Vietnam’s startup scene picks up pace

Vietnam’s startup scene picks up pace, illustration photo

Last week, Next100, a $10 million early-stage startup fund by NextTech Group, was introduced into Vietnam’s market, marking a significant milestone in its journey to support the country’s entrepreneurs in solving the trickiest hurdles during the early stages of business development. Speaking at the launch, Nguyen Hoa Binh, founding partner of the startup which follows a hybrid model in the combination of venture builder, ecosystem, and venture capital, emphasised that it would be positioned as “a startup soulmate with a wish to accompany founders to overcome obstacles on the path to success at optimum time and cost.”

Founded in 2001, NextTech boasts nearly 20 years of startup history and a current ecosystem of close to 20 digitalised platforms operating in Vietnam, as well as eight other markets across Southeast Asia and China. Currently, the group holds tech brands like mPoS.vn, VIMO, NganLuong.vn, Boxme, FastGo, and more.

The NextTech example is just one of major investment being pumped into startups today. Nearly 20 overseas funds such as Golden Gate Ventures, 500 Startups, and Warburg Pincus have recently committed to pour VND10 trillion ($434.7 million) into local startups over the next three years, making the country one of the most exciting of startup hubs in Southeast Asia.

Huge foreign interest

Earlier this year, after receiving $28 million investment from Standard Chartered and a $5.7-million fund from Goldman Sachs, Vietnam-based fintech startup Momo successfully raised approximately $100 million in its Series C funding round from international private equity Warburg Pincus. It was one of the largest single funding rounds ever raised by a startup from Vietnam.

Similarly, Chris Yeo, head of investment arm Grab Ventures, last month confirmed Grab’s ramping up of business and investment in Vietnam as it sees “increased deal flow on potential opportunities.”

According to the latest statistics by the Topica Founder Institute, the ­country’s startup ecosystem has seen impressive growth in the number of businesses with investment for startups hitting $889 million in 2018, tripling the total compared to 2017 and being six times higher than that in 2016.

The stats also point out that last year saw more $50-million plus startup deals being signed featuring the likes of Tiki, Sendo, and Topica, much higher than in previous years.

Just one week ago, Vietnamese data scientist Nguyen An Nhien, founder of Trusting Social, announced that his AI and data-oriented startup has lured a $25 million investment from high-profile funds like Sequoia Capital, 500 Startups, and BeeNext in its first round.

Michael Piro, COO of ­Indochina Capital, told VIR that the local startup ­ecosystem is a step ahead of most of its neighbours. “With obvious exceptions in China, Hong Kong, and Singapore, Vietnam seems to be one of the markets that has fostered a strong startup ecosystem in the region, which I think goes back to the entrepreneurial spirit imbedded in society.”

Hurdles remain

Clarifying the factors behind the large gap, Piro pointed out capital raising is one of the hardest aspects in the startup scene. In addition, Vietnam’s startups suffer from the country’s ­incomplete legal issues, namely the lack of laws that govern newer forms of ­business.

“While not applicable to all startups, many struggle to take off because of these legal issues and it makes seeking investment extremely difficult for them,” said Piro.

To favour local startup deals, according to Piro, laws that govern new business models need to be clarified and updated. Most investors are risk averse, and when there is a grey area in the laws, many are not willing to take chances in funding. Plus, the country’s underdeveloped distribution infrastructure presents another challenge for businesses, particularly e-commerce players.

In fact, the Vietnamese government has been attempting to solve such issues. “The government has been working and implementing supporting policies to encourage innovative activities, thus creating the most favourable conditions for the development of startups,” said Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung. “We are aware that Vietnam needs to drastically take the necessary measures to align with the Fourth Industrial Revolution.”

According to NextTech’s report, the majority of startups will be unable to overcome hurdles and will have to shut down within one or two years of operation. Some internal factors, in fact, are all linked to the lack of soft skills and support. First, many entrepreneurs struggle to find the “point of impact”, interpreted as the right business strategy in line with startups’ core ­capabilities. Second, it is much more advantageous for startups to access a strong ecosystem that possesses a large customer base.

One step the government can take is to invest more in academic education, soft skills training, and business sharing lessons alike, Piro of Indochina Capital suggested. This knowledge can come from educational institutions, the businesses, or investment funds holding workshops.

Vietnam is expectedly sensing a great opportunity to become the newest hub for ­startups across Southeast Asia. Thus, money is ­pouring in and valuations are soaring as investors start to bet big on the country’s rapid growth, huge market, and digital-savvy customers.