Meetup Recap β University Meetup #3: From Idea to Fundraising
Cardano Vietnam x Hub Network x EHub
January 26, 2026 | Foreign Trade University β Campus II (FTU2), Ho Chi Minh City
The third University Meetup series was successfully held on January 26, 2026, at Foreign Trade University β Campus II (FTU2), hosted by Cardano Vietnam, Hub Network, and EHub.
With over 130 registrations, the event attracted strong interest from students across economics, finance, communications, technology, and related disciplines. The session focused on helping students better understand the early-stage startup journey, from shaping ideas and building products to approaching fundraising in the digital era.
The meetup provided a practical and experience-based perspective on how AI, Blockchain, and Web3 are reshaping entrepreneurship, product development, and access to capital.
Key Highlights
- Registrations: 130+
- Registration link: University Meetup #3 - FTU2HCM Β· Luma
- Audience: University students interested in startups, digital business, AI, and Blockchain
- Core themes: Technology entrepreneurship, product development, early-stage fundraising
- Format: Keynotes, panel discussion, and interactive mini-games
- Key takeaway: Successful early-stage startups depend on clear problem framing, execution discipline, and realistic fundraising strategies β not ideas alone.
1. Opening & Community Introduction
The meetup opened with a warm welcome from the organizing teams, setting the context for University Meetup #3 as part of an ongoing initiative to support students exploring entrepreneurship in the AI and Web3 era.
Organizers emphasized a central message:
Todayβs startup environment allows students to learn by building early, test ideas faster, and gain exposure to real-world constraints long before graduation.
2. Keynote 1 β From Startup Idea to Real Product
Speaker: Mr. Vu Pham β Founder, EZAI
The first keynote focused on the practical realities of turning ideas into working products.
Key discussion points included:
- Common gaps between ideas and execution
- Early product validation and MVP thinking
- Typical mistakes made by first-time founders
- How AI tools can reduce development time and cost for early-stage teams
The session encouraged students to view product building as an iterative learning process rather than a one-time launch.
3. Keynote 2 β Fundraising Strategies for Early-Stage Startups
Speaker: Mr. Sang Nguyen β Blockchain Lecturer & Innovation Expert, Cardano Vietnam
The second keynote explored fundraising from a realistic, early-stage perspective.
Topics covered included:
- Understanding investor expectations at different startup stages
- Why clarity of problem, traction, and team matters more than hype
- How Blockchain ecosystems like Cardano and Project Catalyst provide alternative paths for early funding
- The importance of community, transparency, and long-term thinking in fundraising
Students gained insight into how decentralized funding models can complement traditional investment routes.
4. Panel Discussion β Digital Entrepreneurship & Fundraising Mindset
The panel discussion brought together perspectives on:
- Startup mindset in the AI and Web3 era
- Combining domain knowledge with digital skills
- Learning through projects, communities, and experimentation
- Avoiding common pitfalls faced by young founders
Panelists highlighted that modern startup careers are rarely linear and increasingly reward adaptability, learning speed, and real-world engagement.
5. Interactive Session & Community Engagement
The meetup concluded with interactive mini-games, Q&A, and open discussion.
Through a more relaxed format, students were able to:
- Clarify questions about entrepreneurship and fundraising
- Engage directly with speakers
- Reflect on their own career and startup paths
The interactive approach helped reinforce key ideas while maintaining an open and approachable learning environment.
Closing Reflection & Acknowledgements
University Meetup #3 at FTU2 offered students a realistic perspective on technology entrepreneurship and early-stage fundraising, grounded in practical experience rather than theory alone.
We are deeply grateful to the Cardano Foundation and Project Catalyst for consistently creating space for education-driven conversations like this to take place β allowing students to learn, question, and explore emerging technologies within a real ecosystem context, not just the classroom.
We also thank the speakers, organizing teams, and all participating students for their thoughtful questions, openness, and active engagement throughout the session.
Stay Connected
- Cardano Vietnam Community (Telegram): https://t.me/CardanoVNCommunity
- Cardano Vietnam Twitter: https://x.com/VietnamCardano
Cardano Ambassadors in Vietnam:
β Ha Nguyen: https://x.com/Hahero7
β Mie Tran: https://x.com/mietran0407
See you at the next University Meetup!
On behalf of the organizing committee,
Ha Nguyen
Cardano Ambassador
Cardano Vietnam Community
Presentation
Photos
Video