DutyCast riding the AI wave to empower SMEs

What factors attracted GTR Ventures and angel investors to DutyCast in this strategic funding round?

CEO Nguyen Le Hoa

GTR Ventures and our angel investors were particularly drawn to DutyCast’s track record in delivering AI-driven compliance solutions, already trusted by global names such as McKinsey and SATS.

A major factor was our demonstrated ability to cut compliance costs by up to 60 per cent for small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), a segment historically underserved in this space. Moreover, our approach resonates with macroeconomic trends, including shifting tariffs and growing geopolitical uncertainties.

These challenges have underscored the need for agile, tech-enabled compliance platforms, which aligns directly with GTR’s broader mission to foster trade resilience through innovation.

With global trade compliance valued at over $25 billion, which customer segments are central to your expansion plans?

We’re focusing on four strategic segments: exporters, freight forwarders, customs brokers, and SMEs. Southeast Asia, particularly those navigating the evolving US-Vietnam trade landscape, remains a key geographic priority.

While our enterprise clients such as PwC and SATS highlight the flexibility of our platform, SMEs are at the heart of our growth strategy. These firms typically lack the dedicated resources for in-house compliance, yet face the same regulatory burden as multinationals.

This mismatch creates a substantial opportunity, one that DutyCast is uniquely positioned to serve with scalable, cost-effective solutions.

How does DutyCast help enterprises overcome compliance barriers that often hinder their global competitiveness, and which markets are next on your roadmap?

We leverage AI to automate the most complex and error-prone elements of trade compliance, such as rules of origin, HS code classification, and tariff calculations. These processes, when done manually, are not only time-consuming but prone to costly mistakes.

By transforming them into streamlined, intuitive workflows, we significantly reduce the time and expertise required, enabling SMEs to participate in global trade with confidence and lower overheads.

Our roadmap includes further expansion into the wider ASEAN region, as well as targeted markets in the United States and Europe. GTR brings a valuable global network, comprising over 60,000 trade professionals and a strong presence at key industry events across five continents.

This will help us forge new partnerships and accelerate market entry in important hubs like Dubai, London, and New York. Equally important, their regional expertise will enable us to tailor our platform to meet specific compliance requirements, reducing our time-to-market significantly.

What role do you foresee for AI in trade compliance, and where does DutyCast aim to position itself in that future?

In the next 3-5 years, AI will become the backbone of trade compliance, managing risk and regulatory updates in real time. We see DutyCast becoming the go-to platform not just for SMEs but also for large enterprises seeking flexible, embedded compliance solutions.

With strategic partners like GTR, we aim to integrate our tools seamlessly into global supply chains. According to the International Chamber of Commerce, digital transformation could reduce compliance costs by up to 30 per cent, and we’re here to turn that projection into reality.