How Vietnam’s tech scene converted nonbelievers

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Hello reader,

If you asked me 10 years ago what I knew about Vietnam, I’d have probably responded with two things: pho and fishcakes.

Yum.

However, as the years passed, my knowledge of Vietnam has grown.

Now, the country’s tech scene has also matured, giving investors and stakeholders something to be more optimistic about.

Today’s story takes a closer look at the country’s journey from zero to, well, maybe not quite a hero. But at least it’s well on its way there.

Today we look at:

• How Vietnam’s tech scene has matured
• An Indian climate tech startup’s pre-series A round
• Other newsy highlights such as Google launching its latest Gemini version and Tada’s beta launch in Hong Kong

Premium summary

And then I saw Vietnam’s tech

Image credit: Timmy Loen

Now I’m a believer. And not a trace… of doubt in my mind.

• With their own eyes: Overseas investors used to be highly skeptical of Vietnamese startups. Some would even make long trips to observe warehouses themselves, so that they could verify reported order volumes or even check that the warehouses existed.
• Mix it up: As the country’s tech scene developed, it has also become more diverse. Now, the ecosystem includes homegrown talent, Vietnamese nationals returning from overseas, and other global entrepreneurs.
• A web of regulations: While there’s cause for optimism, regulatory hurdles could still stand in the way – founders often need to spend lots of time and resources to navigate those.

Read more: How Vietnam’s tech scene has turned skeptics into believers

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