UFM Launchpad Forum 2026 charts pathway for student startups to reach global markets
On April 2, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, the University of Finance – Marketing (UFM) successfully hosted the UFM Launchpad Forum 2026 under the theme “From Ideas to Startups – From Startups to Global Markets.” Held at a time when innovation has become a decisive driver of the global economy, the event brought together representatives from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Vietnam Automation Association, the Young Entrepreneurs Incubator, along with a wide range of experts, scientists, investors and students.
The forum also drew extensive media attention from a number of reputable news outlets, including Kinh doanh và Phát triển, Doanh nghiệp Cuộc sống, Kinh tế Tài chính, Tài chí Kinh doanh, Doanh nhân trẻ Việt Nam, Doanh nghiệp Kinh tế xanh, Thương hiệu và Công luận, and Kinh tế Today, underscoring the broad resonance of a knowledge forum rooted in practical relevance.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Dr. Cao Tấn Huy, Vice Rector of UFM, highlighted the University’s strategic vision of becoming an application-oriented institution closely linked with innovation and digital transformation. Within this framework, entrepreneurship is no longer regarded merely as an extracurricular activity, but as an essential component of UFM’s integrated ecosystem of training, research and business engagement.
The forum focused on identifying the core challenges facing startups in Vietnam today, particularly the gap between ideas and market execution, as well as the capacity of young startup projects to meet international standards. Experts at the event shared the view that while many startups may have strong products, they still lack a clear go-to-market strategy and have yet to make effective use of digital platforms and global networks to accelerate growth.
Throughout the program, discussions were structured around three main pillars: sharing experience in turning ideas into viable business models; exploring strategies for taking startups into international markets amid increasingly demanding standards and competition; and strengthening connections among universities, businesses and investors to create long-term value linkages within the startup ecosystem.
A major highlight of the forum was the formalization of support commitments through the signing of Memoranda of Understanding between the Institute of Innovation and Digital Transformation under the University of Finance – Marketing and its partners, namely the Young Entrepreneurs Incubator (YESI) and VBI Academy (VBI). This cooperation lays the groundwork for the development of the UFM Innovation Hub — an open ecosystem integrating training, incubation, mentoring and resource connectivity — with the goal of shortening the journey from “idea” to “startup” and from “startup” to the “global market.”
At the forum, the organizing committee also announced the launch of the “Go Global” SME Support Program for the 2026–2035 period. This strategic initiative is designed to enhance innovation capacity and digital transformation in the private sector, enabling small and medium-sized enterprises not only to participate in global supply chains, but also to proactively create value within them.
The event concluded successfully, going beyond dialogue to open up new initiatives and promising startup projects. As a platform bridging academia and the market, the University of Finance – Marketing reaffirmed its commitment to accompanying businesses and students on their journey toward regional and international markets.
The success of UFM Launchpad Forum 2026 further affirmed the University’s role as a pioneer in building a structured, innovation-driven startup environment, thereby making a meaningful contribution to the broader development of Vietnam’s national startup ecosystem in the digital era.
In the time ahead, UFM’s startup ecosystem is expected to further expand through in-depth mentoring programs and investment mobilization for promising projects emerging from the forum.
H. Lan, H. Trang, T. Hang, PVT