At the 2020 SK Startup Fellowship Programme. — Photo courtesy of the organiser

HCM CITY — Korean conglomerate SK Group has announced the second edition of its SK Startup Fellowship Programme to unearth promising early-stage start-ups and provide them with support, including financial.

The programme is open to Vietnamese start-ups in all fields, with priority given to those using technology to solve social problems.

Those in the early stage or post-seed stage with products and revenues are encouraged to apply for the programme. Hi-tech start-ups holding service/product patent(s) will be eligible to participate even without meeting the revenue requirements.

The deadline for entry is March 24.

The programme will select 12 finalists who have raised less than US$3 million in funding and give them grants (non-equity funds), with the top four getting $50,000 each and the other eight, $16,000 each.

All finalists will also receive in-kind support from SKSF and its partners throughout the six months of the programme, including training in financial management from KPMG, training in investor pitching from the Business Startup Support Centre, one-on-one mentoring, workshops with Vietnamese businesses, and networking activities within the start-up eco-system.

The finalists will also have the chance to connect with SK Group and its subsidiaries over 40 countries to explore opportunities for further business development.

BSSC, the local partner of the contest, will provide more benefits, particularly by connecting them with local businesses.

The 12 finalists will participate in Startup Day 2021, one of the largest and most intensive start-up exhibitions in Southeast Asia.

There, they will make pitches to more than 500 investors and venture capitalists, showcase their technology and products and services and approach 15,000 potential customers and business partners. — VNS