When Tejas Tagra and Jacob (Jake) Haynes boarded a flight to Vietnam, they weren’t just carrying luggage, they were bringing big ideas and a whole lot of ambition.
The two students from The Australian National University (ANU) joined a cohort of 20 students from Australia and New Zealand for HEX Vietnam, a two-week innovation program designed to challenge emerging entrepreneurs in one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic startup hubs.
“I could honestly talk to you about this trip for, like days on end,” laughs Jake. “Most people agree that its life changing and eye opening.”
Inside the HEXiverse
HEX, short for Hacker Exchange, runs global programs to help students and early-career professionals build the mindset, skills, and networks to thrive in entrepreneurship and technology.
The Vietnam program in Ho Chi Minh City was equal parts bootcamp and accelerator. It featured a mix of hands-on workshops, founder meetups, tech tours, mentoring sessions and pitch competitions.
“The HEX International program was an intense, hands-on experience that had a huge impact on my entrepreneurial journey,” says Tejas.
“It was all immersive, kind of like a crash course to get you started. They teach you hundreds of things, and then you can pivot and carry things forward from there.”
Each day was packed with real-world lessons on business models, leadership, market research, prototyping, ideation, branding, pitching, and public speaking.
“A lot of the hands-on or interactive parts of the workshop were demonstration-based,” Jake explains.
“They’d walk us through an application live or show a video or example scenario. Most of the time, I was taking notes and reflecting on how each part applied to my own work.”
Pitch perfect
After nearly two weeks of learning, students put their ideas to the test on Pitch Night. In front of a judging panel, investors, and a public audience, participants presented their ventures live and received real-time feedback.
“The pitch training sessions gave me practical tools to structure and deliver a strong pitch,” says Tejas.
“My final pitch improved massively. I learned how to explain the problem and solution simply, address investor concerns effectively, and use storytelling to connect with my audience.”
Between sessions, students were able to connect with founders, have professional headshots taken, polish their LinkedIn presence, and of course, network.
“We worked with so many stakeholders across the 15 days. HEX reinforced for me the importance of networking. It made me more adaptable in engaging with people from diverse backgrounds,” says Tejas.
“The relationships and connections we built during the whole experience were the most valuable of all,” says Jake. “The interconnectedness that was formed between everyone in the cohort was unmatched.”
The group also explored Vietnam’s tech scene, including tours of Microsoft, Amazon, and RMIT University in Saigon.
“Visiting RMIT in Saigon was a really interesting experience. You can see the effort they’ve taken to employ deep tech in the university, incubating and accelerating talent at a very grassroots level. It’s such an interesting concept,” says Tejas.
Shaping their startups
Both Jake and Tejas used the HEX experience to refine, reshape, and elevate their ideas.
Wattle Ventures: supporting research-led startups
Tejas, an ANU computing student pitched ‘Wattle Ventures’, an incubator that helps researchers commercialise their work by leveraging tech outsourcing from Australia’s strategic partners.
“I actually started the program with a different startup idea,” he says. “But after feedback and mentoring, I changed direction to something that fits my passion and long-term goals better.”
“Over the two-week challenge, I got to see the startup world up close, learn from industry experts and reshape my ventures,” says Tejas.
His idea grew from market research, where he found that many academics struggled to take their ideas from lab to market. While experts in their fields, they often got stuck on things like intellectual property, legal frameworks, or finding accelerators that suited the longer development cycles of deep tech ventures.
“Wattle Ventures provides venture-building support throughout the entire research commercialisation journey,” explains Tejas.
The platform aims to fill the space between academia and industry, with support from an engaged alumni network and events like B2B demo days.
“A major takeaway from HEX was the importance of storytelling in building a brand. This changed how I position my startup’s mission and vision to investors and stakeholders, making it more compelling and relatable,” says Tejas.
“Learning how to communicate my journey – why I pivoted, what problem I am solving and why I am the right person to build this – became a fundamental part of my pitch.”
FusionForm: custom car parts, designed to fit
Jake, an ANU Bachelor of Design student with a passion for cars, came to HEX with an early-stage business already in motion.
His venture, ‘FusionForm’, specialises in niche car parts, built using advanced manufacturing techniques. All components are produced in-house using metal and composite materials, along with digital fabrication techniques such as 3D printing.
FusionForm also offers custom made-to-order pieces and services, including CNC machining, laser cutting, photography, graphics, and all things 3D.
“We create high-quality, reliable parts that meet or exceed OEM standards,” says Jake. “It’s efficient, completely customisable, and addresses the limitations of traditional manufacturing.”
He’s starting with a specific car model – targeting a market of about 20,000 enthusiasts across Australia – but plans to scale to other makes soon.
“I was in a different position to most of the group,” Jake explains. “My idea was already launched and validated, with a live website and products in market, whereas others were still at the concept stage.
“For me, HEX was about stress-testing what I had and revisiting the fundamentals, ensuring I hadn’t missed anything. It gave me the chance to fine-tune and develop a more informed scaling plan.”
From campus to capital
Both students say their ANU coursework gave them a head start, especially in tools such as Figma for prototyping and UX design.
“HEX fits into a lot of degrees. It really opens up your horizons,” says Tejas. “And the best part is, I got six units of credit through ANU for the program as well.”
Now back in Canberra, both are now active members of the ANU Entrepreneurship Club. The student-run society helps link ANU researchers, students, and founders alike, and runs workshops, networking events, and pitch nights.
Tejas, the Club’s current president, sees it as a key part of the ANU ecosystem and a natural talent pipeline for ideas like Wattle Ventures.
“HEX made me rethink how I approach entrepreneurship, leadership, and problem-solving,” he says.
“Getting out of my comfort zone to connect with industry leaders, founders and investors was a game-changer,” says Tejas.
“Another big takeaway was learning to see failure as part of the process. HEX reinforced that setbacks are normal in startups and that each one is an opportunity to learn and improve,” Tejas explained.
Jake, who recently joined the club after returning from HEX, has found his people. “It’s where I discovered new ways to innovate and bring my ideas to life,” he said. He advises future founders to connect and be proactive.
“Be open-minded and seek opportunities. Speak to as many people as you can to build your network. Identify your weaknesses and work on them,” says Jake.
“If it were easy, everyone would do it. So, expect challenges along the way, but give it your best shot.”
From Vietnam to Canberra, these students are proving that with the right mindset and a bit of support, big ideas can travel far.
Ready to take your first step in your entrepreneurial journey? Become a member of the ANU Entrepreneurship Club or check out their next events. If you’re looking for your own adventures in your degree, you can learn more about internship opportunities at ANU.