New startup accelerator in Vietnam set to bolster SE Asian startup community

Zone Startups Vietnam, a new startup accelerator program, will open its doors in Ho Chi Minh City this spring.

The initiative is an extension of Ryerson Futures (RFI) and their Zone Startups family of programs, including three in Canada and four in India. RFI is partnering with VinaCapital, as well as independent investors Tin Nguyen and Cong Phan.

The accelerator program will follow the proven formula of the current Zone Startups programs: a focus on market validation and customer acquisition. Companies accepted into the program will have access to mentors in key areas, as well as extensive networking and fundraising strategies and opportunities.

“I’m very excited to join Zone Startups Vietnam as a partner and investor,” says Phan. “I believe the startup ecosystem in Vietnam will greatly benefit from an international accelerator program focused on assisting startups with market validation and customer acquisition. Zone Startups has been developing and iterating on their programs since their launch in 2013. They have continued to expand their programs in Canada and India with partners including GE, Bombay Stock Exchange, Axis Bank, Lodha Group, Rogers Communications, Baker Hughes, and Telus, to name a few.”

The announcement for the program was made at Zone Startups India in Mumbai, with Minister of Innovation, Science, and Economic Development Navdeep Bains, Zone Startups President Matthew Saunders, and Ryerson University President Mohamed Lachemi.

“We’re excited to expand and grow the Zone Startups network in Ho Chi Minh” says Saunders. “Vietnam is full of entrepreneurial spirit and potential, and we’re thrilled to launch our program and provide the tools, resources, and network needed for these talented founders to succeed.”

Zone Startups Vietnam aims to accept its first cohort of companies in Q3 of this year. For more information, go to vietnam.zonestartups.com or email [email protected].

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