Shio-Ion Emerges as Grand Winner of TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026!

Ho Chi Minh City, 11 July 2026 – TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026 Demo Day, hosted at The Sentry C in Ho Chi Minh City, concluded with a showcase of Vietnam’s promising science-based startups and research-driven entrepreneurs, with Shio-Ion emerging as the Grand Winner for its work on next-generation sodium-ion batteries using AI-discovered materials.

Entering its eighth year since its launch in 2018, TECH PLANTER Vietnam has continued to grow as a platform connecting Vietnam’s deep-tech startups, researchers, corporate partners, and ecosystem builders. Over the years, the program has generated tangible outcomes, including investments into Vietnamese startups and cross-border collaborations between Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and the wider Southeast Asian ecosystem.

This year’s Demo Day was made possible with the venue support of The Sentry C, together with the collaboration of six global partners, three local partners, and two ecosystem partners.

＜KOBASHI Monozukuri Standard＞
As a new initiative, Leave a Nest also held the “KOBASHI Monozukuri Standard” seminar in the morning at the same venue, in collaboration with global partner KOBASHI HOLDINGS. Mr. Hai Ho, CEO of Alternō and Grand Winner of TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2023, joined as a special speaker and shared his experience receiving manufacturing support in Japan. The seminar welcomed approximately 40 participants and provided insights into Japanese monozukuri knowledge and opportunities for collaboration with Japan’s manufacturing ecosystem.

＜TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026＞
TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026 opened with remarks from Head Judge Dr. Shuichiro Takahashi, Representative Director CSO of Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., followed by a keynote speech from Mr. Tung Le, CEO of Seamorny and Grand Winner of TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2025.

The program featured presentations by finalist teams, five lightning talk teams, and three partner presentations. After careful evaluation by the judges, the following teams were selected as award winners.

Award Winners – TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026

 Grand Winner: Shio-Ion
Theme: Next-generation sodium-ion batteries using AI-discovered materials

Leave a Nest Award: Enfarm Agritech
Theme: Digital tools for smarter fertilizer use, soil health, and crop management

YS Design Award: Shio-Ion
Theme: Next-generation sodium-ion batteries using AI-discovered materials

SDEC Award: CAS Farm
Theme: Climate-smart farming system integrating solar energy, aquaculture, smart farming, and free-range livestock

KOBASHI Award: Enfarm Agritech
Theme: Digital tools for smarter fertilizer use, soil health, and crop management

Teral Award & UntroD Award: VoxCool
Theme: Cold Batteries that store and release cooling energy without electricity

Each corporate award winner received 12,000,000 VND, while the Grand Winner received 18,000,000 VND. In addition, the winners of the Leave a Nest Award and Grand Winner were granted the opportunity to participate in TECH PLANTER ASIA FINAL, which will be held in Malaysia in August 2026.

Building Vietnam’s Deep-Tech Ecosystem

TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026 brought together research-driven startups, entrepreneurs, corporate partners, investors, universities, and ecosystem builders, further strengthening Vietnam’s growing deep-tech innovation ecosystem.

At the closing ceremony, Dr. Takumi Jindo of Leave a Nest Co., Ltd., project leader of TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026, announced the establishment of Leave a Nest Vietnam as the seventh overseas subsidiary of the Leave a Nest Group. Besides this, Dr. Arief Izzairy Bin Zamani, director of Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn., Bhd., also shared the Malaysian ecosystem featured on Center of Garage Malaysia we built in Cyberjaya, Malaysia.

Through Leave a Nest Vietnam, Leave a Nest will further accelerate the creation of projects with Vietnamese entrepreneurs to change the world, while strengthening collaboration with overseas platforms across Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and beyond.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all partners, judges, speakers, finalists, lightning talk teams, and participants who contributed to TECH PLANTER Vietnam 2026. Together, we will continue to nurture a vibrant ecosystem of startups dedicated to solving real-world challenges through science and technology.

If you are interested in this platform, feel free to contact to us.

>> Takumi Jindo, Leave a Nest Co., Ltd.
[email protected] / +813-5227-4198

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