DAVAS 2025: Connecting Central Vietnam start-ups with strategic investors
(QNO) - The recent Da Nang Venture and Angel Summit 2025 (DAVAS 2025) brought together over 20 local and international investment funds with promising start-up projects from Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands.
This event created valuable opportunities for local start-ups to connect with strategic investors and gain crucial support for growth.
VIoT Technology Joint Stock Company, specialising in Internet of Things (IoT) devices for smart city systems, has raised over USD 600,000 from international investors and plans to secure an additional USD 400,000 in 2025.
Pham Vu Huy Hoang, VIoT’s CTO, said that beyond capital, investors provide vital guidance, networking, and strategic advice, helping startups survive and thrive in competitive markets.
A key highlight of DAVAS 2025 was the launch of the SOCIAL IMPACT CATALYST (SIC) student start-up network. Starting in Da Nang universities, where many students from Quang Nam and nearby provinces study, SIC connects isolated start-up clubs into a dynamic ecosystem of students, mentors, and businesses.
The network offers training on pitching, policy education, and expert connections, aiming to build entrepreneurial confidence and market access early for young founders.
Investment experts, including representatives from Singapore’s Makara Innovation Fund, highlighted that successful fundraising requires more than ideas. Projects must demonstrate clear commercial potential, legal protections, scalability, and an inspiring business strategy.
Makara focuses on sectors like healthcare technology, big data, and alternative energy, actively seeking startups in Central Vietnam.
Pham Ngoc Sinh, Deputy Director of Quang Nam’s Department of Science and Technology, said that expanding innovation spaces between Da Nang and Quang Nam could attract more venture capital, especially in technology and digital transformation. By leveraging regional strengths, Central Vietnam’s start-ups are poised to make significant strides in the global market.