FIRST LIGHTS IN THE RADIANT JOURNEY

In mid-2025, Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam joined the UII Incubation Programme 2025 of the UEH Institute of Innovation (UII)—almost by accident, yet driven by a bold, instinctive, and deeply sincere spirit.

Figure 1. Rang Ro Vietnam officially becomes a Co-hort of the UII 2025 incubation program.

If we were to describe Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam at that moment, the words would be young, inexperienced, and perhaps even empty-handed when it came to startup knowledge.

We had no formal foundation in entrepreneurship. No operational experience. Little understanding of strategy, business models, or fundraising. Concepts such as incubation, mentoring, or startup ecosystems were completely unfamiliar to us, as we had never truly experienced the realities of “life and money” before. What we did have was a belief that our idea was meaningful, a rough and simple prototype (which has since been entirely rebuilt), and a small amount of recognition from a well-known university newspaper and national media.

Looking back, we now understand that these advantages also carried disadvantages—it was a double-edged sword. Early media attention made us appear more “ready” than we truly were, while internally, we were still fragile and uncertain.

When applying to UII, we were fully aware that compared to other startups in the programme, Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam was perhaps the most immature—immature in experience, in entrepreneurial mindset, and even in how we perceived ourselves. We were still viewing the world through overly idealistic, almost naïve lenses.

We entered UII not with confidence or certainty, but with questions, anxiety, and quiet fears: Was our project still “too early”? Could a culturally driven initiative like Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam truly belong in an incubation programme, within a technology-oriented ecosystem?

UII did not begin by asking what we had achieved. Instead, they asked why Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam was born, who it was meant for, what its core values were, and whether—if given the chance—we were truly willing to commit to building it seriously and responsibly.

Figure 2. Rang Ro Viet Nam and the startups (co-horts) of the UII Incubation Program 2025.

Throughout the incubation journey, the most valuable thing we gained was not simply new knowledge, but the opportunity to exist in a safe environment where admitting “we don’t know” was allowed. Immaturity was never treated as a weakness. Instead, we were guided patiently from the ground up—learning how to frame problems, return to first principles, and distinguish between what we personally loved and what the market genuinely needed.

Figure 3. Some images of Rang Ro Viet Nam in the UII Incubation Program 2025.

Along the way, many people left lasting impressions on our hearts.

Chị Thảo—a lecturer, a mentor, and a sister—never rushed to conclusions or imposed answers. Her questions were always concise, calm, and sharply focused on the core of our confusion. Through reflecting on those questions, we gradually discovered answers that Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam had been searching for all along.

Anh Hiếu and Anh Thiện were not only sources of encouragement but also the ones who actively created opportunities for us to step beyond our comfort zone. They entrusted Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam with responsibilities that, at the time, we were still unsure we were ready for.

We vividly remember two milestones: standing on the stages of UEH Campus B and Campus V for the very first time. These were also our first experiences as moderators—connecting experts in culture and innovation—and as speakers, sharing the story of Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam with students from Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD). Imperfect as we were, those moments became powerful turning points that motivated us to keep improving and moving forward.

From these first experiences, we learned an essential truth: A radiant journey does not begin with perfection—it begins with trust. Trust to try, to step outside our limits, and to keep going.

And of course, this journey would not be complete without chị Oanh, our SGA. Her energy, patience, attentiveness, and unwavering support ensured that a young startup like ours never felt overwhelmed or left behind. Whenever we faced challenges or felt stuck, she became the bridge—helping us find answers or connecting us with the right experts.

Alongside her were Thư and the entire UII team, who quietly but consistently accompanied us throughout our time at UII. We are also deeply grateful to all the mentors, investors, partners, and fellow startups within the UII ecosystem. Every conversation—long or short—helped sharpen our perspective and clarify the path ahead. Simply by being present, you created an open, generous, and deeply valuable environment.

Figure 4. Rang Ro Viet Nam on two stages at UEH campus B and UEH campus V, with the performers acting as moderator and speaker.

Looking back, we realize that the greatest gift Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam received was not only knowledge, but maturity—the chance to grow in a space that allowed us to learn, make mistakes, reflect, and continue. When a startup has an ecosystem like this to rely on, the journey becomes clearer—not because all the answers are provided, but because we know we are not walking alone.

To us, UII is not just an incubation programme. It is the first meaningful milestone where a young project learned how to stand on its own internal strength. And when we look back from the future, we believe this will remain one of the most important and correct decisions in our long-term journey.

Once again, Rạng Rỡ Việt Nam sincerely thanks UII for allowing us to take our first steps on a path that is both meaningful and inspiring. We hope that in future journeys, we will meet UII again—at new milestones, in new roles—and continue spreading the values that lie at the heart of our mission.

Here are some more images of Rang Ro Viet Nam at Demo Day 2025: