VCs are seeking Vietnamese Web 2.0 Startups

2007/4/19

Startups Should Have A Blog

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@ 12:00 PM (16 months, 27 days ago)
Almost Vietnamese startups do not blog now. Via an interesting post Why Startups Should Have A Blog
  • Find Co-Founders
  • Find Employees
  • Find Early Customers
  • Get Early Feedback
  • Find Investors

2007/3/30

Do You Need MBA?

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@ 12:31 AM (17 months, 18 days ago)
Thinking of web business startup but not confident of your academic education as Mekong Capital prefers entrepreneur wannabes with MBA degree (my earlier post)? No worry, yesterday Forbes featured an article: Do M.B.A.s Make Better Entrepreneurs? Looking into some recent successful Chinese entrepreneurs: Alibaba.com' Jack Ma, Focus Media's Jason Jiang, Baidu' Robin Li, NetEase's William Ding, Tencent's Pony Ma - no MBA. Go ahead Vietnamese entrepreneurs 2.0.

2007/3/26

The $20 Million Challenge

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@ 05:10 PM (17 months, 21 days ago)
Early 2007 Mekong Capital Vietnam launched $20 million challenge -Thách thức $20 triệu competition. It is truly a business plan competition even it is stated beyond that. The priority categories are distribution of branded consumer products, retails, franchise and no mention of web services. This implies Mekong Capital would not join Vina Capital DFJ and IDGVV on tech VC battle ground. Young tech entrepreneurs rather digg into CNN Business 2.0 feature as Mekong Capital does not favor tech savvy guys under 25 and have no MBA diploma. The 22 year old Mark Zuckerberg with his Facebook could reach $1 billion. Vietnamese Phùng Tiến Công started nhacso.net with FPT Music in 2005 at 24 years old. As my earlier post, if you have a good concept and dream team just start and VC should come along. Competitions and gameshows can make an American Idol and The Apprentice but not a Simon Fuller and Donald Trump.

2007/3/1

Vietnam is ready for Web 2.0?

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@ 02:58 PM (18 months, 16 days ago)
Reading recently James Seng’s post about Web 2.0 in Singapore and Spannerworks Web 2.0 taking off in China, I think it is time for Vietnam to start Web 2.0 services. Here are the reasons.
1) Vietnam is a large market.
Population of more than 85 millions (about one third from 15 to 30 years old) and nearly 15 millions internet users. Some Vietnamese websites reach high rank with Alexa. Online games are so popular with Vietnamese youngsters. Vietnam could become the next China or India.
2) Available funding for Web 2.0
IDG Venture Vietnam is willing to invest into Web 2.0 start-ups with big portion of $100 million fund. FPT Capital is looking for partners who can manage portfolio of Web 2.0 services. Other VC funds are setting up to grasp this potential market.
3) HR 2.0
There are not many Web 2.0 visionaries in Vietnam like in other countries but the pool of web developing talents is available enough for Web 2.0 services. Some young designers can work with leading Hollywood studios.

2007/2/23

Who are Venture Capitalists in Vietnam

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@ 10:29 PM (18 months, 22 days ago)
Come across IDG Ventures Partner Jeff Bussgang' blog, we see very bright future for Vietnamese start-ups. In the quest for VC funding, my friend who run a community shopping choviet.com came to DFJ VinaCapital. The process is as long as many VC firms', as result of only one in the porfolio. The reason maybe laid in its strategy which cling to Vietnamese overseas in contrast to IDG Ventures Vietnam that seeks home grown talents, boasting most promising targets for M&A and IPO. IDGVV is walking around an online job firm but the process could not be faster as lack of sensible venture capitalists. Vietnamese Government will launch a VC fund soon, but I wonder how this can work.