FPT University and Dream Lab harness AI to cultivate startups

The strategic partnership will focus on empowering FPT University students with the tools, mindset, and mentorship required to launch high-potential startups, ultimately targeting globally competitive success and unicorn potential.

According to Louis Nguyen, chairman of Saigon Asset Management and co-founder of Dream Lab, with the rapid advancement of AI, there should be no gap in thinking between a Vietnamese entrepreneur or student and their peers around the world.

“Our mission is to harness AI to level the playing field and dramatically shorten the time it takes for startups to go from idea to product launch,” said Nguyen.

Inspired by world-class models of Harvard, Stanford, and MIT, the collaboration seeks to position FPT University as Vietnam’s premier university for cultivating entrepreneurial talent. A key component of the FPT University and Dream Lab collaboration programme will be the launch of the Next Unicorn Talent Studio, an innovation-focused startup scheme designed to attract over 1,000 student participants annually.

“Through this partnership, we are creating a powerful platform to equip FPT University students and Vietnamese youth with real-world startup experience,” said Tran Tuan Anh, deputy director of FPT University in Ho Chi Minh City. “It aligns with our vision of fostering innovation and turning students into global changemakers."

The MoU outlines a phased rollout, beginning with a pilot this autumn involving up to 100 top-performing students.

Participants will engage in interdisciplinary team-based coursework covering topics such as ideation, prototyping, and pitching. The course will culminate in a high-stakes Pitch Day judged by industry experts, with top teams advancing to a Dream Lab-led bootcamp and receiving seed funding opportunities from Dream Lab and an ecosystem of venture investors.

“Vietnam has an incredible reservoir of startup talent,” said Dr. Michael Liebmann, co-founder of Dream Lab. “Our mission is to unlock that potential and accelerate the next generation of globally competitive startups, faster than ever, by fully harnessing the power of AI.”

FPT and ATEC, a Japanese automotive software development firm, have signed an MoU to establish a strategic partnership aimed at continuously innovating in the automotive sector and advancing safer, smarter, and more connected mobility.