Fulbright Innovation Bootcamp 2025
From July 7 to 11, 2025, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at Fulbright University Vietnam hosted the Fulbright Innovation Bootcamp 2025, a five-day immersive program tailored for high school students. In this program, 22 young participants from across Vietnam came together to learn, collaborate, and grow in a liberal arts environment that fosters creativity, curiosity, and innovation.
An entrepreneurial mindset begins with asking the right questions and identifying the right problems
Campers participated in group activities to identify key problems and potential target customers
On the first day, with the theme “Problem Identification,” students began their journey by answering three essential questions: Who is the target customer? What problem are they facing? And why is it worth solving? Guided by Dr. Phan Hoang Lan, participants engaged in a series of activities to understand their customers, uncover real-world problems and needs, and lay the foundation for their future startup ideas.
Thấu hiểu người dùng – Không phỏng đoán mà phải đối thoại
Campers presented a summary of their customer interview findings
On the second day, the campers continued conducting customer interviews and began identifying initial solutions for their projects. They learned how to craft insightful questions, choose the right interviewees, and most importantly, practice deep listening. In the afternoon, the groups participated in a fieldwork activity, which was one of the most memorable highlights of the Bootcamp. Campers headed to Crescent Mall in Phu My Hung to observe and approach potential customers, conducting on-site surveys in a real “market” environment. This experience provided them with fresh, practical insights and surprising discoveries.
From solution to prototyping
Campers from different teams presented the feasibility of their group projects
Day 3 marked a turning point: from identifying real-world problems, campers began building solutions and designing testable prototypes. Under the guidance of Mr. Phạm Quang Huy, teams learned how to validate their ideas using simple, fast, and cost-effective models. Additionally, Mr. Pham Quang Huy’s blended teaching approach, combining theory, teamwork, and intergroup idea exchange, enabled campers to collaboratively test both the feasibility and suitability of their proposed solutions.
The teams met with mentors whose expertise aligned with their project topics
In the afternoon of day 3, campers also participated in 1-on-1 mentoring sessions with experienced startup founders working across diverse fields such as Environment, Education, Mental Health, and Entertainment. During these sessions, the campers had a chance to listen to real stories and hands-on experiences from the mentors’ own entrepreneurial journeys. More importantly, each team received personalized feedback and thoughtful guidance, helping them refine, sharpen, and further develop their solutions in a more effective and targeted way.
Getting ready for the final presentation: Pitching Techniques & Business Modeling
On day 4, under the guidance of Mr. Phạm Quang Huy, the campers learned how to turn their ideas into compelling presentations. Through two sessions focused on the Business Model Canvas and pitching techniques, they not only organized their content but also honed their storytelling, presentation, and inspirational communication skills.
Campers presented their group’s Business Model Canvas
The afternoon buzzed with both tension and excitement as each team sprinted to finalize and present their Business Model Canvas to the public
Final day – Shining bright with startup ideas
Day 5 was when all efforts came to fruition. During the final Pitching session, each team took turns presenting their startup ideas before a panel of judges, including CEI faculty, mentors, parents, and special guests from the Fulbright University Vietnam community.
Campers stayed energetic and focused during the final sprint
From solutions to reduce single-use plastic, to products that foster connection among disabled communities, to apps enhancing focus and productivity, and personalized tools supporting high school students in academic orientation, each pitch was a powerful testament to a journey of deep learning and creativity.
The Chill Guys team with the project LoopBox, an eco-friendly food container solution
The Bún đậu mắm tôm team with the project Chạrm, a community initiative that connects people with mobility impairments and their supporters through the creation and sale of handcrafted bracelets
The Crumb & Calm team with the project Crumble Up, an application designed to reduce procrastination, organize tasks efficiently, and track daily progress
The EduNauts team, with the project UniPlane, a platform that provides academic guidance and personalized learning pathways for high school students
Team 5 with the project Serenering, a smart-ring designed to help customers stay focused and build deep-work habits
Wrapping up the journey with the dance performance “Gitchee Gitchee Goo”
The five-day learning journey concluded with a joyful group performance to the song “Gitchee Gitchee Goo.” This was the result of five days of morning warm-up sessions, guided by members of The Luminous – Fulbright Dance Club.
This dance became one of the most memorable highlights of the Fulbright Innovation Bootcamp 2025 (FIB). Every morning, the campers kicked off their day with 15 minutes of high-energy movement, not only to wake up their bodies but also to fuel their creative spirits. Despite the short daily practice time, their synergy and “all-in for the team” spirit helped them deliver a lively, colorful, and unforgettable performance that beautifully capped off their five-day adventure at Fulbright.
From the first day, hesitant steps to their confident presence on stage, this performance stood as a testament to the campers’ growth, teamwork, and the contagious positive energy that defined FIB 2025.
About The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation
The Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) is Fulbright University Vietnam’s first University Center.
The CEI is Fulbright’s flagship effort to embed entrepreneurship and innovation into the core of Fulbright’s culture and academic program. The CEI also offers impactful learning opportunities on entrepreneurship and innovation for stakeholders across Vietnamese society and the region, including non-Fulbright students, professionals, startups, companies, and members of the general public. In time, as both the CEI and Fulbright University Vietnam grow, the CEI will incubate and accelerate ventures going after Vietnam and the region’s toughest challenges.
