Start-up gala promotes innovation

HCM City (VNA) - Mobile phone apps to help students study and people find houses for rent were among many innovative business ideas, products and services presented and discussed on Start-up Day 2016 on August 27 . 

The biggest annual event for the start-up community in the country was held at the Riverside Palace in District 4. 

More than 3,000 stakeholders including start-ups, investors, entrepreneurs and other stakeholders attended the 12-hour event organised by the Business Start-up Support Centre (BSSC) and the HCM City Young Businesspeople Association. 

The event aims to support young start-ups in finding investors, consultants, business partners and customers. 

Part of the event was the Start-up Exchange 2016, which enabled entrepreneurs, groups and individuals running around 100 start-ups to display and present their products and innovative ideas to prospective investors. 

BSSC D irector Truong Ly Hoang Phi said the organising board attached special importance to the "quality factor" while selecting qualified start-up models to participate in the exchange. 

Start-up Exchange, which was set up in 2013, has proved effective so far. As of Start-up Day 2015, more than 150 start-ups had attracted investments of over 22 billion VND (986,547 USD ). 

On August 27 , many projects found "angel" investors and partners to commercialise their products. The projects also attracted the interest of consumers and mass media. 

The event also included the final round of a business start-up contest called Start-up Wheel 2016 and the "Every Businessman-A Teacher" project which seeks to connect young business people with successful entrepreneurs to get their support.-VNA