Innovation does not only come from laboratories or factories, but also from the bold ideas of startups seeking to address real societal challenges.
With this vision, VNF is honored to participate in Shinhan Square Bridge – Social Open Innovation 2026 as a Host Organization, connecting startups with the business ecosystem to test and develop solutions with strong practical applications.
The program launched in early March with 32 participating startups. After the selection proces, 16 teams advanced to the interview round, and 10 teams were selected to continue working with six host organizations. Among them, 3 teams including DelightFood, Demeter, and BNOW, will collaborate with VNF, while the other 7 teams will work with 5 other host organizations.• Delight Food: High-crystallinity nanocellulose derived from pineapple byproducts, used to improve food texture and cosmetic rheology.
• Demeter (DEMETER.vn): A digital platform for managing the shrimp byproduct value chain, from raw materials to consumer products.
• BNOW: An ingestible biosensing capsule that monitors livestock health and detects abnormal physiological conditions.
In the next phase (May-December), VNF will work closely with these three startups through mentoring, PoC development, and real-world implementation.
Through this process, VNF not only shares experience, networks, and resources, but also contributes to nurturing innovative solutions for a more sustainable future.Congratulations to the 10 selected teams advancing to the next phase of the program with their promising ideas, and we wish them continued success on their journey ahead.
We sincerely thanks Shinhan Financial Group Hope Foundation, United Way Worldwide and MSD United Way Vietnam (MSD Vietnam) for their trust and for inviting VNF to participate in this meaningful program.
