Competition guideline

Competition guideline

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Who can enter?

Open to all high school students (*) studying in any Vietnam-located schools (including Vietnamese and foreign students) and can participate in teams (minimum 3 and maximum 4 members per team). Team members may come from different high schools (**). All submissions and presentation must be in English only.​

(*) Typically year 10-12, or year 9 if considered high school under the school's system.​

(**) If the winning team has members from different high schools, the organising team will grant the award proportionally to each high school.

Competition timeline

Opening ceremony and workshops - First round
21 September – 13 October 2025 Teams register for the appropriate areas of focus via RBPC's registration form.
19 October 2025 Registered students can participate in the Opening Ceremony, Workshop 1 and Q&A sessions with industry experts and the Organizing Committee from RMIT University.
26 October 2025 Registered students can participate in Workshop 2 and Q&A sessions with industry experts and the Organizing Committee from RMIT University.
9 November 2025 Registered teams submit the business proposal in PDF format and a not more than 2-minute video to rbpc@rmit.edu.vn before 23:59 on 9 November 2025.
24 November 2025 The top 5 teams will be selected to advance to the final round. At the same time, the 10 best video submissions will be featured on our fan page for the People's Choice Award.
Mentoring and workshop - Final round
27 November​ 2025 Workshop 3 for finalist teams and Q&A sessions with industry experts and the Organizing Committee from RMIT University. Introducing the industry mentors who will guide the finalist teams on their journey.
Grand finale
7 December 20255 Top finalist teams will pitch their business proposals to a panel of judges. The best team will be crowned the winner of the RMIT Business Plan Competition 2025.

Areas of focus - Industries in focus​

The competition seeks business plans from all sectors that integrate local cultural heritage with global economic trends, including but not limited to:

Banking and Finance

Integrating traditional, eco-friendly financial practices and community-based savings models into fintech solutions to address modern sustainability challenges.

Tourism and Hospitality

Creating immersive experiences that showcase indigenous and cultural heritage while fostering connections between traditions and global audiences

Agriculture

Enhancing sustainable farming, Agro-processing and food innovation, organic food production, and sustainable packaging for farm products that preserves biodiversity and local farming traditions

Manufacturing

Advancing sustainable textile, industrial, and production practices to meet international demands while promoting green technologies and reducing environmental impact

Other sectors

All innovative proposals that incorporate local cultural elements and apply technology toward sustainable development are encouraged to participate

Innovative technologies to use

Participants are required to develop creative solutions/ business models using these innovative technologies. This list is not final; students are encouraged to consider any other new and innovative technologies as well:

  • Blockchain Technology
  • Internet of Things (IoT)
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Business data analytics

 

Discover the Submission guideline

Judging criteria

Problem-solving approach
Evaluates how well the contestants identify the problem, analyze its root causes, and propose a solution.
Creativity
Gauges the originality and inventiveness of the participants' ideas.
Feasibility of the concept
Examines the practicality and viability of implementing the proposed solution.
Social and environmental impacts
Focuses on evaluating the positive effects the solution can contribute to sustainable development goals.
Overall presentation
Considers the clarity, coherence, and persuasiveness of how the participants present their ideas and projects.

Rules and regulation

  • Each team will have to complete the challenge without assistance from teachers and external parties.
  • Teams must submit their proposals and videos before the deadline. Late submissions are not eligible for the next round.
  • Each submission should take the format of a pdf business plan report, should be an original design and created by the participants themselves. Teams can also supplement their entries with models, charts, skits, or other appropriate media while presenting to the judges.
  • All submitted entries will become the property of the organisers (RMIT) and will not be returned. By participating in this challenge, participants agree that their entries may be displayed and featured in the publications of the organisers and their partners.
  • By participating in this challenge, participants also will consent and agree that RMIT's Corporate Communications Office, its employees, or agents have the right to take photographs and record videos of them during the event and to use these in any media, including social media, associated with RMIT University Vietnam, and that their name and identity may be revealed therein or by descriptive text.
  • The submission is strictly prohibited from being fully generated by AI without any independent thinking or practical analysis contributed by the team members themselves.
  • The decisions of the graders in round 1 and judges in the final round are final.
  • The rules, regulations, and prizes in this competition are subject to change without prior notice, if necessary, to keep RMIT Vietnam in compliance with Vietnamese laws and regulations.

Grand prizes

  • 01 First prize: VND 50,000,000 (in vouchers)
  • 01 Second prize: VND 30,000,000 (in vouchers)
  • 01 Third prize: VND 20,000,000 (in vouchers)
  • 02 Encouragement prizes: VND 10,000,000 (in vouchers)

Special awards

  • 01 People's Choice prize: VND 50,000,000
  • 01 Top Achieving Highschool - Champion: VND 15,000,000
  • 01 Top Achieving Highschool - 1st Runner-up: VND 10,000,000
  • 01 Top Achieving Highschool - 2nd Runner-up: VND 5,000,000
Register to join the competition