Da Nang - Launchpad for blockchain unicorns in the Web3 era

Within the framework of the Danang Innovation and Startup Festival - SURF 2025, the discussion "Da Nang - Blockchain unicorn launch pad" took place with the participation of many experts, founders and leaders of international blockchain organizations, opening up the expectation of turning Danang city into the leading innovation and blockchain startup center in the region.

Da Nang - Open land for new technology

At the beginning of the discussion, the speakers agreed that Da Nang has many favorable factors to become a "launching pad" for blockchain projects to develop. According to Mr. Sasha - Founder of Arcanum Capital, Vietnam in general and Da Nang in particular are showing an open spirit, a desire to explore and pioneer in accepting new technology. "Da Nang has a strong government, practical support policies and especially potential technology human resources," he commented.

Sharing the same view, Mr. Alexis Low - Representative of Lisk Foundation emphasized: "Web3 is a borderless technology, and Da Nang can absolutely become an ideal destination for blockchain projects if it knows how to take advantage of local advantages, especially in the global context of looking for innovation centers outside of traditional 'capitals' like Singapore or Dubai."

Blockchain Startup - The Problem Is Not Just Technology

Mr. Tom Ngo - CEO of Metis Foundation - said that in the field of blockchain, ideas and capital are very important, but the decisive factor is still people. "In the early stages, the chance of success when starting a business is very small, so support from local authorities plays a key role," he said. According to him, Da Nang has been implementing many open policies, especially encouraging testing of new technologies such as blockchain and digital assets (tokens).

To start a business effectively, startups need to be connected with experienced mentors, especially in the field of new technology, and must understand the ecosystem instead of focusing on a single product. Choosing an investment location is very important – startups need to carefully understand the market, policies and local laws before developing solutions. "Da Nang is clearly demonstrating its role as a companion to startups, creating favorable conditions for connecting researchers, businesses and the government," Mr. Tom Ngo emphasized.

Scene of the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding at the event.

Mr. Tran Trung Hieu - Representative of Solana Foundation in APAC region shared: "Not only do founders need technical thinking, they also need to be able to connect - build a 'super team' strong enough to overcome the challenging initial stage. The key is not whether you have a good idea, but how you execute that idea."

Ecosystem and Distribution Strategy: Key Elements

A notable perspective comes from Mr. Jonah Lau - Head of Incubation at Animoca Brands. He appreciates Da Nang's open spirit and aspiration to become a technology hub, and believes that this city is a great place to attract and develop technology talent - a key factor in the startup ecosystem. "AI can replace many jobs, but in the end, it is people who execute and control the technology," he said. However, besides the human factor, Mr. Jonah especially emphasized the importance of product distribution strategy and identifying the right target market. "If a founding team does not clarify the distribution system, I cannot write an investment check." According to him, Da Nang is well positioned in terms of human factors and has the potential to become an ideal destination for technology founders around the world.

Ms. Aly - representative of a Web3 startup support program - also added: "Blockchain startups should not be alone. They need an ecosystem that connects across industries - from technology, finance to the market. Well-organized incubation programs will help startups shape their vision, perfect their products and find their target market."

Blockchain - Breakthrough opportunity for Da Nang in digital transformation

In addition to sharing about their entrepreneurial journey, experts also made many recommendations to support Da Nang in promoting the application of blockchain technology in urban management and digital economic development. According to the representative of Sui Foundation, the application of new technologies such as Web3, tokenomics or artificial intelligence will help the city optimize public services, transparent management and create new values ​​in sustainable development.

Mr. Anh Tran - APAC Regional Director of Superteam Solana - said: "If we know how to utilize blockchain to solve practical problems - from logistics, finance to energy - Da Nang will not only attract investment but can also create models that have a widespread impact in the region."

Also at the event, Mr. Eli David - CEO of StartupBlink - announced the awarding of the "Fastest Growing Startup Ecosystem in Vietnam" certificate to Da Nang city. This is an important milestone, recognizing the persistent efforts of the local government and startup community in creating a favorable development environment, especially for pioneering technology fields such as blockchain.

The talk show "Da Nang - Blockchain unicorn launch pad" is one of the outstanding activities at SURF 2025, continuing to affirm Da Nang's position as a dynamic destination for the new wave of technology - in which blockchain is expected to be the "key" to open the next generation of unicorn startups in Vietnam.

According to danang.gov.vn

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/da-nang-be-phong-cho-ky-lan-blockchain-trong-ky-nguyen-web3-197251012215214817.htm