DormLab and KisStartup: When Startups Begin in Dormitories
On the evenings of June 27th at the Foreign Language Dormitory and June 29th at the Me Tri Dormitory, the DormLab program – an initiative by the Student Support Center – VNU in collaboration with KisStartup – brought inspiring, practical sharing sessions that sparked innovative thinking for students residing in the two largest dormitories of VNU.
The Startup Journey: Real Insights from Those Who Have Gone Before
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At both sessions, Ms. Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh – CEO of KisStartup – shared her nearly 10-year journey working with the startup community in Vietnam, from the early stages to building a supporting ecosystem for training, connecting, and incubating innovative startups.
Rather than focusing solely on success stories, Ms. Minh offered a more realistic perspective on the journey – highlighting failures, personal struggles, and how to overcome them with inner strength and an unwavering spirit of continuous learning.
Two sessions, two different atmospheres – One shared spirit: Ready to take action.
At the University of Languages & International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi Dormitory (June 27), the program took place in a warm and intimate atmosphere. The students, primarily from the fields of social sciences, languages, and education, proactively asked insightful questions about entrepreneurship with limited resources, how to identify problems from personal experiences, and the role of social knowledge in innovation. Some initial idea groups began to form based on everyday issues related to living, studying, and work.
At the Me Tri Dormitory (June 29), the atmosphere was more dynamic and practical, with the participation of many students from technical, technology, and natural science fields. The discussion revolved around challenges such as energy consumption, plastic waste, and the impact of natural disasters on students from mountainous areas. This led to the formation of student groups that immediately began working on solutions within the dormitory.
Both sessions shared a valuable common trait: the proactive spirit, open-mindedness, and eagerness to take action from the students – despite their different starting points, fields of study, or strengths.
Connecting with Practice and the Startup Community
To give students a more concrete view of entrepreneurship, the program introduced several partner businesses, including:
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BTR Global – an innovation investment firm.
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Wu Song Capital – a venture capital fund.
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EM Farm – a smart agriculture startup model.
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And especially Ca Phe Bay – a business bringing real products for students to try, provide feedback, and connect with reality.
Through the product display section, students at both dormitories had the opportunity to directly experience, evaluate, and learn from real business models, instead of just listening to theoretical concepts.
Long-term Partnership with Students via the NEXA15 Platform
KisStartup also introduced the NEXA15 learning platform to students – a place offering courses and resources on Innovation & Entrepreneurship, helping students accumulate knowledge, develop skills, and build a solid mindset from an early stage.
DormLab is not just a series of workshops; it is a call to action for students: start with the problems around you, from the dormitory – where you live – and work together to turn small ideas into big changes.
KisStartup is thrilled to collaborate with the Student Support Center – VNU in designing and implementing the DormLab program. We would like to thank the students at the University of Languages & International Studies Dormitory and Me Tri Dormitory for their warm reception, positive interaction, and readiness to take action.
See you in the next DormLab sessions!
