Vietnam's first export incubator – A pioneering step with GEVA.
For the first time in Vietnam, an export incubator has been established with a hybrid model: both nurturing businesses that are not yet ready and accelerating those that have already developed. The unique feature of this model is that it is designed using a funnel approach, helping to expand knowledge and gradually enhance the capacity of businesses in their journey to access sustainable international markets.
The project, 'Green Export Incubator and Accelerator Program through Voluntary Sustainability Standards (VSS)' – GEVA, will be implemented from April 2025 to April 2026, funded by the Swiss Government through the Swiss Economic Affairs Directorate (SECO), managed by the Vietnam Trade Promotion Agency (Vietrade) and the International Trade Center (ITC), and operated by KisStartup Joint Stock Company – a private unit with rich experience in innovation and creativity.
Funnel Approach: From Awareness to Specialization
Training – Raising Awareness for the Business Community
Courses, workshops, and guides help businesses and individuals understand green export, VSS standards, and global market trends. This is the "wide mouth" of the funnel, expanding the foundation of general knowledge.
Incubation – Building Foundational Capacity
Businesses that are not yet ready will be supported in identifying suitable business models, learning how to integrate sustainability into their products, and preparing for the initial steps of their export journey.
Acceleration – Specialized & Tailored Solutions
For businesses with an existing foundation, the acceleration program focuses on 1:1 advisory sessions lasting 6 months, helping to adjust business models, optimize the value chain, and effectively apply VSS standards.
Market Connection – Paving the Way to International Markets
After incubation and acceleration, businesses will be directly connected with partners and importers in the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, and the Middle East, opening up real collaboration opportunities.
Hybrid Model: Incubation & Acceleration
Unlike traditional support programs, GEVA adopts a market approach:
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Incubation is for young businesses that lack a strong foundation, helping them understand green export requirements, reach international standards, and build new business models.
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Acceleration is for businesses that are ready, providing in-depth support to optimize their business models, apply VSS standards, and directly connect with export markets.
Throughout the process, the services go beyond short-term support, being designed, tested, and refined to operate according to market mechanisms, creating sustainable solutions that truly serve businesses in the long term.
Key Activities
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Online Measurement Toolkit: Businesses can assess their readiness for export, business model innovation, and VSS compliance for free. The summary report will help them determine the improvement roadmap.
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Capacity Building & Market Connection: A series of training activities, workshops, and events connecting with importers from the EU, the US, Canada, Australia, ASEAN, and the Middle East.
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In-depth Incubation & Acceleration Program: 23 businesses in the spice, coffee, and seed industries will receive 6 months of 1:1 advisory, with weekly sessions focusing on three pillars: green export, business model innovation, and VSS standards implementation.
Journey with Vietnamese Businesses
GEVA is not just a technical assistance project. It is a journey of mindset transformation, accompanying Vietnamese businesses in enhancing their competitiveness, aiming for green, sustainable, and responsible exports.
By pioneering the establishment of the first export incubator in Vietnam, GEVA opens up opportunities for agricultural businesses – from small to developed – to step onto a global stage, where value lies not only in products but also in sustainability, transparency, and the ability to adapt to increasingly strict international standards.
