Next Challenge Wraps Up Successful ‘Around X Roadshow’ in Hanoi
- 넥스트챌린지 재단법인
- Sep 17, 2025
- 2 min read
16 Startups Seek Local Partnerships — Korean Startups Lay the Groundwork for Market Entry into Vietnam
Next Challenge (CEO Kim Young-rok) announced on the 17th that it successfully hosted the 2025 Around X Vietnam Immersion Week Roadshow in Hanoi on September 10 as the lead operator of the Around X program.
The event was part of the Global Corporate Collaboration Program (Around X) led by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups and the Korea Institute of Startup & Entrepreneurship Development (KISED).Its primary goal was to expand collaboration opportunities between Korean startups and organizations within the Vietnamese startup ecosystem.
The event drew strong interest from over 200 participants, including officials from Vietnam’s National Innovation Center (NIC), representatives from VTC Online, VSV Capital, and various global corporations.
During the on-site showcase, more than 170 business meetings were held, providing Korean startups with the opportunity to present their technologies and services and engage in in-depth discussions with local experts.
The seminar sessions featured a wide range of insights and expert perspectives.Leo An, Executive Director at Intel Technologies APAC, introduced the latest AI technology trends and application cases.Seon-il Kim, Advisor at NATEC, presented an overview of the Vietnamese startup ecosystem.Chi Han from VSV Capital shared insights on Vietnam’s investment landscape, while Quynh Nguyen, CEO of BambuUp, spoke about ecosystem development and global collaboration.Youngwook Kwon, CEO of Yaholab, drew strong resonance with his talk on "Surviving Vietnam: A Korean Startup’s Journey."
A total of 16 Korean startups participated in the roadshow.They showcased their products and services through exhibition booths and IR pitching, and received feedback on market fit and business scalability through 1:1 mentoring sessions.
Next Challenge CEO Kim Young-rok commented,"This roadshow in Vietnam provided a rare and valuable opportunity for Korean startups to directly engage with key local stakeholders and institutions vital for global expansion."He added, “Through a continuous program linking Singapore and Vietnam, Korean startups are now gaining meaningful connections and results as they expand into the ASEAN market.”
In July, Next Challenge successfully hosted the Singapore Immersion Week, which featured partner meetups and global IR sessions.Looking ahead, the organization will also host VC Connect Day in Korea later this year, helping participating startups build networks with domestic and international VCs and enhance their investment readiness.
