Mfast is a fintech platform that enables Vietnamese to access, use and introduce financial and insurance service packages as well as other product segments. After three years of operations in Vietnam, it has served nearly 600,000 users, with 75-80 percent of its end-users coming from remote provinces and rural areas. The amount disbursed to its financial partners has climbed to more than VND5 trillion ($217 million). Mfast’s mobile app claims to connect the underserved populations with financial and insurance institutions to give them access to basic financial services. Amy Do, investment manager of JAFCO Asia, a co-investor in the round, said that the the fund had made the decision because of the great potential of the consumer credit and insurance market in Vietnam, as shown in the solid traction of the company despite the ongoing pandemic. Do Ventures is a $50 million early-stage venture capital fund that serves as a strategic partner for startups. … [Read more...] about Fintech startup Mfast raises $1.5 mln
Startups
Adding intellectual property rights as key startup values
By Nguyen Thi Hong Anh - Partner, head of IP&T Practice Group, Indochine Counsel However, startups frequently lack interest in identifying IP subjects and creating strategies for protection and enforcement of their IPRs. This is contradictory to reality as IPRs protection is considered one of elements that attracts investment resources in startup projects and helps prevent unfair competition. Some of the most important IP subjects that startups should take into consideration include subjects of copyrights protection: symbols/logos, computer programmes, product package designs, layout of stores, and software icons; subjects of trademark protection such as registered company names, service brands, and domain names; and subjects of industrial design protection in terms of product designs and packaging designs. Other key factors include solutions in the form of processes or products for solving technical problems; areas of business secret protection for business information, … [Read more...] about Adding intellectual property rights as key startup values
Student startup innovation for older persons and people with disability in the COVID-19
The Startup Kite 2021 is structured into three rounds, with the final round to be held in November 2021 The competition Startup Kite 2021: Startups Innovation in Industry 4.0 for Older People and People with Disability was launched in Hanoi today by the Directorate of Vocational Education and Training under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MoLISA) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which was funded by the government of Japan. All students at any vocational education and training institution in Vietnam are eligible to enter the competition either as individual candidates or as a team of up to five members. Since 2020, Startup Kite is a national Startup Competition which has been organised by the MoLISA under the National Master Plan Supporting Student Entrepreneurship until 2025, aiming at inspiring students of vocational education and training institutions to develop their creativity and dynamic mindset, and facilitate greater private sector … [Read more...] about Student startup innovation for older persons and people with disability in the COVID-19
9x graduate leaves big US company to work at startup
Ha DieuTrang is an alumna of Worcester Academy in the US. She was an English major at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, but chose to study IT in university because she wanted to challenge herself in a field which was not her forte. Trang, born in 1997, did not have any prizes and extracurricular activities related to computer science, and had to study basic knowledge of the field. She unexpectedly was granted a scholarship from Worcester. “The school cares about the development potential of candidates, rather than prizes and achievements,” Trang said. “They many have seen me as person ready to learn and get out of a rut." Her personality was shown by Trang in her essay. Trang’s mother expected a boy after having three ultrasound tests. But she finally gave birth to a girl. Trang was like a boy. She was mischievous and liked playing football. The mother did not like this, saying that a girl needs to be gentle and feminine, and sent Trang to a ballet class. … [Read more...] about 9x graduate leaves big US company to work at startup
Vietnamese fintech startup MFast raises $1.5 million in pre-Series A round
MFast is aiming to meet the needs of the unbanked Vietnamese population for financial services While financial services are widely offered in urban areas, 70 per cent of Vietnam's population has limited or no access to banking and related credit services. The narrow coverage of service delivery points in remote areas is one of the main barriers. MFast is tackling this pain point by leveraging technology and a nationwide financial advisors network. The mobile app connects the underserved populations with financial and insurance institutions to ensure that everyone has access to basic financial services, thereby helping people improve their livelihood opportunities, manage risks, and sustainably increase life quality. After three years of operations in Vietnam, MFast – developed by the fintech company DigiPay – has helped nearly 600,000 Vietnamese access financial and insurance services from reputable institutions. The amount disbursed to its financial partners has climbed to … [Read more...] about Vietnamese fintech startup MFast raises $1.5 million in pre-Series A round
Singaporean venture capital firm Antler to set foot in Vietnam
Singaporean venture capital firm Antler will enter Vietnam to support startups making a difference As reported by TechinAsia , Antler will make its debut in Ho Chi Minh City under the leadership of Erik Jonsson, former co-founder and managing director of Zalora Vietnam. The venture capital model will empower entrepreneurs to create their teams and develop their companies from scratch. “There is incredible talent in Vietnam who have huge aspirations to create their own companies. The entrepreneurial spirit runs deep in Vietnamese culture and mindset,” said Jussi Salovaara, co-founder of Antler. He noted that the deal flow in the country does not match the availability of capital. Hence, finding entrepreneurial talent and providing them with the right platform as well as validating their ideas are important for the Vietnamese startup ecosystem. Founded in Singapore in 2017, Antler is a global early-stage venture capital firm with the vision to fundamentally improve the … [Read more...] about Singaporean venture capital firm Antler to set foot in Vietnam
