The 4^th International Startup Conference and Exhibition in Da Nang - SURF 2019, the largest of its kind in Central Viet Nam, opened this morning, seeing the participation of Da Nang’s leaders, domestic and international partners, start-up supporters, investors, mentors, and startup entrepreneurs. In particular, there are a total of more than 40 speakers who deliver speeches on startup.

Finnish billionaire Peter Vesterbacka

Themed ‘Promoting the city’s resources to develop creative startup ecosystems’, this year’s event is taking place at the Hai Chau District-based Eden Plaza Da Nang.

SURF 2019 aims to turn Da Nang into a creative startup hub of the region, linking startup ecosystems of localities in the Central and Central Highlands regions, and connect international resources with local communities.

Under the agenda, there are main discussions on the development of start-up resources, finance, human resources, technology, and other related aspects in the city.

Notable amongst the speaker at SURF 2019 is Finnish billionaire Peter Vesterbacka, the Founder of SLUSH, Co-founder MobileMonday, Co-founder at Lightneer, Fun Academy Advisor to Edunation, Former Mighty Eagle of Rovio’s Angry Birds. Slush is the world's leading Startup event where founders and tech talent meet with top-tier international investors, executives, and media.

Notably, in 2011, Time Magazine has placed Vesterbacka 7th on its annual list of the world’s 100 most influential people. On the Time Magazine list, he comes in straight after Facebook creator Mark Zuckerberg. Vesterbacka was listed higher among the top ten than the German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the founder of the whistleblowing website Wikileaks, Julian Assange.

This afternoon, Vesterbacka will deliver a highly expected speech themed ‘Impossible is Nothing’ 

Another outstanding speaker is Bobby Liu, the Senior Director of the Topica Edtech Group cum founder of the Ha Noi-based co-working space Hub.IT. He will share his opinions through his speech ‘Viet Nam Investment Scene’.

Nguyen Hoa Binh, the Founder and Chairman for NextTech Group of Technopreneurs will unfold the mystery of startup failure and ways of avoiding.

SURF 2019 will include seminars on policy, agriculture and tourism, technology and investment. Besides, there are also 40-70 start-up exhibition booths and the Entrepreneurship Innovation Contest.

Also under the SURF 2019 agenda, the Startup Exhibition featuring 40 - 70 booths and the SURF Pitching Competition 2019 are organised.