A Final-Year University of Dai Nam Student Becomes a Founder at 21 by Turning a Startup Project into a Business

Although the university guarantees that 100% of graduates will ensure employment, not everyone has the courage to pursue an entrepreneurial career. From his third year, Nguyen Huu Quan, a Business Administration student at Dai Nam University, has nurtured the ambition of turning his startup project into a legitimate company.  Quan proudly became an official founder in his fourth year at the age of 21. This achievement not only shows a strong entrepreneurial spirit but also affirms that Dai Nam University students have courage to step beyond their comfort zone to achieve their aspirations.

Nguyen Huu Quan, an inspiring face of entrepreneurship among Dai Nam University students. 

The journey of turning dreams into reality

Born and raised in Ha Giang in a low-income family, Nguyen Huu Quan has been familiar with hardships since childhood. This has instilled in him a desire to make changes in his life for his faraway homeland as well as for his family and himself.

The young man has always harbored the idea of bringing Shan Tuyet tea - a famous specialty of the Ha Giang limestone mountains - to conquer larger markets. In addition to highlighting the worth of the goods produced in his hometown, Quan hopes to support sustainable economic growth by giving the locals a reliable source of income. 

When Quan entered the Social Innovation Launch 2023 (SIL) competition, which was run by Dai Nam University in association with JCI Thang Long and Youth Plus, this goal was stoked even further. Here, the startup project "Border Dream" with the main product being Shan Tuyet tea, along with a form of volunteer tourism combining the commerce of highland specialized items with ethnic culture, was officially formed.

With tireless efforts and unwavering determination, Nguyen Huu Quan's "Border Dream" project has produced a number of outstanding outcomes: Top 10 SIL 2023; Top 5 of the 2024 Digital Business Breakthrough competition; successfully organized 02 border journey programs with over 200 registrations, over 2000 messages sent, nearly 200,000 views of the open registration post; over 3000 followers on the fanpage, over 2000 followers on Tiktok; the "Border Journey 1" program was featured on VTC Television; collaborate with 02 strategic partners to develop Ha Giang Shan Tuyet tea products.

The "Border Dream" project won the Top 5 prize in the 2024 Digital Business Breakthrough competition.

In July 2024, the "Border Dream" Social Enterprise Joint Stock Company was officially established, marking a major milestone in Nguyen Huu Quan's entrepreneurial journey.

Teachers provides supports, University creates a solid foundation

According to Huu Quan, DNU plays a key role in establishing a solid foundation for student entrepreneurship. In addition to offering professional information, the school places a strong emphasis on hands-on training, assisting students in coming up with ideas and completing their projects.

In addition, DNU also fosters an inclusive environment for students to participate in startup competitions; interact and learn from leading experts in various fields.

Ms. Cao Thi Hoa - Vice President of the Board of Directors, deciding to appoint the Head of the DNU Startup and Innovation Club to Nguyen Huu Quan.

Throughout their academic careers, the team of lecturers and academic advisors always support and accompany students. The Career and Entrepreneurship Center helps students grow their fundraising prospects and develop initiatives in a sustainable way by offering advice, fostering business relationships, and introducing career opportunities.

"Not only does the Career and Entrepreneurship Center and the University's committed support help me have clear orientations, but it also sets up the necessary conditions to connect resources." Huu Quan said, "Because of this support, I can grow and turn my startup initiative into a real business.”

When you courage to try, the opportunity always exceeds 0%

In the near future, Huu Quan plans to export highland products and broaden the volunteer tourism model combined with cultural experiences for international tourists. At the same time, he will organize the "Volunteer and Culture Festival" in December 2024 with the participation of over 100 clubs and nearly 1000 students. 

According to Huu Quan, it's challenging to start a business and run a company while still in school. However, just remembering the goal of escaping poverty and bringing a better life to his hometown, Quan is always motivated to overcome all challenges and persevere on the path of realizing his dream. 

"When you dare to try, the opportunity will always be greater than 0%; but if you don't take a chance , the opportunity will remain zero," Quan said, speaking to members of Generation Z who are supporting startup ideas. “Thus, have courage to pursue your goals and look for capable partners in any industry to work with to create and grow together, transforming concepts into projects and ideas into businesses.”

Wishing Nguyen Huu Quan always maintains his passion and achieves many successes on his entrepreneurial journey!