Standard Chartered’s SC Ventures & VinUniversity launch intrapreneurship program

SC Ventures, the innovation, fintech investment, and ventures arm of Standard Chartered Bank, and VinUniversity (VinUni) signed an MoU on November 16 on launching an intrapreneurship program for VinUni students to help them develop entrepreneurship and leadership skills.

Under the MoU, the bank will host an innovation challenge that VinUni students will be invited to participate in, which will be hosted on SC Ventures’ FinTech Bridge community platform. Through the challenge, the bank will provide coaching and facilitation support for shortlisted teams of VinUni students over three “bootcamps” and organize a judging panel to consider student pitches towards the end of the bootcamps.

The program will be run by SC Ventures, a business unit that provides a platform and catalyst for Standard Chartered to promote innovation, invest in disruptive financial technology, and explore alternative business models. The intrapreneurship program will evolve ideas into implementation by equipping intrapreneurs with a full suite of tried and tested resources to help them manage their journey.

“We believe that equipping students with necessary future skills is critically important to ensuring their success post-graduation and preparing a quality workforce serving the country’s economic development,” said Ms. Michele Wee, CEO of Standard Chartered Vietnam. “We are delighted to partner with VinUniversity to bring our intrapreneurship program to benefit students on their learning and development journey.”

Mr. Jason Wiggin, member of SC Ventures, said it is thrilled to partner with VinUniversity on this project. “By leveraging SC Ventures’ expertise in intrapreneurship and venture building, we are confident that we can foster a deeper understanding and passion for venture building in VinUni’s students and help drive a new generation of entrepreneurs in Vietnam,” he said.

VinUniversity is a private, not-for-profit university established by Vingroup. It aspires to become a university of excellence with a mission to develop talent for the future. It has built strategic collaborations with Cornell University and the University of Pennsylvania. Currently, the university provides degrees in three main categories of majors: Business and Management, Engineering and Computer Science, and Health Sciences.

As a university that promotes innovation and an entrepreneurial spirit, VinUni provides students with opportunities for real learning, real practice, and early failure to succeed in the future. Each year, it pledges $100,000 in funding for student startups, research, and community projects.