MIST encourages Vietnamese startups

March 05, 2018 | 22:49

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Destination Mekong and Mekong Business Initiative announced that their Mekong Innovative Startups in Tourism (MIST) will extend the application deadline for Vietnamese startups from March 10 to 24.

MIST encourages Vietnam start-ups

15-20 startups selected for the accelerator will attend an all-expenses-paid intensive boot camp where they will compete for six months of advanced mentorship, in-kind acceleration support valued at $20,000, up to $10,000 of prize money, and customised business matching with potential investors and partners.

"The Greater Mekong Subregion’s government, tourism, and hospitality leaders have embraced MIST as a force for innovation, sustainability, and growth in the region,” said Jens Thraenhart, executive director of the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office.

MIST pairs tourism innovators and travel startups with investors and industry mentors

“Through this programme, we have created the ideal mechanism for tourism innovators and travel startups to get paired with investors and industry mentors who can equip them to scale and thrive,” said Thraenhart.

Destination Mekong and the Mekong Business Initiative—with the backing of the Australian government, the Asian Development Bank, and the Mekong Tourism Coordinating Office—launched MIST in 2016 to propel innovation in the rapidly-growing tourism markets of the Greater Mekong Sub-Region.

MIST aims to expedite the growth of the tourism industry, create an ecosystem that inspires innovation, and promote sustainability in tourism. MIST is part of the Mekong Business Initiative (MBI) jointly backed by the ADB and the Australian government since 2015.

MBI catalyses private sector development in emerging ASEAN markets, focusing on Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, and Vietnam. The programme aims to improve the business environment in these four emerging ASEAN markets with particular focus on business advocacy, alternative finance, and innovation.

By Bich Ngoc

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