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities with investors, venture capitalists (VCs), and corporations in Vietnam.

A noteworthy highlight of SKSF 2023 was the Seoul Workshop, a business trip to Korea held in September. During this trip, the Top 10 startups engaged in face-to-face meetings with senior executives of SK Group at the company’s headquarters. Additionally, they participated in networking events, connecting with prominent Korean startups and having one-on-one meetings with potential investors. The startups also attended an exhibition at the Social Value Connect (SOVAC) 2023, further expanding their connections within the Korean startup ecosystem. Overall, SKSF 2023 facilitated a unique and impactful experience for the selected startups, fostering collaboration and growth opportunities in both the Vietnamese and Korean startup landscapes..

Following the completion of the acceleration phase in SKSF 2023, the Top 10 startups achieved significant breakthroughs and developmental milestones. On November 29, 2023, these standout startups took center stage at Demo Day, marking the culmination of the program. During this event, the Top 10 showcased their progress, aiming to secure a spot among the Top 3 that would receive a substantial grant of US$50,000. The remaining startups were eligible for a commendable grant of US$15,000 each, and it’s worth noting that all grants were offered in the form of cash and without equity requirements.

Demo Day of SK Startup Fellowship 2023, Batch#4

Demo Day drew in more than 100 attendees, including Startup Alumni, Investors, Venture Capitalists (VCs), Entrepreneurs, Corporations, and more. The event served as a platform for discussions on business collaboration and investment opportunities. Opening the Demo Day, Ms. Chaerhan Chun, Senior Vice President and Head of SK Vietnam expressed, “SK Group firmly believes in the power of innovation and collaboration. We understand that startups play a vital role in driving economic growth and societal development. That is why we established the SK Startup Fellowship, to provide aspiring entrepreneurs with the necessary resources, mentorship, and opportunities to turn their ideas into successful businesses. In spite of the challenges posed by the current economic downturn, the SK Startup Fellowship 2023 fellows have demonstrated unwavering commitment and adaptability. They have shown us that innovation knows no boundaries and that even in the face of adversity, great ideas can flourish. I am confident that the ideas and solutions presented here today will inspire us all and contribute to a brighter future. Together, let us create a world where innovation knows no bounds.”, setting the tone for an insightful and impactful gathering focused on recognizing and rewarding the achievements of the participating startups in SKSF 2023. 

Ms. Chaerhan Chun, Senior Vice President and Head of SK Vietnam opened Demo Day SKSF 2023

Also at the event, Mr. Tran Duy Dong – Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment emphasized “On behalf of the leaders of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, I highly appreciate the efforts of SK Group in organizing the SK Startup Fellowship Program , which has sponsored more than 1 million USD equity-free grant for 37 Vietnamese startups in the past 3 years. The program has promoted innovation and entrepreneurship in Vietnam, contributing to creating new momentum to connect Vietnamese startups with the Korean startup ecosystem. On the part of the Ministry of Planning and Investment, through the National Innovation Center (NIC), we will accompany the SKSF Program in the coming years. At the same time, we will continue to support start-up and innovative businesses through specific action programs such as providing working locations at the National Innovation Center’s facilities, communications support, consultation, training and other startup acceleration activities. Through this, we also request that SK Group as well as investment funds and investors continue to comment on policies of the government and relevant ministries, in order to improve polices regarding investment, especially in the field of venture capital so that we can have Vietnamese startups with foothold in international markets, thereby also improving the competitiveness of Vietnam economy.”

Mr. Tran Duy Dong – Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment shared at Demo Day SKSF 2023

The esteemed Board of Judges for Demo Day SKSF 2023 comprises leading experts in the Vietnam startup ecosystem, including Mr. Yu Jae Wook – Vice President and Chief Representative of SK Hanoi, Mr. Truong Minh Hung – Senior Investment Director of SK Vietnam, Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi – Chairwoman and CEO IBP, Vice President of YBA, Founder of BSSC, Mr. Vinnie Lauria – Founding Partner of Golden Gate Ventures, Ms. Phuong Tran –  Principal at Wavemaker Partners, SEA & Vietnam Venture Capital. Bringing to the table 10 to 20 years of extensive experience in the startup and innovation landscapes of Vietnam and the broader region, the Board of Judges encompasses individuals with diverse perspectives, such as investors, venture capitalists (VCs), and representatives from corporations both in Vietnam and internationally. This panel delivered sharp counter-arguments and valuable suggestions for each business model presented by the Top startups in SKSF Batch #4.

During the competition, each startup had a 5-minute pitch followed by a 5-minute Q&A session in front of the Board of Judges. Despite the challenges, the Top 10 startups of SKSF 2023 presented comprehensive insights into their businesses, highlighting innovative business models and showcasing breakthrough technologies. This approach allowed them to provide convincing answers to the judges and create a vivid picture of their potential.

In this competitive setting, corporations, investors, and investment funds gained valuable insights as they explored opportunities for collaboration, investment, and partnership with the Top 10 startups in their upcoming growth journeys.

Furthermore, Demo Day not only served as a platform for the startups to present their ideas but also provided a deep, multi-dimensional perspective and valuable lessons to both startups and attendees. This was achieved through the insightful sharing of experiences by Mr. Ly Qui Trung, President of LQT Modern Entrepreneur Institute shared: “This is a very special period for businesses, especially startups. On one hand, we must grow quickly and courageously; but on the other hand, we must consider safely, wisely, and delicately like a circus artist walking on a tightrope. We must have balance. If we lean too much to either side, we will fall”, adding another layer of richness to the event.

Mr. Ly Qui Trung, President of LQT Modern Entrepreneur Institute shared the Open Keynote

In addition to the attractive competition of Top startups SKSF 2023, Demo Day also gives startups and attendees insight and valuable lessons through the Open Keynote sharing of Mr. Khoi Nguyen, Founder of Good Story Time also shared an Open Keynote with startups and event attendees about GRIT – the spirit of endless effort and perseverance on the founders’ entrepreneurial journey. Mr. Khoi Nguyen sent a message to founders, facing the “winter capital raising” period, startups must have a GRIT spirit. He emphasized the point that founders must always set an example, persevere, try and grasp every aspect of the startup journey to move the company forward.

Mr. Khoi Nguyen, Founder of Good Story Time with Open Keynote at Demo Day SKSF 2023

The 6-month acceleration journey of Top 10 Startups SKSF 2023

The SKSF program, orchestrated by SK Group, is designed to assist startups in establishing foundations and cultivating networks of partners to foster business growth. Beyond the provision of non-equity grants, SKSF 2023 has delivered invaluable non-financial support, focusing on enhancing the inner strengths of participating startups. This non-financial support encompasses two primary streams of activities conducted throughout the 6-month SKSF 2023 program: training and mentoring.

The Top 10 startups in SKSF 2023 underwent a series of 20 in-depth 1:1 mentoring sessions with 10 mentors. These mentors, boasting years of experience as investors, entrepreneurs, and experts in both the Vietnamese and international markets, provided tailored guidance and insights to the startups. Additionally, networking events were organized, attracting the participation of over 50 investors, investment funds, and major corporations.

A distinctive feature of SKSF 2023 that brought significant value to the Top 10 was the business trip to South Korea. This unique opportunity facilitated deeper connections with SK Group and the broader Korean ecosystem. The immersion in the Korean business landscape added a layer of experiential learning, contributing to the startups’ growth by expanding their networks and fostering collaboration with key players in the Korean market. Sharing about the progress of the Top 10 startups after the 6-month journey, Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang – CEO of BSSC and vice President of YBA said “Overall, this year’s Top 10 covers various industries and is in a promising development phase. However, startups are facing challenges during this economic crisis, so it’s crucial for them to focus on optimizing resources, managing costs, controlling cash flow, and exploring new markets by reaching out to new customer segments to boost revenue. Startups need to prioritize business activities with the goal of overcoming difficulties, ensuring self-sustainability and growth, and avoiding excessive dependence on investment capital.” Mr. Nguyen Duc May, Co-Founder of Foodmap looked back at the 6-month acceleration journey at SKSF 2023 and said “During the 6 months of participating in the program, we have learned a lot and we will try to apply it to our business. I believe that the mentors and SKSF program will continue to support us in our entrepreneurial journey.”

One startup presents at Demo Day SKSF 2023

At the conclusion of the 6-month SKSF program in 2023, the participating startups have demonstrated remarkable growth and achievements. OLLI Technology secured a position in the esteemed Top 10 of Startup Wheel 2023, unveiling the innovative content assistant Maika AI and forging strategic cooperation agreements with FPT Smarthome and Toshiba Vietnam. EcoTruck received recognition in the Top 10 Brands in Asia-Pacific 2023 by the Asia Industrial Information Association (AIPA) and formed a partnership with Viet Duc for the distribution of lubricant and coolant products. Aplus Home earned a place in the Top 50 of Startup Wheel 2023, while BUYO Bioplastics secured the second position in the She Loves Tech Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia 2023 program. OnMic, FoodMap Asia, IC2 Digital Health, Kamereo, Rostek, and Wecare have successfully developed robust business platforms, showcasing impressive progress.

These achievements underscore the focused commitment of the Top SKSF 2023 startups to sustainable development, leveraging their internal strengths to adapt to market conditions. Additionally, these startups have demonstrated intelligent and effective strategies in collaborating with major partners and accessing external support resources. After the 6-month program, the Top startups of SKSF 2023 have established a strong technological foundation and growth model, positioning themselves to expand their market presence and seek strategic partnerships.

Through Demo Day, SK Group continues to provide opportunities for the Top 10 startups of SKSF 2023 and alumni startups to connect with investment funds and large corporations, exploring potential avenues for business partnerships. This ongoing support reflects SK Group’s commitment to fostering the growth and success of these startups beyond the duration of the SKSF program.

Who are the Top 3 startups of SKSF 2023, Bach#4?

After the presentations of the Top 10, the Board of Judges SKSF 2023 selected the Top 3 startups to award the highest prize of SKSF 2023. Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi – Member of The Board of Judges for Demo Day SKSF 2023 shared “I’ve seen the top startups of SKSF have an increase in quality year by year. Participating startups are also clearly aware of SKSF’s contribution to their entrepreneurial journey. And that is also what makes SKSF develop into the 4th year and is developing in the right direction and sustainably, which is supporting potential startup companies in the early stages and helping them grow in a crowded turbulent market currently. And I think that is also the goal pursued by the SK Group, the SKSF program and SKSF’s program partner BSSC. I think the sustainable growth of startup companies is an important foundation to affirm the quality of SKSF’s Top 10 to Top 3 over the years.”

Ms. Chaerhan Chun, Senior Vice President and Head of SK Vietnam presents the gifts to thank The Board of Judges SKSF 2023

Top 3 startup SKSF 2023 received the highest award of the program which is a grant of US$50,000/startup:

KAMEREO is a B2B commerce for F&B businesses in Vietnam. We build a better supply chain from upstream to downstream so that we supply food ingredients better and cheaper.

EcoTruck is a tech-based logistics company in Vietnam. EcoTruck is focusing on B2B trucking (both first mile and middle mile) and has built the first and the biggest ecosystem of supporting services for trucking suppliers.

FoodMap Asia is a bridge connecting producers and consumers to help optimize agricultural supply chains and enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products.

Top 3 SKSF 2023

BUYO Bioplastics received the Honorary award with the Grant 25,000 USD. The remaining startups received US$15,000/startup: OnMic, IC2 Digital Health, Rostek, Wecare, OLLI Technology, Beta PropTech.

Top 10 SK Startup Fellowship 2023

Demo Day has wrapped up the SK Startup Fellowship 2023. The program is a memorable milestone for the Top 10 in their growth journeys as they received valuable support from SKSF. 

Besides the non-equity grants, Top 10 SKSF also obtained knowledge from in-depth training sessions, mentors’ sharp product thinking and practical business mindsets, practical experience shared among alumni; strategic vision with international business development orientation from SK Group, and networks of valuable relationships in Vietnam, Korea and regional startup ecosystems from Program Partner BSSC and Partners such as Partner như Do Ventures, Golden Gate Ventures, Jungle Ventures, Nextrans, ThinkZone, Vinacapital Ventures, Wavemaker Partners. The SKSF 2023 program is temporarily ended, but SK Group and its partners continue to support startup alumni in their growth journeys after the program.

The organizer: SK Group – the second-largest conglomerate in Korea. With nearly 70 years of establishment history, SK has more than 100 subsidiaries that operate across over 40 countries and territories, with a variety of industries such as Energy, Telecommunications, Semiconductors and Materials, Biotechnology, and other services. SK Group recorded revenue of US$139 billion in 2021 and was ranked in the Top 100 Global Enterprises of Fortune 500. Since 2018, SK Group has officially entered the Vietnamese market through major investments such as approximately US$1 billion investment in Vingroup, more than US$1.2 billion investment in Masan Group and its member companies, etc. In 2020, SK Group launched the SK Startup Fellowship program, demonstrating its commitment to long-term investment in the Vietnamese market. SK Startup Fellowship (SKSF) has provided over $1 million in non-equity convertible grants to 37 Vietnamese startups continuously for 3 years from 2020 to 2023.

Program Partner: BSSC is one of the most prestigious and largest startup support organizations in Vietnam. BSSC’s ecosystem has more than 15,000 Startups/SMEs, 25,000 Entrepreneurs, 100 Mentors and Experts, 200 Angel Investors, and Venture Capital Funds. As the Program Partner of the SK Startup Fellowship from 2021 to 2023,  BSSC is committed to contributing quality resources to the program.

Top Startup Fellowship 2023, Batch#4

No.Startup NameShort Introduction
1Beta PropTechAPlus Home is pioneering in building a Plus-living ecosystem by applying technology to build an optimal living solution at a reasonable price for young people. This is a new generation of prop-tech that combines financing models, property development, and management on a modern technology platform.
2BUYO Bioplastics Company Ltd.BUYO provides a 100% nature-based and biodegradable bioplastic solution, using our advanced proprietary technology to convert bio-waste and plant-based materials into plastics.
3EcoTruckEcoTruck is a tech-based logistics company in Vietnam. EcoTruck is focusing on B2B trucking (both first mile and middle mile) and has built the first and the biggest ecosystem of supporting services for trucking suppliers.
4Foodmap AsiaFoodMap is a bridge connecting producers and consumers to help optimize agricultural supply chains and enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products.
6IC2 Digital Health JSCIC2 Digital Health JSC is a healthcare company that specializes in telehealth platform services for insurance and public customers.
8KAMEREOKamereo is a B2B commerce for F&B businesses in Vietnam. We build a better supply chain from upstream to downstream so that we supply food ingredients better and cheaper.
10OLLI TechnologyOLLI Technology builds an ecosystem of AI interactive platforms including AI platform, devices, and content. Our product, in the form of an AI virtual character, can proactively interact with children using natural conversation and keep them engaged in entertaining content and active learning experience.
11OnMicOnMic, a social audio content universe, offers a wide range of premium audio content while allowing almost everyone to become a content creator.
12RostekRostek specializes in Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE), digital transformation consulting, products and services. By leveraging these core areas, we empower our customers to enhance their operational capabilities, increase productivity, and gain a competitive edge in today’s market.
14WecareWecare is an industrial supply chain solution transforming industrial B2B Procurement with Technology. We help manufacturers manage their supply chain, and incoming materials much easier.
SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2023, BATCH#4 ANNOUNCED TOP 15 STARTUP
31/07/2023

SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2023, BATCH#4 ANNOUNCED TOP 15 STARTUP

On July 27, 2023, SK Group held Orientation Day – the first event in its activities for the Top 15 startups of SK Startup Fellowship 2023 (SKSF 2023).

Orientation Day of SK Startup Fellowship 2023

After one month since the application opened, the SKSF 2023 program has received applications from over 180 startups. SKSF Batch 4 has demonstrated its appeal by attracting numerous startups from diverse sectors, including Education, E-commerce, Environment/Clean Tech, Healthcare/Wellness, and technology fields like AI/Deep Tech, FinTech, FoodTech, among others. SK Group emphasized that the SKSF program does not restrict the industry or stage of startups and places high value on startups with positive environmental and social impact factors.

With consecutive success from the previous three batches, SKSF has garnered significant attention from startups at the stage of rapid growth this year. After reviewing each profile for nearly two weeks, a panel of experts selected potential startups to participate in 1:1 in-depth interviews. As a result, the 15 most promising startups for SKSF 2023 were officially revealed. 

Highlights of the Top 15 SK Startup Fellowship 2023? 

Overall, the Top 15 SKSF 2023 startups are mostly in the scale-up phase, having successfully passed the product-market-fit stage. This is a very positive sign amidst the winter of fundraising. In particular, many startups are focusing on developing their products, providing feasible solutions to customers, and prioritizing customer care to achieve sustainable revenue growth rather than continuously relying on fundraising to survive. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that this year’s SKSF has seen several startups with positive environmental and social impact factors in their business models, which has been highly praised by the expert panel.

Looking at the founding teams, the Top 15 startups of SKSF 2023 feature many serial entrepreneurs, who are founders with extensive experience in setting up companies, successfully exiting them, and starting new ventures with innovative business models. The entrepreneurial background and past experiences of the founders contribute significantly to increasing the success rate of these startups.

Looking at the technology aspect, there is an increasing number of startups developing and owning core technologies, which has become more and more trending through previous batches of SKSF. These startups heavily invest in R&D, resulting in products and solutions with advanced technological capabilities. Some startups adopt a “full stack” development strategy, encompassing hardware, software, and AI technology. This approach enables them to have complete control over their technological assets and creates a protective barrier.

Top 15 SK Startup Fellowship 2023 and The Organizer at Orientation Day

What value will Top 15 gain from the SKSF 2023 program?

SKSF is recognized within the Vietnamese startup ecosystem as a pioneering and prestigious program that optimizes the resources of SK Group to support and provide tangible value to Vietnamese startups. SKSF Batch 4 is expected to unlock numerous valuable opportunities for the Top 15 startups through its high-quality network of experts and partners. The Orientation Day marks the beginning of the 4-month journey for the Top startups in SKSF 2023.

At the event, Mr. Yu Jae Wook, representative of SK Group, Vice President and Chief Representative of SK Hanoi Office, shared “Having had the opportunity to interact with entrepreneurs from various countries, including the US, Korea, and Malaysia, I must say that I have been truly impressed and pleasantly surprised by the resilience, tenacity, and creativity displayed by Vietnamese entrepreneurs like yourselves. Over the past three years, SK has provided a platform where startups can connect with investors and peers, explore fundraising opportunities, and foster business growth. I take great pride in the fact that some of our past participants have achieved remarkable successes, securing funding from renowned venture capitalists and private equity firms. I believe these achievements exemplify the very purpose of this program.”

Mr. Yu Jae Wook, Vice President and Chief Representative of SK Hanoi Office, shared in the Orientation Day SK Startup Fellowship 2023

Ms. Pham Ha My, Investment Manager of SK Group, also shared details about the SKSF this year. After the announcement, Top 15 startups will participate in the training activity and receive feedback from experts of SK Group and Program Partner BSSC through company visits. Following this phase, the program will select the Top 10 startups to advance to the final round – Demo Day, expected to take place in November 2023. During Demo Day, startups will pitch for a no-equity grant of $50,000 each for the Top 3, and $15,000 each for the remaining 7 startups. One of the special benefits of this year’s Top 10 is that SKSF will sponsor a business trip to Korea, facilitating their connections with Korean startups and investors. Moreover, throughout the 4-month program, the Top 10 will participate in a sharing and networking event with SKSF’s partners such as Do Ventures, Nextrans, Wavemaker, ThinkZone, Grab, Jungle Ventures, VincaCapital Ventures, NIC, and alumni from previous batches; and having 1:1 mentoring sessions, enabling direct connections with experienced experts in related fields. This mentoring activity has garnered high appreciation from many startup alumni from previous batches due to its value.

After listening to the representative of SK Group, Top 15 startups also appreciated opportunities and actual values from SK Startup Fellowship. Top 15 showed the commitment for their active participation in the SKSF 2023 activities and making the most of the opportunities offered by the program.

SKSF Batch #4 continues its collaboration with Program Partner BSSC, aiming to add more value to startups by establishing profound connections within the Vietnam Startup Ecosystem.

The organizer: SK Group – the second largest conglomerate in Korea. With nearly 70 years of establishment history, SK has more than 100 subsidiaries that operate across over 40 countries and territories, with a variety of industries such as Energy, Telecommunications, Semiconductors and Materials, Biotechnology, and other services. SK Group recorded revenue of US$139 billion in 2021 and was ranked in the Top 100 Global Enterprises of Fortune 500. Since 2018, SK Group has officially entered the Vietnamese market through major investments such as approximately US$1 billion investment in Vingroup, more than US$1.2 billion investment in Masan Group and its member companies, etc. In 2020, SK Group launched the SK Startup Fellowship program, demonstrating its commitment to long-term investment in the Vietnamese market. SK Startup Fellowship (SKSF) has provided over $1 million in non-equity convertible grants to 37 Vietnamese startups continuously for 3 years from 2020 to 2022.
Program Partner: BSSC is one of the most prestigious and largest startup support organizations in Vietnam. BSSC’s ecosystem has more than 15,000 Startups/SME, 25,000 Entrepreneurs, 100 Mentors and Experts, 200 Angel Investors and Venture Capital Funds. As the Program Partner of the SK Startup Fellowship from 2021 to 2023,  BSSC is committed to contributing quality resources to the program.

List of Top 15 SK Startup Fellowship 2023, Batch#4

No.Startup NameRepresentativeShort Intro
1Beta PropTechDao Quy PhiAPlus Home is pioneering in building a Plus-living ecosystem by applying technology to build an optimal living solution at a reasonable price for young people. This is a new generation of prop-tech that combines financing models, property development, and management on a modern technology platform.
2BUYO Bioplastics Company Ltd.Do Hong HanhBUYO provides a 100% nature-based and biodegradable bioplastic solution, using our advanced proprietary technology to convert bio-waste and plant-based materials into plastics.
3EcoTruckLe Hoang AnhEcoTruck is a tech-based logistics company in Vietnam. EcoTruck is focusing on B2B trucking (both first mile and middle mile) and has built the first and the biggest ecosystem of supporting services for trucking suppliers.
4Foodmap AsiaPham Ngoc Anh TungFoodMap is a bridge connecting producers and consumers to help optimize agricultural supply chains and enhance the value of Vietnamese agricultural products.
5Gitiho Vietnam Edtech CompanyNguyen Hong QuanGitiho not only provides the platform but also includes training programs to help employees and businesses improve their work performance and help them transform into a better version.
6IC2 Digital Health JSCKieu Huu ThuIC2 Digital Health JSC is a healthcare company that specializes in telehealth platform services for insurance and public customers.
7JOOLUXTa Xuan HienJOOLUX is a re-commerce exchange platform for luxurious brands with the mission of “Bringing the world of luxury closer to Vietnamese people”.
8KAMEREOTaku TanakaKamereo is a B2B commerce for F&B businesses in Vietnam. We build a better supply chain from upstream to downstream so that we supply food ingredients better and cheaper.
9KIRO EDU JSCDoan Van TuanKIRO Vietnam, a leading Vietnamese Edtech, is revolutionizing preschool education with STEAM & Robotics Innovation. The SUNBOT program, KIRO’s acclaimed solution, has empowered 225+ institutions nationwide, with 44,500+ students enrolled and a 100% positive feedback rate.
10OLLI TechnologyTa Thanh HaiOLLI Technology builds an ecosystem of AI interactive platforms including AI platform, devices, and content. Our product, in the form of an AI virtual character, can proactively interact with children using natural conversation and keep them engaged in entertaining content and active learning experience.
11OnMicNguyen Bao KhanhOnMic, a social audio content universe, offers a wide range of premium audio content while allowing almost everyone to become a content creator.
12RostekNguyen Trong DoanRostek specializes in Autonomous Mobile Robots (AMRs), Overall Equipment Efficiency (OEE), digital transformation consulting, products and services. By leveraging these core areas, we empower our customers to enhance their operational capabilities, increase productivity, and gain a competitive edge in today’s market.
13TraoTayHieu HaTraoTay.vn aspires to promote a circular economy for a sustainable environment and disrupt SEA re-commerce by unlocking and digitizing the resale of $19bn unused goods in Vietnam first via AI-powered listings and an end-to-end consignment service.
14WecareTran Dang KhoiWecare is an industrial supply chain solution transforming industrial B2B Procurement with Technology. We help manufacturers manage their supply chain, and incoming materials much easier.
15Wecare247Nghiem Minh HoangWecare247 provides comprehensive healthcare solutions with high quality and competitive cost; while enhancing the value and role of the caregiver profession in society.
RECEIVE USD 265,000 GRANT THROUGH SKSK 2023 FOR VIETNAMESE STARTUPS
07/06/2023

EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITY FOR VIETNAMESE STARTUPS: RECEIVE USD 265,000 GRANT AND CONNECT WITH THE KOREAN STARTUP ECOSYSTEM THROUGH SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2023, BATCH #4 

Ho Chi Minh City, 1st June 2023 

SK Group – the second largest conglomerate in Korea, ranked among the Top 100 global companies in the Fortune 500 – has officially kicked off the 4th batch of SK Startup Fellowship 2023 (SKSF 2023, Batch #4). SKSF has granted over USD 1 million in equity-free funding to 37 Vietnamese startups for 3 consecutive years from 2020 to 2022. SKSF 2023 Batch #4 is back, committing to providing $265,000 in grants and a fully sponsored Business Trip to South Korea for top 10 outstanding Vietnamese startups, along with numerous exclusive benefits. 

Started in 2020, SK Startup Fellowship Program (SKSF) is an annual program of SK Group aiming to provide direct support to Vietnamese startups and demonstrating its commitment to long-term investment in the Vietnamese market. The SKSF program seeks to discover talented early stage startups and provide ongoing support for their growth while building a long-lasting companionship. SKSF 2023 (Batch #4) introduces several noteworthy enhancements, promising to deliver even more value to startups. This year’s SKSF program will be divided into two phases: 

Phase 1: SKSF 2023 is seeking the Top 15 startups from all sectors, preferably technology startups addressing social impact issues in Edtech, Med/Bio, Fintech, Deep Tech, and more. The Top 15 will participate in in-depth training sessions and receive feedback from SK Group experts and Program Partner BSSC through company visits.

Phase 2: SKSF 2023 will select the Top 10 startups for the final round, offering the opportunity to receive equity-free funding of $50,000 for each of the Top 3 and $15,000 for each of the remaining 7 startups. A special benefit of the program this year is that the Top 10 will receive full sponsorship from SKSF for a Business Trip to South Korea to meet and connect with Korean startups and investors. This is a great opportunity for Vietnamese startups to get experience as well as international business collaboration and fundraising opportunities from the Korean market. 

Throughout the 6-month program, the Top 10 will receive comprehensive non-financial support, including building high-quality business networks with SKSF alumni, VCs, SK Group’s member companies across 40+ countries, and the business community of Program Partner BSSC to explore business cooperation opportunities. The program also offers highly valued 1:1 mentoring, connecting startups directly with experienced experts who provide valuable insights and guidance, as recognized by many previous alumni for the quality and value they have received.

Outstanding startups at Demo Day of SK Startup Fellowship 2022

SKSF is proud to lay a strong foundation for the continued growth and success of its startups fellows, many of which have proven their significant potential with successful fundraising rounds after completing the program. A total of approximately USD 140 million has been invested into SKSF’s alumni startups such as Validus Capital, MindX Technology, Logivan, Cooky Corp, Phenikaa Maas, Palexy, Gimo, Earable, Med247, Selly, Vuihoc, Bizzi Vietnam, Fundiin, SoBanHang, Selex Motors, to name a few.

Alumni SK Startup Fellowship 2022, Batch#3 at Demo Day

SK Group is steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that Batch #4 of SKSF continues to deliver tailored and holistic support that precisely meets the needs and aspirations of startups. The program aims to strengthen training, mentoring, and networking activities, and support startups in building a high-quality network with partners and investors. SKSF Batch #4 aspires to stay true to enhancing 1:1 mentoring sessions with the support of experts, investors, seasoned entrepreneurs that have a comprehensive understanding of technology and the market.

Mentors of SK Startup Fellowship 2022, Batch#3 at Demo Day

SKSF Batch #4 continues to collaborate with Program Partner BSSC to enhance the value for startups by creating deep connections within the Vietnamese Startup Ecosystem.

SK Startup Fellowship 2023, Batch #4 is now open to Vietnamese startups from all sectors. The program particularly encourages startups that are leveraging technology to address social challenges and create a positive impact on society to apply. Whether you are in the early stage or post-seed stage, and have already launched products with positive revenues, SKSF welcomes your participation in the program.​​ Additionally, hi-tech startups with patented services or products are eligible even without revenue at this stage. Vietnamese startups, don’t miss out the opportunity to become a part of SKSF Batch #4 !

Details are as follows:

The organizer: Organizer: SK Group – the second largest conglomerate in Korea. With nearly 70 years of establishment history, SK has more than 100 subsidiaries that operate across over 40 countries and territories, in a variety of industries such as Energy, Telecommunications, Semiconductors and Materials, Biotechnology, and other services. SK Group recorded revenue of US$139 billion in 2021 and was ranked in the Top 100 Global Enterprises of Fortune 500. Since 2018, SK Group has officially entered the Vietnamese market through major investments such as approximately US$1 billion investment in Vingroup, more than US$1.2 billion investment in Masan Group and its member companies, etc. In 2020, SK Group launched the SK Startup Fellowship program, demonstrating its commitment to long-term investment in the Vietnamese market. SK Startup Fellowship (SKSF) has provided over $1 million in non-equity grants to 37 Vietnamese startups for 3 consecutive years from 2020 to 2022.
Program Partner: BSSC is one of the most prestigious and largest startup support organizations in Vietnam. BSSC’s ecosystem has more than 15,000 Startups/SME, 25,000 Entrepreneurs, 100 Mentors and Experts, 200 Angel Investors and Venture Capital Funds. As the Program Partner of the SK Startup Fellowship from 2021 to 2023,  BSSC is committed to contributing quality resources to the program.
Application form: https://skstartupfellowship.vn/apply/ Deadline: 16/06/2023
SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2022 ANNOUNCES TOP 4 OUTSTANDING STARTUPS 
10/11/2022

SK Startup Fellowship 2022 (SKSF 2022) DemoDay officially took place

SKSF is an annual program of SK Group with the goal of discovering and supporting early-stage startup talents. The program lays the foundation for SK Group’s companionship with Vietnamese startups, which demonstrates the Group’s long-term commitment to investment and cooperation in Vietnam. SKSF Batch #3 was officially launched on April 14, 2022 and attracted more than 150 applications. After two successful batches, the SKSF program has established its reputation in the Vietnam startup ecosystem, demonstrated by the fact that the startups operate  in a variety of sectors, many startups possess highly integrated core technologies, strong research capabilities and valuable patents, the founder teams are composed of Vietnamese and international talents who have strong educational background and startup experience in Vietnam and international markets, and all of them share a common vision of creating positive impacts on society. On June 23, 2022, SKSF 2022 announced Top 12 startups who entered into a 6-month acceleration program. After 6 months, with SKSF’s support through many intensive acceleration activities, Top 12 have achieved breakthrough achievements and development milestones. On November 10, 2022, Top 12 SKSF 2022 startups participated in Demo Day – the finale of the program to select Top 4 to receive a grant of US$50,000 /startup; one startup to receive the Honorary Award worth US$26,000 and the remaining startups to receive US$16,000/startup. These are all cash and non-equity grants. 

After being held online in the previous two years due to the Covid19 pandemic, SKSF Demo Day was finally held offline in 2022 so that SK Group, alumni, partners and guests of the program can meet and connect directly. The Demo Day welcomed the participation of more than 100 attendees who are Startup Alumni, Investors, VCs, Corporations, etc., to discuss business cooperation and investment opportunities. Speaking at the opening of Demo Day SKSF 2022, Mr. Yoo Ji Han, Executive Vice President SK Group said “Top 12 startups selected to the final round are operating in various sectors including healthcare, edutech, fintech, agritech, IoT, AI, block chain, and they all possess strong growth potential given their stellar R&D capabilities coupled with patented and highly integrated core technology. I hope that we will soon hear the news of the Next Unicorn from our fellows and alumni. After a long Covid pandemic period, we have seen the light. However, many startups continue facing challenges in scaling up and fundraising amid the existing political and economic uncertainty. However, I believe that with the insightful industry knowledge and determination of the founders, as well as innovations and efforts of the startups to survive through this “winter”, “spring” will soon return. I promise that SK will always accompany your endeavors as you spread your wings to continue your journey.”

Mr. Yoo Ji Han – Executive Vice President of SK Group opened Demo Day SKSF 2022

The Board of Judges for Demo Day SKSF 2022 comprises leading experts in the Vietnam startup ecosystem: Mr. Hung Truong – Senior Investment Director at SK Vietnam, Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi – Chairwoman & CEO of IBP and Vice President of YBA, Mr. Rishab Malik – Venture Partner at Jungle Ventures, Ms. Phuong Tran – Co-head of Investment and Head of Vietnam at Wavemaker Partners, and Mr. Chuck Kim – Head of Fundraising at Grab. The judges stand from different perspectives including those of individual investors, venture capital fund managers, and entrepreneurs, and each has 10 to 20 years of working experience in the startup and innovation ecosystems in Vietnam and the region. As members of leading corporations, the Board of Judges brought sharp counter-arguments and valuable suggestions for each business model of Top startup SKSF Batch #3. Each startup had a 5-minute pitch and a 5-minute Q&A in front of The Board of Judges. In this challenging competition, Top 12 startups of SKSF 2022 shared comprehensive pictures of their businesses that emphasize their innovative business models and demonstrate breakthrough technologies, thereby providing convincing answers to the judges. Having listened to those presentations, corporations, investors, and investment funds could obtain useful information as they explored opportunities for cooperation, investment and companionship with Top 12 startups in their growth journeys in the near future.

Mr. Michael Han – Chief of Representative Office SK Group presents gifts to thank The Board of Mentors SKSF 2022

In addition, Demo Day also brought startups and attendees a deep multi-dimensional perspective through the sharing of Mr. Louis Nguyen – Founder & CEO of Saigon Asset Management (SAM).

Mr. Louis Nguyen – Founder & CEO Saigon Asset Management (SAM) with Open Keynote at Demo Day SKSF 2022

The 6-month acceleration journey of Top 12 startups SKSF 2022

Through the SKSF program, SK Group aims to help startups build foundations and create networks of partners for business growth. Besides the non-equity grants, SKSF 2022 has brought invaluable non-financial support for startups to boost their inner strengths. The non-financial support includes two main streams of activities: training and mentoring during the 6-month journey of the SKSF 2022 program.

In particular, Top 12 SKSF 2022 have gone through 24 in-depth 1:1 mentoring sessions with 11 mentors who are investors, entrepreneurs, and experts with years of experience in the Vietnamese and international markets, in-depth training sessions on corporate finance management with KPMG, and networking sessions with more than 20 investors, investment funds, large corporations… Sharing about the progress of Top 12 startups after the 6-month journey, mentor Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang – CEO of BSSC, Vice President of YBA said “Because the Top 12 SKSF 2022 are all outstanding and come from a variety of industries, I think batch #3 will be the most “challenging” batch of the three batches for The Board of Judges to select the Top 4”. Mr. Thong Le Anh Tuan – Founder & CEO Selly looked back at SKSF 2022’s 6-month accelerator journey and said “SKSF is one of the best value-creating accelerator programs that I have ever participated in. In the past 6 months, I have obtained immeasurable values from the connection with outstanding founders among which we have shared many lessons together, as well as the connection with an extremely quality mentor. SKSF has created an impressive playground with many excellent founders; together we have experienced very difficult challenges of the program. Many thanks to SK Group!”

The program is rigorous, and designed to push startups to “do more faster”. By the end of the 6-month program in 2022, SKSF startups have shown significant growth and achievements:

–       Bizzi signed a partnership agreement with HCMC Young Business Association (YBA) which gives them strategic access to a large potential customer pool

–       Fundiin and VUIHOC successfully raised 6-figure rounds from regional and local investors amid difficult economic times

–       BenKon, Selex Motors, Hi-tech Care Technology JSC, Realbox, Selly, SoBanHang, Cypher AI, CyberPurify, N2TP all made significant progress in key business functions such as revenue growth, new product launch, human resources and organizational development, etc.

These highlights demonstrate that Top 12 startups of SKSF 2022 have channeled their efforts into building strong internal capabilities which later paved the way for their sustainable growth strategies and successful fundraising during times of economic downturn. Graduating from the program, SKSF startups now have a strong foundation ready to scale. All of these were shared on stage at SKSF Demo Day 2022, making the event a unique opportunity for investors and corporations alike to look for potential startup investment deals or partnerships.

Who are Top 4 startups of SKSF 2022, Bach#3?

Top 12 SKSF 2022

After the presentations of Top 12, the Board of Judges SKSF 2022 selected Top 4 startups to award the highest prize of SKSF 2022. Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi – Member of The Board of Judges for Demo Day SKSF 2022 shared “I have been a member of The Board of Judges of SKSF for 3 years. I realize that SKSF is increasingly proving its credibility in the process of selecting and screening startups into the Top startup. For Batch#3, it was quite difficult for The Board of Judges to choose startups in the Top 4 because each company is excellent in its field. Even if some of them are not in the Top 4, I still admit them as very strong companies from the team, the founder team is really good, working very well to create the good products. I think SKSF’s endorsement for the Top 12 is also one of the good platforms for them to work harder and have new growth momentum. To me, besides the Top 4 that received the highest awards, the Top 12 are also excellent. I believe that they will go very far in the future. Today SKSF also invites many investment funds and large companies to Demo Day to seek cooperation and investment opportunities. I believe the value of the program lies there as well.”

Top 4 SKSF 2022

Selly is the leading Social Commerce platform in Vietnam. Selly empowers women and people with disadvantaged backgrounds to become micro-entrepreneurs and earn extra income with zero investment.

VUIHOC is a K12 after-school online education platform with 2 main products: VUIHOC DUO & VUIHOC TUTOR. VUIHOC makes learning exciting, engaging & effective by leveraging deep pedagogy & cutting edge technology. 

Bizzi is the B2B SaaS startup to help simplify and automate business payment processes.

SoBanHang focuses on empowering MSMEs to thrive on digital technology and create a sustainable impact on society. In which, SoBanHang application was created to help small and micro businesses build online stores, sell to more customers and manage cash flow easily on smartphones.

Honorary Award, a grant of US$26,000 belonged to N2TP (SmartDose AI) which is a platform that supports hospitals in personalizing dosage regimes for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window, helping increase the drug’s therapeutic effects while minimizing adverse events, hence, bringing more benefits to patients.

Honorary Award of SKSF 2022

The remaining startups received US$16,000/startup: Benkon, CyberPurify, Cypher AI, Fundiin, Hi-tech Care Technology JSC, Realbox, Selex Motors.

Demo Day has wrapped up the SK Startup Fellowship 2022 program. The program is a memorable milestone for Top 12 in their growth journeys as they received valuable support from SKSF. Besides the grant of nearly US$350,000, Top 12 SKSF also obtained knowledge from in-depth training sessions, experience shared among alumni, mentors’ sharp product thinking and practical business mindsets, strategic vision with international business development orientation from SK Group, and networks of valuable relationships in Vietnam and regional startup ecosystems from Program Partner BSSC and Partners such as KPMG, Do Ventures, Vinacapital Ventures, GRAB, Nextrans, Jungle Ventures, Wavemaker Partners. The SKSF 2022 program is temporarily ended, but SK Group and its partners continue to support startup alumni in their growth journeys after the program.

SK Startup Fellowship 2022, Batch#3
Organizer: SK Group – the second largest conglomerate in Korea. Nearly 70 years of establishment history, SK has more than 100 subsidiaries that operate across over 40 countries and territories, with a variety of industries such as Energy, Telecommunications, Semiconductor and Materials, Biotechnology and other services. SK Group recorded revenue of US$139 billion in 2021 and was ranked in the Top 100 Global Enterprises of Fortune 500. Since 2018, SK Group has officially entered the Vietnamese market through major investments such as: approximately US$1 billion investment in Vingroup, more than US$1.2 billion investment in Masan Group and its member companies, etc. In 2020, SK Group launched the SK Startup Fellowship program, demonstrating its commitment to long-term investment in the Vietnamese market.
Program Partner: BSSC is one of Vietnam’s most prestigious and largest startup support organizations. BSSC’s ecosystem has more than 15,000 Startups/SMEs, 25,000 Entrepreneurs, 100 Mentors & Professionals, 200 Angel Investors and Venture Capital Funds. As a Program Partner of SK Startup Fellowship 2022, BSSC is committed to contributing quality resources to the program.
SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2022, BATCH#3 TOP 12 ANNOUNCEMENT
04/07/2022

On June 23rd, 2022, SK Group kicked off the series of events for Top 12 startups of SK Startup Fellowship 2022 (SKSF 2022) by hosting the first event – Orientation Day.

Orientation Day event of SK Startup Fellowship 2022

After nearly a month of opening the registration process, SKSF 2022 has received applications from more than 150 startups. Regarding the field of operation, SKSF season 3 has shown a lot of diversity with the ability to attract startups in many different fields, from Healthcare/Wellness, Environment/CleanTech, E-commerce, FinTech, to Enterprise Solution, AI/Deep Tech, PropTech , EduTech.

With the success of the previous two seasons, this year’s program has received a lot of attention from many fast-growing startups. The 12 most potential startups of SKSF 2022 were officially revealed after a rigorous screening, evaluation and face-to-face interview process.

Highlights of Top 12 SK Startup Fellowship 2022?

In general, the Top 12 SKSF 2022 are mainly comprised of companies in the stage of accelerating development and on the path of defining strategic directions. In terms of technology adoption and implementation, SKSF 2022’s finalists can be grouped into 2 distinctive approaches.  While some startups have shown great agility through their ability to capitalize on and implement new technologies and global trends, AI, others have shown their determination to find breakthrough solutions for relatively traditional industries like AgriTech.

Firstly, many startups possess a high-tech core, achieved through extensive research and have successfully secured patent ownership such as Benkon, Cypher AI, SmartDoseAI, Selex Motor, CyberPurify. Particularly, some of the startups in the hardware field have entered the commercialization stage and found a suitable market. In fact, high-tech products with integrated software and hardware manufactured in Vietnam require a great deal of software development capabilities, as well as the ability to manage raw materials, supply chain and supporting ecosystems.

Top 12 SKSF 2022 with representatives of SK Group and partners BSSC, KPMG

Secondly, apart from being highly trained and highly knowledgeable in their specialized industries, founders of SKSF 2022 also have a very practical business mindset; many of which have extensive experience in both Vietnam and international markets, for example Realbox, Fundiin.

Thirdly, this year’s Top 12 clearly demonstrated a sustainable business development mindset: to come up with solutions to bring about environmental and social impact but at the same time create economic value such as Selly, SoBanHang, Hi-Tech Care, Benkon. In addition, many startups are offering solutions that are suitable for the current context and the needs of Vietnam’s rapid digital transformation such as Vuihoc and Bizzi.

SKSF is considered as one of the pioneering programs that bring value to startups by leveraging the resources of economic groups to support the development of Vietnam’s startup ecosystem. Orientation Day is the event that marks the beginning of the nearly 6 month journey of this year’s Top 12.

At the event, Mr. Truong Minh Hung – Senior Investment Director, SK Vietnam shared during the opening speech: “From the perspective of the Organizing Committee, I am very impressed with the consistency in application quality of the finalists of SKSF 2022. Every single one of the Top 12 teams is very strong and possess an impressive business model with high social impact. With that being said, I think choosing the Top 4 will not be an easy task for our judges.”

Mr. Truong Minh Hung – Senior Investment Director, SK Vietnam shared to the Top 12

After listening to SK Group’s representatives share details about the program’s activities, the participating startups have gotten a better picture of the financial and non-financial values that SKSF can bring, which can be leveraged to help their businesses achieve stronger growth in the future. Nguyen Nguyen – Co-Founder and CEO of Selex Motors said, “I believe that joining the SKSF program can open the door for Selex Motors to participate in SK Group’s ecosystem, taking advantage of the group’s strong resources to accelerate growth”.

Ms. Vu Thi Trang – Head of External Relations Department of SK Vietnam introduced about SK Group and the series of intensive activities under the framework of SKSF2022 program

Immediately after the announcement of the Top 12, startups will continue to participate in programs to share knowledge and experience in financial management, fund raising, etc. from SK’s partners such as the leading venture capital funds in the region, KPMG, BSSC, along with many opportunities to interact with SK’s network and the Vietnamese startup ecosystem. It is expected that in November 2022, the SKSF 2022 program will come to and end with the Demo Day event, where startups will present their business models in front of Investors and Judges. Top 4 will receive a non-equity funding of USD 50,000/startup; and USD 16,000/startup for the remaining 8 startups.

List of Top 12 SK Startup Fellowship 2022, Batch#3

No.StartupRepresentativeIntroduction
1BenKonTaddy TruongBenKon is a smart monitoring solution that uses AI algorithms to suggest, automate and optimize energy consumption by up to 40%, especially for air conditioning equipment.
2BizziNghia VuBizzi is the B2B SaaS startup to help simplify and automate business payment processes.
3CyberPurifyTruc NguyenCyberPurify offers artificial intelligence (AI) solutions for filtering harmful content on the Internet via a wi-fi device that helps block unhealthy websites from all internet-connected devices in the home.
4Cypher AIThanh HoangCypher AI provides a solution for data collection and labeling, which is one of the most difficult problems in terms of cost and time for any artificial intelligence project, particularly unstructured artificial intelligence projects such as voice, text, and images.
5Finan Pte. Ltd.Nam BuiFinan focuses on empowering MSMEs to thrive on digital technology and create a sustainable impact on society. In which, SoBanHang application was created to help small and micro businesses build online stores, sell to more customers and manage cash flow easily on smartphones.
6Fundiin JSCCuong NguyenFundiin is the Buy-Now-Pay-Later (BNPL) pioneer and market leader in Vietnam. Fundiin helps underbanked Vietnamese access interest-free pay-later facilities to better manage their budget. Fundiin is currently the only BNPL in Vietnam that is free of interest and fees.
7Hi-tech Care Tech. JSC.Duc Anh DinhHi-tech Care JSC was formed in 2019, focusing on shrimp farming. By applying recirculating aquaculture system technology, the company produces high-quality fresh shrimps without the use of non-antibiotics during the farming periods.
8Hung Vuong Education and Technology JSCLam DoVUIHOC is a K12 after-school online education platform with 2 main products: VUIHOC DUO & VUIHOC TUTOR. VUIHOC makes learning excitement, engaging & effective by leveraging deep pedagogy & cutting edge technology.
9N2TP Technology Solutions JSC.Nguyet DangSmartDose AI is a platform that supports hospitals in personalizing dosage regimes for drugs with a narrow therapeutic window, helping increase the drug’s therapeutic effects while minimizing adverse events, hence, bringing more benefits to patients.
10RealboxKhoi PhamRealbox (REB) is a blockchain-driven real estate platform that will innovate property investment by offering opportunities to everyone to co-invest in a fraction or share of assets.
11Selex MotorsNguyen NguyenSelex develops a comprehensive ecosystem, the first of its kind in the world, for electric mobility that is highly optimized for last-mile delivery. The proprietary solution includes a highly optimized electric scooter, the most compatible battery pack, a novel battery-swapping station, and a management software platform.
12SellyTuan ThongSelly is the leading Social Commerce platform in Vietnam. Selly empowers women and people with disadvantaged backgrounds to become micro-entrepreneurs and earn extra income with zero investment.

SK Startup Fellowship 2022, Batch#3:

Program Organizer: SK Group is the 2nd largest conglomerate in Korea, with a history of nearly 70 years of establishment with more than 100 companies in more than 40 countries and territories spanning the following industries: Energy, Telecommunications, Semiconductors, Biotechnology. SK Group achieved a revenue of USD 106 billion in 2020 and was ranked in the Top 100 global enterprises of Fortune 500. Since 2018, SK Group has actively invested in the Vietnamese market through large deals with a total value of nearly USD 2.5 billion into leading enterprises such as VinGroup, Masan Group. Along with an investment of USD 30 million for the construction of the National Innovation Center (NIC), starting in 2020, SK Group has launched the SK Startup Fellowship program with the desire to directly support startups, promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship and thereby demonstrating the responsibility and commitment of this Group to long-term investment in the Vietnamese market.

Program Partner: BSSC is one of the most reputed and largest startup support units in Vietnam. BSSC’s ecosystem has more than 15,000 Startups/SMEs, 25,000 Entrepreneurs, 100 Mentors & Professionals, 200 Angel Investors and Venture Capital Funds. As a Program Partner of SK Startup Fellowship 2022, BSSC is committed to contributing quality resources to the program.
SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2021 ANNOUNCES TOP 4 OUTSTANDING STARTUPS
15/11/2021

HCMC, 11 November 2021

SK Startup Fellowship 2021 (SKSF 2021) DemoDay officially took place

SKSF is an annual program with the goal of discovering early-stage startup talents, and supporting them. The program lays the foundation for SK Group’s long journey of companionship with Vietnamese startups. SKSF Batch#2 seeked startups with social impact, officially launching on the 9th of March 2021. SKSF attracted nearly 200 startups which was 3 times more than Batch#1. On 6th of May 2021, SKSF 2021 announced the Top 13 startups to be entered into the 6-month acceleration journey, helping the startups achieve  breakthrough growth for the next phase. As the most important event, Demo Day marked the final the program, after 6 months of activities.On the 11th of November 2021, Top 12 startups of SKSF 2021 participated in the Demo Day – the final round of competition to choose the Top 4 outstanding startups to win the grant of 50,000 USD per startup. In addition one startup won the consolation prize of 26,000 USD while the remaining startups received 16,000 USD per startup. These are all cash grants and SK Group does not require exchange of shares.

The Demo Day SKSF 2021 event was held as a hybrid event (online and offline) that has connected the Vietnamese bridgehead (HCMC, Hanoi) with the international bridgehead (Australia, South Korea). With the support of technology, the event not only ensures safety amid the complicated situation of the epidemic, but also creates conditions for Top startups connection with  international attendees, despite the geographical distance. Opening speech of Demo Day SKSF 2021, Mr. Woncheol Park – Managing Director SK SouthEast Asia, said “For the second year program, we focused on building strong relationships while providing experiences more tailored to go on fellow startups. The newest 1on1 mentoring program provided customized support as well. The mentors were matched based on the needs of each individual startup and helped them with the strategic building , business planning and relying on their operating systems. This was a really difficult task due to COVID-19 but we were able to do it. Thank to strong support provided by our program partner BSSC and the local expert mentors”

Mr. Woncheol Park – Managing Director SK SouthEast Asia gave an opening speech of Demo Day SKSF 2021

The Board of Judges of The Final Round SKSF 2021 who are the 4 leading experts in the Vietnam Startup Ecosystem: Mr. Henry Nguyen – CEO of TIMO; Ms. Truong Ly Hoang Phi – Chairwoman of the Board and CEO of Investment Business Partners (IBP); Ms. Le Hoang Uyen Vy – General Partner Do Ventures; Mr. Hung Truong – Senior Director SK Vietnam. The Board of Judges has 10 to 20 years of experience in working with the startup & innovation ecosystem in Vietnam and the region, standing from many perspectives such as investors, venture capital fund managers, entrepreneurs of leading corporations in Vietnam and internationally, etc. The Board of Judges brought sharp criticisms and valuable suggestions for each business model of Top startup SKSF Batch #2. Each startup has a 5-minute presentation and a 5-minute Q&A in front of The Board of Judges. At this heated competition, Top Startup SKSF 2021 clearly presented innovative business models, demonstrated breakthrough technologies, and answered intelligently and convincingly.

Pitching and Q&A session of one startup at Demo Day SKSF 2021

In addition to the attractive competition of Top startup SKSF 2021, Demo Day also brought useful knowledge and a deep multidimensional perspective through the sharing of Mr. Le Hong Minh – Founder and General Director of VNG, the first unicorn startup of Vietnam. After that, Demo Day had the lively discussion on the perspective of “Key elements for fast-scaling” from 2 speakers Ms. Tran Phuong Ngoc Thao – Member of the Board of Directors, Director of Digital Transformation at PNJ and Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Giang – Partner of Talent and Culture at Mekong Capital, Ms. Ha Thanh An – Co-Founder & COO Investment Business Partners (IBP) hosted the panel discussion. The experiences of the speakers have brought many valuable lessons to the Top startup SKSF 2021 as well as the Demo Day attendees.

The 6-month journey of “makeover” of Top startups SKSF 2021

SK Group aims to help startups have the best foundation and growth opportunities, so in addition to the financial grant at the end of the program, SKSF 2021 has provided invaluable non-financial support to help startups enhance their inner powers. These non-financial support items are in 2 main axes of activities, training and mentoring along the 6-month journey of the SKSF 2021 program.

Top 13 SKSF 2021 has finished 78 intensive 1:1 mentoring sessions from 19 mentors who are investors, entrepreneurs, and experts in the Vietnamese and international markets (Korea, Malaysia). In the midst of COVID, many startups experience a change in their growth journey. To comment on the “makeover” in the 6-month journey to join SKSF 2021 of the Top startup SKSF 2021, mentor Nguyen Thi Dieu Hang – CEO of BSSC, Vice President of HCMC Young Business Association (YBA) shared “Top startup SKSF 2021 have three characteristics: core technology, social impact, and the ability to scale up to international markets. SK Group is one of the large corporations, actively participating in supporting the Vietnam startup ecosystem in particular and the region in general. Programs like SKSF give startups many opportunities and motivation to continue on the path that the startup has chosen.” Mr. Le Hoang Thach – CEO of WeWe Technology JSC (Voiz FM) looks back on the 6-month mentoring journey of SKSF 2021 “The Mentoring Program of SKSF 2021 is very special with the companionship of 2 mentors: a Vietnamese mentor with management experience for domestic market and an SK Group mentor with a perspective of international market. During the 6-month journey of mentoring, Voiz FM has accumulated a lot of knowledge, skills and changed multidimensional perspectives, sharpened thinking in approaching, analyzing and evaluating problems to come up with correct business decisions. We not only applied them to manage our company with a typical Vietnamese environment, but also prepared for future plans to reach out to the international market.”

Who are Top 4 excellent startups of SKSF 2021, Bach#2?

After the competition of startups, the Board of Judges selected Top 4 excellent startups to award the top prizes of SKSF 2021. Ms.Truong Ly Hoang Phi, member of The Board of Judges SKSF 2021, shared “Top startup SKSF this year has the equal capacity. They have clear products and business models. Some startups know what they need. And all startups have strong teams to complement each other and It is also one of the things that makes The Board of Judges difficult to choose the Top 4. To talk about the Top 4 this year, I’m quite satisfied with the results. I see that most of them have made impressive initial steps, in addition to preparing to be able to scale up strongly in the near future. About the remaining Top 8, they are all excellent. I think each program has its own criteria, the fact that they are in the Top startup of this year’s program is an affirmation that their business models are very potential. In addition, I think with the potential of SK Group, it is always ready to connect the alumni network so that they can support each other in the near future.”

The top 4 SKSF 2021 named the startups that received the highest award of the program as a grant of 50,000 USD/startup:

  • VAIS (Vietnam Artificial Intelligence Solutions): VAIS builds core AI engines which help computers to understand human speech and natural languages. On top of the core engines, VAIS makes products that improve human productivity and creativity.
  • WeWe Technology JSC (Voiz FM): WeWe Technology JSC is the owner of Voiz FM, the leading pay-for-knowledge audio platform in Vietnam. Currently, we’re anchoring in audiobooks while still expanding our portfolio into other formats, such as podcast, pod-course, pod-series, sleep aid.
  • GIMO: Aimed at serving millions of underbanked Vietnamese working people, Gimo offers Earned Waged Access (EWA) service that is transparent and provides users with instant access to their earned income ahead of a scheduled payday.
  • Umbalena: an educational application to nurture the love of reading and enhance the reading culture of Vietnamese children from 2 to 6 years old.

The consolation prize is a grant of USD 26,000 that belongs to VIFO: a SaaS platform to connect and provide full-scale solutions for all insurance stakeholders at once.

The remaining startups receiving grants of 16,000 USD per startup include: Otrafy, Palexy, Veritas, Med247, Nam Tuoi Cuoi (Smiling Mushroom), CyHome, Phenikaa Maas.

Honor Top 4 SKSF 2021 and Consolation Prize at Demo Day

Mr. Nguyen Anh Quan Co-Founder & CEO of GIMO shared his feelings right after Demo Day “All Top13 SKSF 2021 are very talented, so the competition taking place at Demo Day is really competitive. Personally, I think GIMO was lucky to be in the Top 4 so my feelings right now are exciting!”

Demo Day closes the 6-month acceleration journey of Top startup SKSF 2021 with the values that startups receive even higher than grant awards: knowledge from intensive training sessions; real combat experience shared among alumni; the sharp product thinking and business acumen from mentors; strategic vision and global thinking in business orientation; valuable relationships in the Startup Ecosystem of Vietnam and the region.

SKSF 2021 Demo Day Registration
26/10/2021

SK Startup Fellowship (SKSF) is a startup program run by the SK group, which is the third-largest conglomerate in Korea. In 2021, the program continues its second batch with 13 startups. After an intensive 6 months of training, workshops, and mentoring sessions, all startups will present their best at the Final Demo Day on 11 Nov 2021.

It is our pleasure to welcome you to join with our startup fellows on the Final Demo Day.

Register

TOP OUTSTANDING STARTUPS OF SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2021 ARE READY TO TAKE CENTER STAGE AT DEMO DAY

Ho Chi Minh City, 26th October 2021

On 11/11/2021, SK Group will organize a Demo Day event for SK Startup Fellowship 2021 (SKSF 2021). Top startups in SKSF Batch#2 has gone through a 6-month intensive training with experts, 1:1 mentoring with Vietnamese and international mentors . At the Demo Day event, startups will have a heated competition in showcasing their innovative business models in front of the Board of Judges including Investors, Venture Capital Funds, Entrepreneurs and Leading Experts. With sharp and comprehensive perspectives, the Board of Judges will assess and select the Top 4 to receive grants worth $50,000/startup. So which startups will be selected for the Top 4 in SKSF Batch#2? To know the answer, SK Group is pleased to welcome the startup ecosystem in Vietnam and interested guests to participate in Demo Day event of SKSF Batch#2 on 11/11/2021.

Why you shouldn’t miss the Demo Day of SKSF 2021?

The top startups of SKSF 2021 cover a wide range of industries such as  MedTech, FinTech, EduTech, AgriTech. Startups have shown their ability to catch up with the global trends by investing in R&D, and successfully exporting to the global market, such as alternative protein technology from mushrooms of Nấm Tươi Cười (Smiling Mushroom). Besides Nam Tuoi Cuoi, Otrafy is also very quick in responding to the Vietnam market by developing cutting edge technology solutions for the food industry supply chain. Its mission is to utilize Vietnam as the center stage to penetrate deeply into the Southeast Asia market. Overall, the Top startups have proven their sustainability and strength with a unique and innovative business model, and a mindset of developing global products with scalability.

The Top startups have spent over 6 months sharpening their business model with training activities such as Corporate Financial Management by KPMG, Pitching with investors by BSSC. More than that, the Board of mentors in the program, who have mentored and supported the startups throughout the past 6 months includes Vietnamese and international experts with many years of experience in business, technology and business globalization. Mentoring activities covered 1:1 in-depth mentoring for the startups, connecting them with the Vietnam Startup Ecosystem, creating a foundation for the startups to improve and develop a scalable business model.

The next highlight of the Demo Day event is the Board of Judges, which includes 4 leading experts in the Vietnam Startup Ecosystem. SK Group also emphasized that the Judges are the pioneers in building and developing support and investment programs for innovative startups in Vietnam and possesses 10 to 20 years of experience in the Vietnam innovation ecosystem. With diverse experience and expertise from many positions such as investors, venture capital fund managers, successful entrepreneurs of leading Vietnamese and international corporations, the Board of Judges is expected to have profound comments/ feedbacks on each business model of Top startups in SKSF Batch #2.

At SKSF Demo Day 2021, Mr. Le Hong Minh – Founder and General Director of VNG, Vietnam’s first unicorn startup, will have an Open Keynote session. His sharing is expected to focus not only on creating value but also brings deep insights for the Top startups. This would be a great opportunity for them to learn directly from Mr. Le Hong Minh, a leading speaker at many prestigious international conferences such as the World Economic Forum and Vietnam M&A Forum.

After a 6-month acceleration journey, Top startups have been equipped with profound strategies, effective tactics and experience to succeed in the market. All of them are eager to present and showcase their startup at Demo Day of SKSF 2021.Register for the SKSF Demo Day 2021 taking place on 11/11/2021 via this link https://skstartupfellowship.vn/sksf-2021-demo-day-registration/

SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP 2021, BATCH#2 TOP 13 STARTUPS ANNOUNCEMENT
06/05/2021

HCMC, 06 May 2021

On the afternoon of May 6th, 2021, SK Group held Orientation Day to officially welcome the

TOP 13 startups and kick off the SKSF program in 2021.

As shared by SK Group, the 2nd batch of SKSF received close to 200 applications, more than three times the number of applications received last year. This demonstrated the strong interest in the program from the Vietnam startup ecosystem. It should also be noted that the program clearly identified selection criteria, especially in the sectors and development stage, which helped to set expectations and attract the right applicants. It was observed that startups in batch #2 were just as outstanding as Batch#1.

What’s outstanding about Top 13?

Startups in Top 13 SKSF 2021 come from a wide range of sectors such as mobility, healthcare, medtech, fintech, edutech, AI/deep-tech, etc. Despite the difference in sectors, most startups share the same vision of creating a positive social impact with their products/ solutions. Such examples are GoDee, Busmap, Smiling Mushroom, Med247, Umbalena… to name a few. Indeed, social impact is a new but no less crucial criterion for SKSF to select this year’s fellows.

Another outstanding feature of Top 13 is their founding team. SKSF 2021 welcomes not just local founders but also Vietnamese who have studied and worked abroad, and even those seeking opportunities in a foreign land. A good mix among local and international talents in batch #2 is something rarely seen in other startup programs or accelerators. It’s also interesting to observe the recent shift where Vietnamese founders like Thong Do from Palexy or Truong Do from VAIS are bringing the technology and the expertise they acquired from their time abroad to launch their business in Vietnam. When done right, these startups could form a strong competitive advantage where they combine the world’s advanced technology with local insight. Looking ahead, this shift shows that Vietnam is becoming a startup hub for both local and international talents. 

Interestingly, Top 13 had two approaches in their business development which are “start from Vietnam then go global”; and “start globally then entering Vietnam”. In the first approach, the startups had strong R&D capabilities, especially in trendy sectors such as foodtech. When the world is moving towards alternative food, one startup in SKSF 2021, Emmay, is getting ready to export their fungi-based meat globally. In the second approach, the startups showed a high adaptation to the local market when bringing new technology or solutions from the world to Vietnam. Such examples include GoDee and Otrafy. These startups also believe that Vietnam could be a launchpad for them to penetrate into the Southeast Asian market.

Coming to the program this year, Top 13 express both expectation and appreciation for the values tailored for them, such as mentoring, networking with SK Group and local business, access to the experts and investors in SK Group’s ecosystem. At Orientation Day, Mr. Tuan Truong, Founder & CEO of Med247 shared the reason they joined SK Startup Fellowship 2021: ”We believe Med247 would be able to connect and build a relationship with mentors, experts, and other alumni who could support Med247 in our development journey and creating a good impact on society through the program”

SKSF 2021 expects to bring more value and build strong networks for the startups. Orientation Day is the start of the Top 13’s journey in the program this year. They will continue to have intensive training programs from SKSF partners such as KPMG, BSSC, Nextrans; and in-depth networking sessions with the key players in the startup ecosystem in Vietnam and the region. The Top 13 will also have the opportunity to participate in Vietnam Startup Day 2021 which is one of the largest startup events in Southeast Asia hosted by BSSC. SKSF 2021 will end with the Demo Day event in October 2021. During the DemoDay, each startup will pitch in front of investors/judges and the Top 4 team will be selected to receive a no-equity grant worth $ 50,000 per startup; the other 9 startups would each receive a grant worth $ 16,000. 

Top 13 SK Startup Fellowship 2021, Batch#2

NoTop 13 SKSF 2021RepresentativeIntroduction
1VAIS – Vietnam Artificial Intelligence SolutionsTruong DoVAIS builds core AI engines which help computers to understand human speech and natural languages. On top of the core engines, VAIS makes products that improve human productivity and creativity.
2Otrafy IncNhat NguyenOtrafy is an enterprise quality assurance software that automates mundane document processing by managing the collection, storage and transfer of certification data across the food chain.
3Palexy Pte LtdTony DoPalexy aims to empower retailers to optimize the customer in-store experience and operational efficiency using our market leading Artificial Intelligence and Computer Vision technologies.
4VeritasThanh LeVeritas is a leading Startup of R&D new materials aiming to reduce plastic use in Vietnam. Officially established since 2015, Veritas is the first company producing new materials by coffee grounds in Vietnam.
5VIFOVuong Viet LinhVIFO is a SaaS platform to connect and provide full-scale solutions for all insurance stakeholders at once.
6Med247Tuan TruongMed247 is an offline clinic to online healthcare app service startup that facilitates app-based post-treatment after offline visits to the Med247 clinics.
7GoDeeRuslan KarabukaevGoDee provides fixed-route mass-transit that customers can book their tickets via our mobile application. The application has UI/UX layers on demand with real time tracking and suggests a route feature.
8WeWe Technology JSCThach LeWeWe Technology JSC is the owner of Voiz FM, the leading pay-for-knowledge audio platform in Vietnam. Currently, we’re anchoring in audiobooks while still expanding our portfolio into other formats, such as podcast, pod-course, pod-series, sleep aid.
9Nam Tuoi Cuoi – EmmayVan PhamNam tuoi cuoi provides products based on fungi – biotechnology, to create alternative protein for foods and beverages products in the most resource efficient and sustainable way.
10CyfeerPhong PhamCyHome provides solutions to optimize the management process, connecting communication between Property Managers and Residents transparently and conveniently.
11GimoQuan NguyenAimed at serving millions of underbanked Vietnamese working people, Gimo offers Earned Waged Access (EWA) service that is transparent and provides users with instant access to their earned income ahead of a scheduled payday.
12UmbalenaTrinh LeUmbalena is an educational application to nuture the love of reading and enhance the reading culture of Vietnamese children from 2 to 6 years old.
13Phenikaa MaaS Technology JSC (BusMap)Bich NguyenPhenikaa MaaS Technology is the leading public transit (bus, metro) app in Vietnam. Besides, the company is a reputable supplier of Smart Transit Solutions for Government and Enterprises.

SK STARTUP FELLOWSHIP HAS OFFICIALLY KICKED OFF ITS 2ND BATCH
09/03/2021

Ho Chi Minh City, March 9, 2021

It is without doubt that the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 has caused tremendous challenges in international trade and business development all over the world. Despite that, the Vietnam startup ecosystem has welcomed good news in the beginning of 2021. SK Group, the third largest conglomerate in Korea, has officially kicked off the second batch of SK Startup Fellowship Program in 2021. This has demonstrated a strong and long-term commitment of SK Group towards its investment and social responsibility in Vietnam. 

SK Startup Fellowship Program (SKSF) has the mission to discover high potential early-stage startups and provide them with grant and in-kind support. At the same time, the Program strives to build a long-lasting relationship with all the startups alumni. For the second batch in 2021, SKSF aims to source and select 12 finalist startups who have raised less than $3 million in total funding. The 12 finalists would all receive grants (non-equity funds) from SKSF, with the top 4 receiving $50,000 each and the other 8 startups receiving $16,000 each. Beside grant, all finalists would receive in-kind support from SKSF and its partners throughout the 6 months of the Program, including training on financial management from KPMG, training on Investor Pitching from BSSC, 1on1 mentoring, workshop with Vietnam businesses, networking activities with the startup ecosystem. More importantly, the finalists would have the chance to connect with SK Group and its subsidiaries over 40 countries to explore opportunities for further business development. SK Group has future plans to invite SKSF finalists and alumni for a tour at SK Group’s facilities in Korea and meet up with top management, this has clearly demonstrated the Group’s goodwill in building strong relationships with the Vietnam startups.

SK Startup Fellowship 2021 also welcomes a local Program Partner – Business Startup Support Center (BSSC), to bring more benefits for the startups, particularly in connecting with the local business ecosystem. The 12 finalists would get exclusive offers from BSSC to participate in Startup Day 2021 – one of the largest and most intensive startup exhibition events in Southeast Asia. At Startup Day, the startups would pitch with more than 500 investors / VCs, showcase their technology and products/services, as well as approach 15,000 potential customers and business partners.

The SK Startup Fellowship 2021, Batch#2 is now open for Vietnamese startups across all fields, with priority given to startups applying technology to solve social problems. Vietnamese startups in the early stage or post seed stage with products and revenues are all welcomed to apply for the program. Hi-tech startups holding a service/product related patent(s) will be eligible to participate even without the revenue requirements.

Application for SKSF 2021 details are as follows: