This document provides an overview of Vietnam's startup ecosystem. It describes Vietnam's population, workforce, GDP, and economic growth. The population has a golden structure that is young, enthusiastic, and dynamic. Confucianism influences Vietnamese culture and emphasizes hierarchy, face-saving, and relation-based business. Vietnam has over 3,000 startups, 40 coworking spaces, 70 VC funds, and 130 mentors and angel investors. It analyzes the startup ecosystems in three main cities - Ha Noi, Da Nang, and Ho Chi Minh City - and provides details on their economies, industries, incubators, accelerators, and investors. The document concludes with background on the author, their investment interests, and an

1. Understanding the
Vietnam Startup
Ecosystem
Trần Trí Dũng; vebimo@gmail.com
Hà Nội 24/09/2020

2. Why Vietnam?
1. Why you are here?
2. What do you want to do?
3. What do you expect today?

3. Social Republic of
Vietnam
• Area: 331,210 sq km
• Coastline: 3,444 km
• Population: ~ 100 mln
• Workforce: ~55 mln
• GDP: $220-$250 bln
• Agriculture: 15%
• Industry: 33%
• Services: 52%
• Growth: 6.8%
• GDP per capita: $2000+
• Commercial lending rate: 10%

4. Golden Population
Structure
o Young, enthusiasm, and dynamic
o Low Uncertainty Avoidance
(Hofstede: 30/100)
o Critical role of education system in
building entrepreneurial mindset
o Pools of talented engineers… just
lack of startup/business founders.
o Generations:
o 70s; 80s; 90s, Xs, Zs

5. Confucianism in Vietnam
 Hierarchy: Social Ranking: “Sĩ – Nông – Công – Thương”
(Gentry scholar/Intellectual Official – Farmers – Craftsman –
Trader/Businessman)
 Face-saving: “Fail fast, Fail often, and Fail cheaply”
 Relation-based business: personalize business relation
 The hidden entrepreneur’s aspiration to become non-entrepreneur

7. STARTUPS
3000+
Incubators
Accelerators
40-
Coworking
Spaces
~70
VCs + Investment Funds
~ 40
University-based
Entrepreneurship
Programs
~ 130
Mentors Angel Investors

8. Ha Noi Capital City
• Population: 8 – 10 mln
• GDP: $38 bln
• GDP per capita: $4000
• Pace of Biz: Low-Moderate
• Advantage: Pool of talents, strong universities;
product-focused
• Satellites:
• Hai Phong
• Bac Ninhs
• Thai Nguyen
• Central Gov:
• MOST: 844, NSSC
• MPI: NIC
• City Gov: New startup support program
• CoWorking Spaces: Cogo, Up, many others
• Incubators & Accelerators:
• State-run & university-based
• Topic FI, ThinkZone, Rehoboth, VSV
• Local Investors: conservative

9. Da Nang – the Hub of
Central Region
• Population: 1.5-2 mln
• GDP: $4.3 bln
• GDP per capita: $3,865
• Pace of Biz: Moderate; direct
• Advantage: Hidden charms
• Relatively low cost of living
• Expat community; tech nomad
• Outward positioning
• Satellites:
• Hue
• Quang Nam
• Quang Ngai
• Central Highland
• City Gov: Regional Hub of Innovation
• CoWorking Spaces: Surf Space, and others
• Incubators & Accelerators:
• DNES
• Song Han Incubator
• Local Investors: still early

10. Ho Chi Minh city – the
Engine of Economic Growth
• Population: 13+ mln
• GDP: $58 bln
• GDP per capita: $6,430
• Pace of Biz: Fast; risk taking
• Advantage: economic hub; market-oriented
• Satellites:
• Binh Duong
• Dong Nai
• City Gov: Startup Exchange, Startup Runway Programs
• CoWorking Spaces: Up, Toong, Dreamplex, Circo,
others
• Incubators & Accelerators:
• State-run & university based: SiHub, SHTP IC, ITP
• BSSC, VIISA, Sao La, Startup Zone, Shinhan Lab..
• Local Investors: active

11. Tran Tri Dung
vebimo@gmail.com; + 84 917278078
 17 years of strategic & financial planning consultant
 8 years of innovation ecosystem enablers: Vietnam and Lower
Mekong Region (Lao, Cambodia, Myanmar)
 Entrepreneur journey: ERP, business communication, financial market
monitoring and analysis, geopolitics and economy analysis, applied
economic research, financial investment
 Advisor and board member in tech-based innovation businesses
(transportation, agriculture)
 Principal partner: family office and private equity (education, energy,
and resort)
 Investment interest:
o Tech-based innovations
o Preferred domains: Education, Tourism & Hospitality, Agriculture
o Faith * Integrity * Intelligence
Faith * Integrity * Intelligence
THANK YOU & ASK ME ANY THING