Vietnamese start-ups use AI to revisit old problems

Held on December 19 at Startup & Innovation Hub of Ho Chi Minh City, the event brought together start-ups, investors, and industry experts to introduce promising AI-powered products.

Demo Day was organized by the Institute of Innovation in collaboration with the College of Technology and Design under the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City, alongside industry partners.

Different sectors, a shared logic

Start-ups spanning e-commerce, marketing, education, sports, and consumer services introduced solutions to familiar market frictions.

Across industries, their ideas converged around a shared approach: applying AI to address long-standing inefficiencies in traditional sectors, treating the technology less as a novelty and more as a practical tool for everyday operations.

Vo Quoc Thinh of the e-commerce start-up Ecombox said that his company is focused on improving transparency in order packing for online sellers.

Their system automatically records the process, stores the footage in the cloud, and applies AI to detect in real time whether items are missing or incorrectly added to an order.

"Video evidence gives sellers a stronger position in dispute resolution, reduces return rates and protects shops from unfair complaints," Thinh said.

Hololab, a marketing start-up, introduced a platform that combines 3D technology with AI to create more immersive and personalized advertising experiences.

The company hopes to move beyond traditional 2D advertisements which are increasingly losing effectiveness among digitally native consumers.

Several education start-ups proposed AI-powered tools designed to narrow the gap between academic training and workplace demands.

These platforms use AI to tailor study plans to individual students based on their personal goals and intended career paths.

In the sports sector, the start-up Onto presented a platform that connects players with facilities, coaches, and event organizers.

According to their representative, Vo Hung Vuong, the system uses AI-supported pricing and automated operations to help sports venues manage bookings more efficiently.

"Our platform allows for flexible booking and AI-supported pricing mechanisms," Vuong said. "By automating operations, venues can reduce costs while opening up new revenue sources."

AI as a tool, not an answer

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Le Nguyen, an investment manager at Taiwania Hive, appreciated the quality of the ideas proposed while stating that Vietnamese start-ups are entering a new phase of growth shaped by artificial intelligence and digital technologies.

He noted that AI is gradually treated less as a standalone innovation and more as a 'catalyst' that supports existing business models, from traditional industries to e-commerce.

Meanwhile, he warned against performative adoption.

"AI on its own is never the solution," he said. "The real question is whether it helps businesses solve problems faster, more effectively, and at lower cost than before."

Nguyen predicted that AI integration would continue through at least 2040, particularly in industrial, technological, and data-driven sectors

From the organizers' perspective, the Institute of Innovation said Demo Day was created to serve as a connective platform, linking university-affiliated start-ups with the broader innovation ecosystem, while helping founders improve their products and expand into new markets.