From small circuit board to big dream: Da Nang man's startup journey

Lap graduated in Mechatronics Engineering from the University of Science and Technology under the University of Da Nang.

He began his career working in foreign-invested companies in southern Vietnam, specializing in machinery innovation and product design for automation systems.

However, he later realized that his hometown Tam Ky in Da Nang lacked technology-focused educational tools and research initiatives. In 2020, he returned to Tam Ky, undertaking freelance electronic circuit design for international clients via online platforms.

Starting with basic $20 - $30 LED control boards, he progressed to more complex multi-layer circuits used in industrial devices.

Over nearly a decade, Lap has designed hundreds of control boards, ranging from motor drivers and sensor modules to smart home and agricultural devices.

He also manages the “KiCad Vietnam” online community, with over 3,000 members, offering free PCB design support to young learners.

His involvement in mentoring school STEM teams revealed a challenge: students often rely on multiple fragile, complex modules to build robots. Motivated to solve this, Lap spent a year developing a compact, all-in-one controller: the Circle-bit kit.

Measuring just 50x50mm, it offers 30 extension pins and supports sensors, motors, and communication protocols such as I2C, SPI, CAN, Bluetooth and WiFi.

It’s compatible with Arduino and drag-and-drop coding platforms, helping students focus on programming rather than hardware assembly.

With a projected price of only VND 150,000 (~US$6), the kit is affordable for schools and students. Lap is pursuing intellectual property registration and seeking commercialization opportunities.

He envisions future kits for smart irrigation, urban gardening, and grassroots innovation, continuing to bridge education and technology from Da Nang to the world.