TOP

See the Impact,
Sail to Innovation

—30.06.2023

King Sejong and Jang Yeong-sil Prize

We are looking for impact start-ups in Vietnam that will take a leap beyond Vietnam to global, to achieve great innovation by solving emerging social problems through business.

Impact Challenge At SEA is a competition to discover and invest in promising impact start-ups in Vietnam that propose climate solutions or promote the transition towards a digital economy.

Apply to IMPACT CHALLENGE AT SEA right now,
the starting point to develop your business.

DOWNLOAD BROCHURE

THEME

IMPACT START-UP THAT:
●CONTRIBUTES TO SOLVING ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS OR
●RUNNING A BUSINESS RELATED TO DIGITAL TECHNOLOGY

GREEN

DIGITAL

ELIGIBILITY

Vietnam-based Impact Start-up that engaged with ● green or ● digital Themes.

● Teams that are currently in their early stages (Seed ~ Pre-A) and are seeking to enter a new market or expand their business.
● Only teams that are registered as a Vietnamese corporation are eligible to apply.
● Teams that have applied in the previous ICAS competition are eligible to apply again. However, teams that have received prizes in the previous competition are restricted from participating.
•Representative of the company must be a Vietnamese national, and the main business area (where the business is being conducted or scheduled) should include Vietnam.
•In order to be selected as an investee company, the company must be registered as a Singaporean corporation (immediately before investment).

Awards & Benefits


Details of Benefits will differ according to the selection stage.

  • PRIZE ACCORDING TO SELECTION STAGE
  • • TOP1 : $40,000 (1team)
    • TOP2 : $15,000 (1team)
    • TOP3-10 : $3,000 (8teams)
    • TOP11-20 : $1,000 (10teams)

  • INVESTMENT AND ADDITIONAL PRIZE 500K USD
  • • Among TOP 20, Final 1 team will be selected as an investee company
    (*There may be no selection if there are no suitable candidates.)
    • Maximum Investment 400K USD
    • Maximum additional Prize 100K USD

  • Accelerating Programs
  • • Online accelerating training content on business operation and social value creation
    • Mentoring for developing business model

  • Impact Measurement Program
  • • Workshops and education on measuring and managing social value
    • Self-disclosure website that team/company can self measure and report the social impact.

  • Partnership & Cooperation Opportunities
  • • Partnership and cooperation opportunities for ESG open innovation with large corporation in Korea
    • Support technology transfer of Korean social ventures and joint venture business development with participants

  • Follow-Up Investment
  • • Possible opportunity for follow-up investment in cooperation with domestic and foreign impact investors

    SCROLL

    ROUND1

    Document Screening

    TOP20 and TOP10 will be selected from ROUND1.

    TOP11~20 get
    1,000USD(10teams)

    ROUND2

    IR Pitching

    TOP2 and TOP1 will be selected in ROUND2.

    TOP3~10 get 3,000USD(8teams)
    TOP2 gets 15,000USD (1team)
    TOP1 gets 40,000USD (1team)

    Final
    REVIEW

    Investee Company

    1team
    Selected among TOP20

    Benefit
    • Investment 400KUSD(Max)
    • Additional Prize 100KUSD(Max)
    • Impact Reporting Service

    2023 TIMELINE

    Application Period

    May 29 - June 30

    ROUND 1

    Document screening

    July 28

    ROUND 2

    IR Pitching Competition

    August 17

    Accelerating Program for Top1 & TOP2

    (3months)

    Final Review

    November

    Investment & Additional Prize

    December~

    The schedule may be subject to change.

    For more information, please check the FAQ Page.

    If you can’t find what you’re looking for, please contact us at info@impactchallengeatsea.com.

    ABOUT

    Impact Challenge At SEA is an impact start-up discovery and investment program operated in cooperation with Korea International Cooperation Agency, investment companies, accelerators, corporations, and non-profit organizations. By forming a cooperative network between various domestic/foreign institutions and large corporations, we will support various cooperation linkages and attract follow-up investment to start-ups participating in this program.

    CO-HOSTS

    Impact Square is an impact start-up accelerator based on the vision that ‘great businesses are recognized when the social values are fully combined with business models.’


    Discovers, nurtures, and develops impact businesses

    Since 2014, Impact Square has provided accelerating services to 500 impact start-ups, and has invested in 60 impact start-ups. The main strategy of Impact Square is to bridge impact start-ups’ solutions and large corporations to ensure impact start-ups’ sustainable management focusing on their specific action plans. Also, Impact Square carries out professional measurement and evaluation of social values through ‘Impactology’, a company-affiliated research institute.

    Nextrans is an investment attraction consulting firm that seeks to change the world and form a global network of entrepreneurs with passion and technology. It aims to maximize corporate capabilities by connecting the large corporations to startups around the world that need resources such as preparation for investment, network, and business connection.


    Expertise in Investments in Vietnam

    Since 2004, Nextrans has supported about 100 startups and has been investing in the Vietnamese market since 2015. Recently, Nextrans has created and invested in a fund worth $8million in Vietnam and has invested in about 36 Vietnamese companies so far.

    MerryYear International(MYI) is an Non-Governmental Organization specialized in social economy, agriculture and microcredit sectors.


    Working in the Mekong Delta area

    Since 2011, MYI has been working in Mekong Delta area to support vulnerable people, small shop owners and government officers.
    Based on the endeavor, MYI could aggregate over $500,000 funds with local people.

    About Youth Co:Lab
    Co-created in 2017 by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Citi Foundation, Youth Co:Lab aims to establish a common agenda for countries in the Asia-Pacific region to empower and invest in youth so that they can accelerate the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through leadership, social innovation and entrepreneurship.

    Read more about Youth Co:Lab here.

    ADVISOR

    Hyunmyung, DHO
    (CEO/Founder, IMPACT SQUARE)

    Sangmin, HONG
    (CEO, NEXTRANS)

    Seung-Ho, CHAE
    (Director/Partner, NEXTRANS)

    Kyungsun, Chung
    (Co-Founder & Managing Partner, The Sylvan Group)

    Le Ha
    (Director, FTU Innovation and Incubation Space)

    Truong Thi Nam Thang
    (Director, NEU Center for Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship)

    Daehyun, KIM
    (Partner, THE VENTURES)