At the international workshop ‘Women and innovation startups’ organized by the Da Nang Union of Friendship Organisations in coordination with Catalyste+, a Canadian economic development organisation, and related units, delegates joined discussions on challenges and opportunities for innovative startups, the municipal government-issued policies to support women's innovative startups, models, and experiences of some countries around the world in successfully operating innovative startup ecosystems to support women's startups.

Here is a scene at the international workshop ‘Women and innovation startups’ in Da Nang, July 5, 2024.

According to Mr. Ly Dinh Quan, the General Director of Songhan Incubator, Da Nang is one of Viet Nam's innovative startup centres positioned on the world's startup map. world with all the elements in the ecosystem. This is a favourable condition to support women's creative startups.

Therefore, women need to change their perception of entrepreneurship, have an integrated mindset and realise their creative entrepreneurial aspirations, thereby effectively utilising support resources, creating quality products wining the trust of consumers.

To promote the entrepreneurial ecosystem for women, it is necessary to implement solutions to bring innovative knowledge into the entrepreneurial process, access a network of support experts and advisors for experience exchanges and have appropriate development orientations.

Ms. Tricia Mumby, startup expert of Catalyste+, said that the innovative startup ecosystem plays an important role in promoting women's successful startups. Many countries around the world such as Canada and Ireland have recorded many achievements related to women startups.

In addition to State policies, women startups need to pay attention to the importance of mentor networks (startup advisors). According to Vice President of the Da Nang Women's Union Nguyen Thi Huyen, in order for the city's women's entrepreneurship movement to spread widely and reach further, local authorities, relevant departments and agencies need to get involved in joining hands to support the growing women's entrepreneurship movement, contributing to the city's innovative startup ecosystem.

“The Da Nang Women's Union will continue to accompany and support women so that they could feel more secure and confident on their entrepreneurial journey. So far, the association has formed a network connecting female entrepreneurs, traders and women starting businesses in the city, creating conditions for exchange and support for sustainable development,”, Ms. Huyen said.

Reporting by VAN HOANG, NGOC ANH - Translating by A.THU