Gen Z from “N” University Leaves a Mark with a Series of Green Entrepreneurship Awards

Two Green Startup Projects Making Waves

Led by students from NIIE—NTTU, the PURE project (Productive Utilization of Renewable Algae), a line of cosmetics made from microalgae and natural compounds, and Green Choice (a circular product line derived from durian) have achieved success in domestic and international startup competitions.

PURE, a microalgae-based cosmetics project, garnered attention by winning second place at the VietFuture Awards 2024 and first place in the University category at the R&D to Start-up 2024 competition. The project’s standout feature is its advanced microalgae cultivation technology, which not only absorbs CO2 to protect the environment but also produces valuable compounds for the cosmetics industry. The project has been praised not only for its innovative concept but also for its potential for commercialization, meeting the growing demand for natural beauty products.

Meanwhile, Green Choice gained recognition for its circular product concept based on durian. By maximizing the value of durian—from processing the fruit to converting its peel into organic fertilizer—the project addresses agricultural waste reduction. With a clear development plan, detailed roadmap, and prototype products, Green Choice won the Potential Award at the VietFuture Awards 2024, first place in the Problem-Solving Innovation category at FID 2024, the “Business Choice Award,” and second place in the National Startup Program 2024. Most notably, Green Choice impressed the judges and secured a spot at North Star Asia 2025 in Singapore.

Two Talented Female Students Behind the Success

The impressive success of these projects can be attributed to two talented NIIE students: Shao Di Tam and Khuat Hong Truc Vy, both majoring in Business Administration. With a solid foundation of professional knowledge, they turned their ideas “from the lab to reality.” They not only actively developed the concepts but also crafted commercialization plans and marketing strategiesies and demonstrated professional project management skills.

A key strength of these two students is their exceptional English presentation skills, honed through NIIE’s internationally standardized learning environment. Notably, Truc Vy convinced Christopher McCuin, Director of the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN) Singapore, paving the way for Green Choice to reach an international stage at North Star Asia 2025.

“This product has export potential and can thrive in the Singapore market,” said the GEN Singapore CEO about Green Choice. He also praised Truc Vy and her project team.

Not limited to domestic achievements, Truc Vy and Di Tam have also made their mark in international collaborative projects. The duo won the Innovation Prize and Excellence Prize at UNIV.STAR 2024, working with South Korean students on two unique projects: researching black garlic sauce combined with dragon fruit kombucha and the “Electrash” waste treatment project.

After participating in various competitions and achieving significant accomplishments, Shao Di Tam acknowledges the practical and valuable knowledge gained at NIIE. The combination of theory, practice, and real-world case studies has sharpened her analytical, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills.

“Participating in simulated projects in class has allowed me to apply knowledge flexibly in real-life situations, improving my soft skills. Additionally, English proficiency has been a key factor in confidently outperforming competitors from other universities and convincing the judges,” Di Tam shared.

The journey of these two students in winning prestigious awards not only highlights NIIE’s high-quality, internationally-oriented training environment but also reflects the bold, entrepreneurial spirit of its students. From daring ideas like green cosmetics and durian recycling, Truc Vy and Di Tam have proven that with passion, knowledge, and determination, students from any field can turn their startup dreams into reality, contributing to positive societal changes.