Training for green start-ups in Vietnam
ClimateLaunchpad Vietnam 2023 – Preliminary and Boot Camp Phase

Participants in the online training course

HSF

Initiated by the EIT Climate-KIT, ClimateLaunchpad (CLP) is one of the world's largest green business idea competitions which takes place in over 60 countries around the world. In Vietnam, CLP has been jointly organised by HSF and CCS since 2019, seeking to enhance technical knowledge of green business and impact entrepreneurship among start-ups, establishing a network of experts and practitioners in sustainable business, and promoting sustainable business ecosystem in Vietnam.

This year, all applicants for CLP Vietnam were given business consulation as part of the interview round, in which CLP Vietnam’s experts gave them constructive feedbacks on each business idea. Out of many competitive applications, 19 teams were selected to the Boot Camp round which consisted of intensive training sessions virtually led by Mr Ron Bloemers – an Amsterdam-based trainer with over 25 years of full circle, hands-on experience and network in the global renewables and cleantech industry. The training courses focused on necessary skills and technical knowledge of various aspects of green business such as team management, market segmentation, beachhead market, customer value proposition, financials and key value drivers, climate impact, customer discovery and pitching skills.

Participants in the Boot Camp at USSH

HSF

Furthermore, at the offline setting at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH) in Hanoi, CLP Vietnam national mentors also actively supported the participants in supervising assignments given by the international trainer, and faciliated the exchange of ideas and contacts among the teams, experts and university students. In addition, a series of lectures focusing on roles of innovation, soft skills and strategies for green start-ups and impact entrepreneurs was delivered within the Boot Camp, aiming at improving knowledge and skills related to creating and running green business among university students in Vietnam.

Following the success of the training courses, a series of 1:1 coaching sessions were provided by CLP Vietnam experts for each of the 19 Boot Camp teams, in which their business ideas and strategies were thoroughly analysed from different angles and viewpoints. The teams’ performance in the Boot Camp phase is a significant criterion for the selection of 10 best teams for the National Final which will take place in September 2023.