Singapore and Vietnam to boost cross-border start-up innovation pipeline through BLOCK71’s UniVentures

Singapore and Vietnam to boost cross-border start-up innovation pipeline through BLOCK71's UniVentures

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What if you could tell a chick's gender before it hatches? Or deploy autonomous drones for rescue missions? These were just two of the bold ideas behind the 10 Vietnamese university start-ups recognised at the UniVentures Gala Dinner, held on 29 January 2026 in Ho Chi Minh City.

Led by BLOCK71 Vietnam in collaboration with Temasek Foundation, UniVentures is a regional accelerator programme that supports Vietnamese university start-ups with mentorship, funding and incubation. The Gala Dinner marked the announcement of its top 10 teams, reflecting a growing Singapore-Vietnam collaborationunder the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and a shared commitment to nurturing university-driven innovation.

Empowering founders to address real-world challenges

From classroom ideas to market-ready ventures, UniVentures helps founders move fast. Built on BLOCK71's global network of physical accelerators across 11 cities, including Ho Chi Minh City, the programme connects participants to mentorship, funding and regional market access across Vietnam and Singapore. Its goal is to develop practical, scalable solutions in healthcare, environmental sustainability, productivity and skills development, and financial literacy.

Supported by partners including the Singapore Global Network, Vietnam's National Innovation Center, Golden Gate Ventures (GGV), the Start-up and Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City, the Youth Union of Ho Chi Minh City, Google Cloud, IBM, the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and the Reactor School, UniVentures attracted more than 1,400 applications nationwide.

Through an intensive multi-stage selection process, 30 teams were shortlisted to pitch in a closed-door session for the GGV UniVentures Prize, which carries a total prize pool of around S$320,000 (US$250,000). From this group, the top 10 start-ups were each awarded S$32,000 (US$25,000) and selected to participate in a three-month incubation programme at BLOCK71 Vietnam, where they can gain hands-on support, mentorship, and exposure to the local market.

Following the incubation, the teams will return for a final pitching round. The top two start-ups demonstrating the strongest market traction will advance to a further three-month incubation at BLOCK71 Singapore, gaining access to regional markets and opportunities to scale up their ventures.

Thinking beyond Vietnam and building for the region

The UniVentures Gala Dinner brought together government leaders, industry partners and university innovators to celebrate the ten winning teams. While still at an early stage, these start-ups point to a broader shift in Vietnam's innovation landscape. Founders are increasingly building their ventures with regional and global relevance in mind, not just domestic needs.

This momentum is fuelled by Vietnam's fast-growing digital economy and a young, ambitious talent base, reinforcing its position as one of Southeast Asia's most dynamic start-up ecosystems.

Here are three high-potential start-ups among the 10 recipients of the GGV UniVentures Prize:

• BioWraps: Develops biodegradable packaging from agricultural waste, offering a chemical-free alternative that reduces plastic use and emissions.

• Trazen: Uses AI to help manufacturers train and upskill technical workers at scale, addressing Vietnam's growing talent gap.

• Welgun BMS: Focuses on battery safety, using predictive diagnostics to detect early degradation in energy storage systems and electric vehicles.

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In his opening remarks, Professor Benjamin Tee, Vice President (Innovation & Enterprise), NUS Enterprise, highlighted the importance of early support in shaping successful start-ups.

"All start-ups begin with a team of talented and passionate people. Great start-ups need great founders. UniVentures provides a platform for such Vietnamese founders to meet and transform their ideas into practical, scalable solutions to tackle major needs," he said. "By anchoring this unique early-stage incubation programme in Vietnam and giving high-potential teams the chance to scale in Singapore and globally, we continue to enhance our Singapore-Vietnam partnership for bilateral innovations to flow between the two countries."

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Guest-of-Honour Mr Heng Swee Keat, Chairman of the National Research Foundation and former Deputy Prime Minister of Singapore, echoed these views in his keynote address. He noted that initiatives like UniVentures play a key role in developing regional talent and deepening cross-border collaboration: "This structure creates opportunities for founders to build, test, and learn. It also enables mutual exchange and learning between young innovators from Singapore and Vietnam. This is how robust innovation ecosystems are built in Vietnam and Singapore."

Building on this, Mr Edward Lim, Country Director (Vietnam), BLOCK71 Vietnam, highlighted the programme's tangible impact for the start-ups themselves. He added, "With the right mindset, capabilities and networks, they can build companies that create real economic value for Vietnam and the region."

Catalysing sustainable innovation through collaboration

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The Gala Dinner also featured a panel discussion titled "Catalysing Sustainable Innovation: The Next Frontier for Vietnam-Singapore Partnership", moderated by Ms Chen Huifen, Editor of The Business Times. Panellists included Ms Lim Hwee Hua, Chairwoman of Tembusu Partners and former Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Singapore; Ms Omi Dang, Chairlady of TTC AgriS; and Mr Nguyen Dung Do, CEO and Co-founder of EnFarm.

The panel explored how cross-border collaboration can accelerate sustainable innovation across agriculture, technology, and social enterprise. Ms Chen observed that Singapore, as a hub for capital and logistics, and Vietnam, as a manufacturing and resource engine, can succeed together only if "the gears are properly meshed".

Ms Lim emphasised the critical role governments play behind the scenes. She pointed to Singapore's whole-of-government approach, including dedicated agencies, digital registration systems, English-language processes, and clearly defined grants and support programmes.

As Vietnam's start-up ecosystem enters a new phase of growth, UniVentures places these 10 teams at the heart of a regional initiative, one that supports early-stage innovation locally, while opening pathways for cross-border expansion.

By NUS Enterprise