Canadian Tech Startups in Vietnam – Closer than You’d Think

Attendees packed a sold-out CanCham Vietnam and CABC joint seminar on startup opportunities in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, on May 27, 2016. Vietnam is not yet on the list for the world’s most innovative countries, but its rapid economic growth and increasing international engagement means that it is quickly attracting investor attention. According to keynote speaker Daniel Liebau from Lightbulb Capital (Singapore), successful startups will harness Vietnam’s ability to “manage chaos.” A number of the experienced speakers and panelists, which included every potential area of the startup community – venture capital, angel investors, successful founders, new founders and incubator/ accelerators- encouraged attendees to “just do it” and get started. While early success is far from assured and there are constraints on early-stage fund raising in particular, Vietnam is quickly learning from India and China, and it is only a matter of time before large values can be ascribed to Vietnam’s Alibaba and Uber equivalents. Vietnam’s increasing education quality and technical capabilities, particularly around Hanoi’s tech core, will help drive this type of startup success. Canadian investment management firm Wesley Clover co-sponsored the meeting and met with a number of local start-ups during the event. According to Greg Vanclief, Managing Director of Global Investments, Wesley Clover sees opportunities in building businesses around serial entrepreneurs. Other investors present also had a number of successful one-on-one meetings with entrepreneurs seeking funding.

The CABC is thrilled to announce the 3rd Canada-ASEAN Business Forum. As the CABC’s key event of the year, the Forum will bring together over 250 business and government leaders from Canada and Southeast Asia. For our official website, including sponsorship opportunities and the Forum agenda, please click here. When: September 7-8, 2016 Where: The Shangri-La Hotel, Jakarta, Indonesia View our promotional video for the 2016 Forum!

Vietnam is far from the only investment and startup destination in the region. Innovative Canadiancompanies have been doing business in more established parts of ASEAN like Singapore for many years. The talent and market opportunities – and the technological challenges - have spurred many successes

for Canadian firms. The Innovation and Disruptive Tech panel at the upcoming Canada-ASEAN Business Forum will include speakers from the Vietnam event and other veterans of the ASEAN start-up scene. Register now to secure your spot and find investment and business opportunities at the event.

Panelists discuss the challenges and opportunities in Vietnam's start-up scene