There were 11 teams competing in the final round of this nationwide challenge, among 110 contestants from 21 cities and provinces across the country who participated from the period of October 2022 to February 2023.

At the event, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper reaffirmed that the U.S. Mission to Vietnam is a strong supporter of women’s economic empowerment.

"The Academy of Women Entrepreneurs of Vietnam (AWE) is a great example of our commitment to supporting gender equity and equality. AWE brings the best of U.S. business learning and innovation to women in more than 100 countries worldwide, leveraging the use of international exchange alumni as facilitators and mentors to coach nearly 25,000 women entrepreneurs all over the world," said the US Ambassador to Vietnam.

The finalists introduced their companies to the US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc Knapper (second from right) (Photo: Ngoc Anh)

The finalists presented their business models in many different industries, including healthcare, education, clothing, the environment, and agriculture. The representatives of the US Mission to Vietnam and the judge board are also impressed with the proposals that promote innovation and create positive impacts on the environment and society.

According to the Cultural Attaché of the US Embassy in Vietnam Kate Bartlett, there are many products in the final round with great potential for foreign markets because of their sustainability, eco-friendliness, and quality. She also stressed that since the two countries share the common priority to promote gender equality and equity, the US Mission in Vietnam will continue to support activities that improve the quantity and quality of women-owned businesses.

Contestants at the final round of the AWE's Entrepreneurship Challenge (Photo: Ngoc Anh).

The winner of the "Entrepreneurship Challenge" is Nguyen Khoi Farm from Phu Tho province. This is is a multi-award-winning enterprise that uses the Circular Organic Agriculture Model, a nature-based farming method recognized by the World Bank. The winner's prize is US $900.

Nguyen Khoi Farm's basic values are Sustainable ecology, Human health, and Animal welfare. According to the Co-Founder and Deputy Director Nguyen Phuong Thao, Nguyen Khoi Farm aims to be one of the first pig producers in Asia and Vietnam to use crate-free sows.

The runner-up is VSPACE Education from Hanoi city. As a student-run education company, VSPACE offers online platforms for students aged 14-22 to engage with innovative online courses with peer-learning experiences worldwide. After launching for more than 2 years it successfully delivered IELTS, English for the gifted, and Academic Writing courses to over 1000 students in many provinces of Vietnam, with social media sites and community attracting up to 100.000 students nationwide.

The second runner-up prize was awarded to Carota from HCMC. Carota's mission is to become friendly, innovative, and high-quality professional mental health solutions using technology platforms.

It was created to reduce barriers of stigma, misunderstanding, distance, and finance in mental healthcare, and create a future where everyone can easily access affordable proper mental healthcare. In the early stage, Carota develops the very first professional online counseling platform in Vietnam.

The 11 teams competing in the final round of the AWE's Entrepreneurship Challenge (Photo: Ngoc Anh).

According to the representative of the judge board, Managing Director of Lotte Ventures in Vietnam Pham Ngoc Huy claimed AWE helps improves the female entrepreneur community in Vietnam. They can not only receive spiritual support and but also share with each other the knowledge, skills, and know-hows in the start-up process, said Huy.

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