Student Startup Investment Model Launches at UEF

HO CHI MINH CITY — University of Economics and Finance in Ho Chi Minh City (UEF) has launched a student startup investment model called UEF iVentures LaunchPad 2026, aiming to connect campus ideas with mentors, investors, and the market while students are still in college.

The program was officially introduced on June 28, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City. UEF is framing it as an incubation path that does not stop in the classroom, but pushes students into a real entrepreneurship ecosystem.

For students, that matters. They are not just asked to pitch a business idea. They are tested through challenges, brought face to face with industry players, then guided toward a version of the idea that is ready for the market.

Focus on sectors with room to grow

UEF says the model targets fields that are gaining traction. The list is long, but the direction is clear: educational technology, artificial intelligence and data analytics, green economy, smart logistics, fintech, cybersecurity, digital marketing, martech, and e-commerce.

That mix suggests the university is reading the market well. Today, businesses do not just want a clever concept on paper. They want solutions that can be tested, adopted, and turned into products.

Here, the student startup investment model acts as a bridge. Students can see whether their idea is only good for a campus competition or whether it has a real chance of surviving in the market.

From a 48-hour challenge to 6 months of incubation

After launch, student founders join a 48-hour Challenge-Based Learning program. The schedule is intense. They learn to define a problem, build a business model, and test their ideas with other teams.

After that, UEF opens access to thematic seminars, deep-dive workshops, and direct mentoring. The topics are practical: business models, startup finance, networking, and communication skills. No abstract theory. No distance from the field.

Projects judged promising then move into a three- to six-month incubation program at the iVentures Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center. At that stage, selected teams receive workspace on campus, along with access to experts, business operators, and investors who help refine the product and strengthen the business model.

An investment portal linking ideas and funding

UEF also launched the iVentures startup investment portal. Its function is simple but important: connecting student ideas with entrepreneurs, investment capital, and domestic and international businesses.

The portal is designed to train students in project development, fundraising preparation, and business planning. So students are not only learning how to build a product. They are also learning how to convince others that the product deserves funding.

One notable shift is how the university views entrepreneurship. A campus is no longer just a place for lectures, exams, and graduation. UEF is trying to turn it into a training ground that feels much closer to real work.

Why the student startup investment model matters

UEF Vice President Dr. Ngo Minh Hai said the program is not a standard competition. “The university organizes this model not merely as a competition or academic game, but as an environment for students to experience the entrepreneurial journey in a real way,” Ngo Minh Hai said.

He added that students are given a chance to solve challenges from different businesses, work with experts and investors, and turn ideas into valuable solutions. In his view, the process also builds innovative thinking and adaptability in the digital economy.

The quote points to something important. UEF is not only chasing a large number of student startups. It wants to shape how students think. And that is often harder, but far more valuable.

For readers in Indonesia, the approach feels familiar. Many universities also push business incubation, but the same problem often appears: student ideas are strong, then stop at the proposal stage. When a campus opens access to mentors, investors, and testing space, the odds of those ideas surviving are clearly better.

The UEF iVentures LaunchPad 2026 model also shows another shift. Campus innovation can no longer stop at teaching students how to make a product. Universities need to connect them with the market. Without that link, ideas can stall fast.

UEF has chosen a clear path: from class, to challenge, to incubation and investment. The route is compact, but it makes sense. Students get a chance to fail fast, learn fast, and improve before they step into the market for real.

“We want students to turn ideas into valuable solutions,” Dr. Ngo Minh Hai said. “That is where the real value of this model lies.”

Brief summary:

• UEF has launched a student startup investment model called iVentures LaunchPad 2026.
• Students go through a 48-hour challenge, then three to six months of incubation for selected projects.
• The program connects campus ideas with mentors, investors, and the market through the iVentures investment portal.

Quick FAQ:

What is the core idea of the program? To connect students with the startup ecosystem while they are still in college.

Who can join? UEF students with startup and innovation projects considered promising.

Why does it matter? Because it gives students real business experience, not just classroom theory.

Source: Thanh Nien, June 28, 2026.