HUTECH Startup Wings 2025 Finals: Herbal milk tea tablet “TEA PIE” crowned champion
- 12/07/2025
The Final Round of the HUTECH Startup Wings 2025 was held on July 11 by Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HUTECH). The championship title was awarded to Nguyen Minh Hoang, an Automotive Engineering student from the Institute of Engineering, for his project TEA PIE – a herbal milk tea in tablet form.
HUTECH Startup Wings is an annual competition organized to support students in “incubating” startup ideas, empowering them to develop entrepreneurial spirit right from their university years.
HUTECH Startup Wings is an annual competition organized to support students in “incubating” startup ideas, empowering them to develop entrepreneurial spirit right from their university years.
Dr. Huynh Ngoc Anh, Vice President and Head of the Organizing Committee of HUTECH Startup Wings 2025, emphasized HUTECH’s strong commitment to investing in student entrepreneurship to foster creativity and holistic development
Entrepreneur Dr. Vu Van Hoang affirmed that businesses and experts are always ready to accompany students on their startup journey
Now in its seventh season, the competition continues to attract a large number of participants, serving as a launching pad for young entrepreneurs and spreading a strong spirit of innovation. Over nearly four months, students competed in several intense rounds including the Screening, Positioning, Idea/Project Development, and Entrepreneurial Challenge rounds, while participating in a series of training sessions with experts and gaining hands-on startup experience. Throughout the journey, students received valuable guidance to refine their projects and prepare for the final challenge.
HUTECH leadership presented appreciation letters to judges, mentors, and professional units
The Final Round judging panel included Dr. Vu Van Hoang – Vice President of the Thanh Hoa Entrepreneurs Club in the South, Chairman and CEO of Dai Viet Construction and Design Consulting JSC; Ms. Dang Thi Luan – Acting Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, Ho Chi Minh City Department of Science and Technology (SIHUB); Ms. Nguyen Thi Minh Thuy – Deputy Director of the Digital Content Development Center of Thanh Nien Newspaper, Vietnam Youth Federation, also a startup coach for the 2024 National Youth Startup Competition; Mr. Le Phuong Linh – Vice President of the Vietnam Entrepreneurs Club, Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises; Mr. Nguyen Phuc Khoa – Vice President of the Vietnam Retailers Association (AVR), Vice President of the Ho Chi Minh City Food Association (FFA), and Chairman of Le Nguyen Duong Food JSC.
These experienced entrepreneurs and startup advisors have closely followed the contestants from the beginning and offered objective, insightful evaluations.
These experienced entrepreneurs and startup advisors have closely followed the contestants from the beginning and offered objective, insightful evaluations.
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Each team was given a total of 10 minutes to present: 2 minutes for a project introduction video and 8 minutes for live pitching. Scoring was based on a 100-point scale, covering: Product – 20 points; Customer Strategy – 20 points; Business Strategy – 20 points; Innovation and Feasibility – 20 points; Presentation Skills – 20 points. Over three hours of competition, all teams demonstrated serious preparation and professionalism, with the judging panel noting strong growth potential.
With a highly feasible idea, clear development plan, and compelling pitch, the TEA PIE project by Nguyen Minh Hoang - an Automotive Engineering student - stood out and won the championship title.
The highlight of the project is its cylindrical tablet form made through natural crystallization, allowing for safe transportation without breaking. Unlike conventional instant milk tea, TEA PIE uses rock sugar instead of artificial sweeteners, and incorporates various herbs for a more natural flavor and a healthier experience for consumers.
Nguyen Minh Hoang and Herbal Milk Tea Tablet “TEA PIE” crowned champion of HUTECH Startup Wings 2025
Nguyen Minh Hoang’s product has already entered the market and received positive feedback from consumers
In addition to its delightful taste, TEA PIE features dried real flowers embedded in the tea tablets, creating a visually appealing effect when brewed. This unique touch helps enhance the product’s brand recognition and emotional value. Having started development in January 2024, TEA PIE has built a solid customer base and achieved impressive business results, including ranking among the top 2 beverage stalls on Lazada. Notably, Hoang has also actively collaborated with Korean startups and introduced his product to customers in the Philippines, aiming to elevate the brand image and expand into international markets.
Sharing his reasons for pursuing a technical major while being passionate about business, Hoang said, “To me, product quality drives revenue, and to create a good product, you must have solid production infrastructure. Good infrastructure depends on technology and engineering, which brings us back to the importance of technical knowledge. For me, engineering is the root of all industries. I study engineering, but I do business.”
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Dr. Kieu Tuan, Party Secretary and Standing Member of the University Board of Directors, delivered remarks encouraging students on their journey of personal and professional development
Awards for the remaining projects in the Top 6 were as follows:
- First Runner-up: Shrimptech – A deep learning-integrated shrimp pond monitoring and management system (Faculty of Finance – Commerce)
- Second Runner-up: MYCOGOLD – A mushroom growing kit made from turmeric residue (Faculty of Finance – Commerce)
- Most Popular Project: VieCo – Coconut candy inside an actual coconut (Faculty of Business Administration)
- Promising Project: Peaceful Darkness (Faculty of Finance – Commerce)
- Most Impressive Project: Healthy Green Secrets from Sour Tamarind (Institute of Applied Sciences)
On the same morning, the Top 6 teams held a showcase on campus to introduce their products to students, lecturers, and representatives from the business sector. Each booth was carefully curated and engaging, reflecting the students' thorough preparation and strong entrepreneurial spirit.
Judge Nguyen Phuc Khoa noted that student startup projects have shown increasing maturity in both scale and quality
On behalf of the judging panel, Mr. Nguyen Phuc Khoa remarked, “Each year, the projects grow in scale and quality, and students are clearly developing more advanced entrepreneurial thinking. Some projects even apply cutting-edge technologies. It’s evident that students are not only focusing on product quality but also incorporating technology and aligning with broader societal trends. This is an encouraging sign and a solid foundation for future competitions.”
News: Minh Châu
Photo: Công Định
Communication Center
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