Driven by the desire to become a pioneering company in applying brainwave technology to safety solutions, Tran Van Luc decided to embark on his entrepreneurial journey, becoming a CEO during his fourth year of university.
Tran Van Luc, a Computer Science student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, is now the CEO of Awake Drive Joint Stock Company, specializing in research and development of a brainwave-based monitoring system to maintain driver alertness.
Tran Van Luc speaks at the National Startup Festival for students on April 20. Photo: Provided by Luc
On April 20, at the National Startup Festival for students, before the Prime Minister and leaders of various ministries, Luc represented the young generation to share his entrepreneurial dreams through his project, “Awake Drive.” This project had previously made it to the finals and won multiple student innovation competitions before officially becoming a startup product.
Sharing with VietNamNet, Luc said the idea was born from a desire to create a practical and beneficial technology application.
Luc and his team noticed that lack of alertness is a major cause of serious traffic accidents. Existing drowsiness warning systems primarily use cameras and only trigger alerts once clear signs of drowsiness appear, such as yawning, droopy eyes, or nodding heads. Evaluating this method as delayed - and sometimes even dangerous, as sudden alerts could startle drivers - the team came up with the idea to apply brainwave monitoring technology to address the issue more effectively.
Under the mentorship of Dr. Trinh Van Chien - a lecturer at the School of Information and Communication Technology and winner of the 2023 Golden Globe Award - the team developed a product consisting of a brainwave-detecting ear-worn device and the Awake Drive mobile app.
“When users wear the device, brainwave data is sent via Bluetooth to their phones. If the user is alert, their brain activity is fast and so are the brainwave frequencies. Conversely, when they are drowsy, brain activity slows, and brainwave frequencies drop,” Luc explained.
Tran Van Luc, Computer Science student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology. Photo: Provided by Luc
The product incorporates AI, IoT, and brainwave technology. Lab tests show the system currently achieves 92% accuracy.
The team entered their research in the “Student Innovation Ideas” contest at the School of Information and Communication Technology, where professors provided valuable feedback on core technology, algorithms, and AI handling.
Incorporating this feedback, they continued refining their product and participated in various startup competitions, including TECHSTART, Young Innovation, Young Startups, Startup with Kawai, and Startup Launchpad.
“In these competitions, we not only improved the product but also learned about customer insights, market strategy, business planning, and financial modeling,” Luc said. The project competed in about 10 different competitions and won the top prize in half of them.
It was at this point that Luc and his team shifted their mindset from merely entering contests to building a real startup company. Their broader goal is to bring their brainwave technology to the global market.
In October 2024, thanks to their persistent efforts, they secured USD 25,000 in investment from the Hanoi University of Science and Technology Innovation Startup Fund (BK Fund) for product development and officially established their company. They also received additional investment commitments, set to activate once the product is released to the market.
Luc (left) shares about the “Awake Drive” project with a colleague. Photo: Provided by Luc
However, the young CEO emphasized that the team aspires to achieve much more than just selling a product. “Awake Drive envisions becoming Vietnam’s leading pioneer in applying brainwave technology to safety and health solutions,” Luc stated.
The company’s goal over the next two years, after passing testing and licensing phases, is to widely distribute the product within Vietnam. From 2027 onward, they plan to expand into Southeast Asia and tougher markets such as Europe and America.
From a first-year student struggling with new challenges, Luc said every experience has helped him mature into the CEO of a startup.
“The hardest part of starting a business is daring to think, to act, and to fail. But what we have is youth, dreams, and belief. We believe not only in developing a good product but also in successfully delivering it to consumers.
There are no limits for those who dare to dream and act. Knowledge from textbooks is just the foundation - stepping into reality is the true 'school of life' where each individual truly grows,” Luc said.
Vietnamnet.vn
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