Tuan Anh Nguyen

Sharing a picture from our recent NOQii Digital team sprint visiting camping sites across China. It was a fascinating experience to share with Omid Pourmomen and Ian Xue 薛乔瀚; one, that provided some provoking insights about the Chinese camping space. Interest in the outdoor lifestyle is surging in China and Asia, making it a prime market for overseas brands. However, after meeting with nearly 10 different brands, it became apparent that many don't understand the need to tailor their approach to meet Chinese expectations. This includes adjusting pricing, messaging, and understanding the significant differences in the way Chinese travellers approach outdoor activities. One important factor is the lack of storage space in Chinese homes, which means bulky equipment such as tents, sleeping bags, and camp beds may not be practical. This is why the equipment rental market is much larger than most foreign brands anticipate, including the ones our teams have been working with. Disposable and highly compact equipment is also very more popular. Furthermore, our market research studies have also confirmed that time and distance are important factors for Chinese campers. While they enjoy being slightly out of their comfort zone, they prefer shorter trips from home and embrace day camping. Overall, as we saw on this trip, it's critical to understand the nuances of any new market before bring a brand into it. This trip reinforced the importance of tailoring strategies to meet local expectations, and is something we are keen to share as we support new at NOQii companies entering China and Asia. Looking forward to next steps and continued sharing! #ChinaMarketInsights #CampingIndustry #BusinessStrategy

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Y1 of our 1st acquisition is a wrap! Here are our main achievements and learning lessons... // ACHIEVEMENTS: 1.) Executed all transformation activities, established repeatable playbooks / operating systems, and scalable transformation team > Brand & Website Refresh > Consolidated tech stack (across all operations and customer touch points) with real-time performance analytics > Ambassador OS, Content & Audience OS, Cold Outbound OS > Strategic Investment Decision-Making Framework 2.) Established $20k stable, high-quality MRR and world-class retention ((99% MoM) 3.) Positive QoQ trend lines across all performance metrics: > New site visitors (+3% MoM), trial signs ups (+10% MoM), and trial to paid conversion rate (~17%) > Support ticket volume (~24 / week), response (~6hrs) and resolution time (~2.6 days) 4.) Achieved predictable engineering velocity with 80% user approval for all releases; radically reduced the risk profile of the business by successfully overcoming tech debt (HUGE win) 5.) Normalized all pricing plans and generated $20k free cash flow via an annual subscription plan // LEARNING LESSONS 1.) Net new MRR goals start when the transformation period ends (~end of Q2Y1 in our typical holding period) 2.) Priority #1 is training an inference model (aka a GPT) on all existing support and product documentation to radically accelerate ramping your team on domain and tribal knowledge 3.) Despite plans to modernize the operational tech stack, immediately establish centralized, real-time visibility across the business and customer touchpoints via a simple dashboard slack alerts 4.) Always start with the cheapest growth tactic available; worst case, you’ll harvest super useful data 5.) Assume pricing and monetization is a powerful lever (Micro SaaS Founders / Sellers generally lack commercial expertise) 6.) Content creation and distribution is one of the largest points of operating leverage available today 7.) Heavily incentivize and enable your biggest fans out of the gate, as they’re already working hard for you 8.) Onboarding = sales process (in SMB B2B SaaS) 9.) Onboarding is a product-based activity, in-app guides are just bandaids 10.) Tech debt must be understood on a relative spectrum measured via drag on your growth thesis or go-to playbooks Would you be satisfied with these results and learning? Link to full discussion in the comments... #microsaas

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Takwin VC Sprint#2 Takwin VC will invest in up to #5_startups_in_5_weeks, Time to start preparing your pitch deck What we need from you: 1. Great and committed team. 2. Great idea, preferably based on tech innovation. 3. One Co-Founder is an Arab-Israeli. Stage: 1. Can be very early – idea can do, though validation check will help. 2. If you already have TNUFA or other early financing – no problem. What Takwin will give: 1. $50k in SAFE investment. 2. Support, good advice, network to scale. When: 1. Apply between June 1st to 30th, 2024. 2. We will meet the qualified teams and make our decision the week after! Link https://did.li/dEEaa (will be open on the 1st of June).

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AI vs. the Agent Will AI Replace Real Estate Brokers in Vietnam? The rise of AI in Vietnam's real estate market has sparked a hot debate: Will AI replace human real estate agents altogether? Let's explore both sides of the coin: AI's Strengths: 24/7 Availability: AI-powered chatbots can answer basic questions and schedule appointments, freeing up agents for more complex tasks. Data-Driven Insights: AI analyzes vast data sets to identify trends, recommend properties, and provide accurate valuations. Streamlined Processes: AI automates repetitive tasks like document management and lead generation, boosting efficiency. Human Agent's Edge: Emotional Intelligence: Building rapport with clients, understanding their needs, and navigating sensitive situations are human strengths AI can't replicate – yet. Strategic Negotiation: Real estate agents have the experience and skills to negotiate the best possible deals for their clients. Local Market Knowledge: Agents possess in-depth knowledge of specific neighborhoods, providing valuable insights beyond data. The Future: A Collaborative Duo Despite AI's advancements, it's unlikely to replace agents entirely. Instead, AI will likely become a powerful tool to complement human agents, allowing them to: Focus on providing personalized service and building relationships. Work smarter, not harder, with AI handling routine tasks. Offer a more comprehensive and data-driven approach to real estate transactions. What do you think? Will AI and real estate agents work together, or is one destined to replace the other? Share your thoughts in the comments! I'm here to discuss the evolving role of AI and its impact on Vietnam's real estate industry. #VietnamRealEstate #AI #PropTech #chatgpt #RealEstate #Vietnam #Bard #Lisacheuk #Rouge #Investment

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AliExpress Conquers South Korea: A Roadmap for Global Domination 🌍📈 AliExpress, the e-commerce giant owned by Alibaba, has achieved a meteoric rise in South Korea, expanding its user base by over 150% in just three years. This remarkable success story is a blueprint for the platform's global expansion aspirations. The key to AliExpress's triumph lies in its ability to adapt to local market dynamics and cater to the unique preferences of South Korean consumers. By offering a wide range of products at competitive prices, the platform has captured the attention of a significant portion of the population. But AliExpress's success is about more than just numbers. It's about the company's willingness to invest in understanding its target audience and tailoring its offerings accordingly. This approach has paid off handsomely, with the platform becoming a household name in South Korea. As AliExpress sets its sights on global domination, it's clear that the lessons learned in South Korea will be invaluable. By replicating its successful strategies in other markets, the platform can continue to grow and thrive in an increasingly competitive e-commerce landscape. For entrepreneurs and business leaders looking to expand their reach, AliExpress's story is a powerful reminder of the importance of adaptability, innovation, and a deep understanding of one's target market. By embracing these principles and learning from the successes of others, it's possible to achieve meteoric growth and establish a strong presence in even the most challenging markets. #Ecommerce #AliExpress #GlobalExpansion #Logistics #MarketStrategy #CustomerExperience #DigitalMarketing #CrossBorderEcommerce #BusinessGrowth #Innovation #SupplyChain #UserEngagement #SouthKorea #BusinessStrategy #GlobalBusiness

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Charting new territories in #Web3 with every line of code! At #SEABW, we're not just presenting our vision, we're deploying it live. Stay tuned as we push the boundaries of what's possible with decentralized tech. 🚀 #Web3 #PowerDCloud"

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My talk about "AI Trend in 2024" at #BeyondAsia Tech Summit is uploaded. https://lnkd.in/gcuPQSWC #AI still need to solve two fundamental and so many detailed problems. And, who can solve these problems will be the leader of next paradigm shift. #A2G is investing these kind of startups.

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While Southeast Asian VCs are still looking for the elusive "Software as a Service" startup built in and _for_ SEA (psst, it doesn't exist), Silicon Valley VCs, spurred by progress in AI and LLMs, have already moved on to the next big thing -- "Services as Software". The irony is, "Services as Software" or Managed SaaS (MSaaS), is an opportunity even bigger in and, more importantly, organic to Southeast Asia where most startups have historically been tech-enabled instead of tech-native. Bullish on the next phase of AI-driven growth for ecommerce enablers, vertical system integrators, managed marketplaces, and tech-enabled offline businesses in SEA.

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Southeast Asia's Startup Funding Snapshot: Q1 2024 Startups in Southeast Asia faced a challenging first quarter in 2024, with private funding plummeting to the lowest level in over five years. Total funding reached only $1 billion, marking a significant 41% decline from the same period last year and less than half of the $2.2 billion raised in Q4 2023. Despite these challenges, there was a silver lining as the number of funding rounds slightly increased to 180 equity deals from 164 in the previous quarter. However, this still falls short of the 193 rounds from Q1 2023. This slowdown is part of a broader trend observed since the highs of 2021, reflecting increased selectivity among fund managers due to concerns over cash flow and unit economics of startups. https://lnkd.in/eAPNZ2an #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #SoutheastAsia #BusinessTrends #EconomicInsight

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🌟 Angel Investment Opportunities for 2024! 🌟 Attention angel investors in Asia! up4d is thrilled to present a selection of high-potential projects currently seeking angel funding. Our curated portfolio includes innovative startups in the following cutting-edge sectors: ⦁ Artificial Intelligence (AI) ⦁ Extended Reality (XR) ⦁ Sensor Technology These projects are at the forefront of technology and innovation, poised for significant growth and societal impact. If you are looking to make a difference and support groundbreaking ventures, this is your opportunity. 🔍 Why Invest with up4d? ⦁ Exclusive access to innovative startups ⦁ Dedicated support from the up4d team Interested in learning more? Check out the link in the comments below for additional information and connect with our team. up4distribution for #startups acceleration, #solutionheroes, and your partner for #venturecapital. Visit us at #up4dmetaventurelab #AI #XR #Sensor #Haptics #AngelInvestors #InvestmentOpportunities #Asia

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How ASO Helped Vinota Gain Over 25,000 New Sign-Ups in Just a Few Days and Assist Users During Their Most Needed Time. App Store Optimization (ASO) has been a key user acquisition channel for Vinota since its inception. As a bootstrapped startup, we needed to keep our user acquisition costs as low as possible, which led us to focus heavily on ASO. We consistently maintained top keyword positions in our target countries, including the USA, Canada, and UAE. Despite Saudi Arabia having a large migrant population, it was not initially one of our target countries due to various factors. However, our data analytics reports recently showed a significant increase in revenue from Saudi Arabia. Recognizing this trend, we began our ASO efforts there. With our usual ASO strategies and a bit of creativity, we managed to rank number one for three crucial keywords within just three weeks. On Friday, July 19th, our customer support team alerted us to a significant spike in traffic from Saudi Arabia. This coincided with a major outage in the IT industry. Initially, we thought some of our competitors were affected, but we soon discovered that the Bangladeshi government had banned the internet. People outside Bangladesh were desperately seeking ways to connect with their families back home. As we mobilized our resources to handle the surge in sign-ups, we delved deeper into the situation. We found that initial users from Saudi Arabia had discovered us through Google Play Store searches and Play Explore. Satisfied with our service, they began sharing the news. Some YouTubers even created videos about us, and people shared our app on IMO and WhatsApp. By July 20th, we were handling three times the sign-ups compared to the previous day, with traffic coming from Oman, Qatar, the UK, and beyond. The most rewarding aspect of this experience was not just the increased sign-ups but being able to help the Bangladeshi community during a critical time. We provided a means for them to communicate with their loved ones when they needed it most.

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If I were a CRO at a Southeast Asian startup trying to get to $1M ARR in 2024, here are the exact 7 steps I would take. 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟭: 𝗔𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗔𝗱 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘁𝘀 Some companies have nailed their advertising strategies. If we've identified a good niche, we could still advertise on keyword searches and even competitor keywords to drive traffic. Building effective funnels around these ads is crucial. ____ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟮: 𝗥𝗲-𝗲𝘃𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗘𝗺𝗮𝗶𝗹 𝗢𝘂𝘁𝗯𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗶𝗴𝗻𝘀 Outbound email campaigns are taking a dip. Response rates are dipping below 3%, which is garbage. Burning through a thousand ICPs' emails to get 30 responses isn’t sustainable. We need to rethink this strategy entirely. ____ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟯: 𝗢𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗶𝘇𝗲 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 Getting a 10%-20% response rate on LinkedIn might look good compared to emails, but it’s still subpar. Plus, we’re burning through 80% of our leads this way. LinkedIn limits us to 20-30 connection requests per day, and people are getting tired of generic messages, so response rates will only drop. ____ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟰: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝗟𝗶𝗻𝗸𝗲𝗱𝗜𝗻 𝗕𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 Every founder gets their own personal brand. Each personal brand acts as an individual trust building channel for the company. Each person receives: - a conversioned optimized profile. - an engagement strategy. - a content strategy. ____ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟱: 𝗛𝗶𝗿𝗲 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁 This person is responsible for managing the entire content operations. They extract information out of the founders regarding: - valuable advice - product benefits - behind-the-scenes - the founding journey - customer case studies They then use this infomation to publish at least 2 content pieces / week / founder. ____ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟲: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝗮𝗻 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗺 Salespeople will receive a signal-based selling playbook. This playbook teaches them how to start conversations  who engaged with content other company assets. On top of these ‘warm’ conversations, they will also: - Send out 20 ICP connection requests / day - start conversations with prospects ____ 𝗦𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝟳: 𝗠𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗜𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲 After the campaign is set up, it’s run for a MINIMUM of 3 months. Results are benchmarked against current: - Connection request acceptance rates. - Message response rates. - Engagement metrics. - Demos booked. Tracking all of these efforts is a crucial step during this process. ____ PS.: This is the exact playbook that I have used for myself to generate 25 warm appointments/week. It also happens to be one of the tried & tested playbooks I teach in my startup growth program. In the program, I’ve collected all of the playbooks I’ve used to grow my last 3 companies past $1M ARR and have other founders do the same. So if you are a founder in Southeast Asia trying to get to $1M ARR → Go to my profile. → Click the link in my feature section. → Join the waitlist.

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South Korea's Ministry of SMEs and Startups Unveils Strategy to Boost Exports The Ministry of SMEs and Startups in South Korea has announced a new strategy to support the globalization of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and venture companies. The plan aims to nurture 1,000 innovative domestic companies into export entities and help 3,000 companies achieve exports of $1 million each by 2027. Top 5 highlights of the strategy: 1️⃣ Expanding export support for tech service companies to 15% by 2030 2️⃣ Introducing an 'export doctor' system for tailored assistance throughout the export process 3️⃣ Establishing a scale-up program for rapidly growing export companies 4️⃣ Introducing a voucher exclusively for overseas expansion 5��⃣ Tapping into the potential of foreign students through the 'K-Export Warrior 1,000 Project' SMEs play a significant role in the South Korean economy, with sales 17.2 times and employment 5.1 times higher than the average industry. However, export numbers have remained relatively stagnant over the past decade, with approximately 94,000 companies engaging in yearly exports, hovering around $110 billion annually. The Ministry aims to address emerging demands by shifting focus from 'products' and 'exports' to 'technology' and 'overseas expansion.' The goal is to foster sustainable growth for South Korean SMEs and ventures on the global stage through collaborative efforts and adaptive support mechanisms.

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I recently met up with Chính Nguyen, a VC at BEENEXT, while I was in Vietnam for work. It was quite a journey traveling all the way from our main Afforai HQ in Austin, TX (thank you Sputnik ATX VC). As a founder, facing rejections has become a normal part of the journey for me. I've had 100s of conversations with VCs - I'm not exaggerating, I even have an Excel sheet to prove it! While most turned me down, some saw the potential and decided to invest. That's just the nature of the game. But what I really want to emphasize in this post is that even amidst the rejections, it's important to remember that it's not personal. In fact, I've come across some really cool VCs along the way, and Chinh Nguyen is definitely one of them. I've enjoyed our conversations and continue to engage with him because he's simply awesome. Hence, both of us making the time from our busy schedule for a coffee chat! It's truly inspiring to see fellow Vietnamese and Japanese entrepreneurs making waves in the industry. It's good to make friends with people from the other side of the table. It doesn't always happen, but when it does, it's a valuable connection. Now, Chinh shared with me that he is moving on to his next venture, creating his own accelerator called Hinge to help founders in Vietnam and around the region. "Hinge is a co-building initiative to unlock the potential of ideas by supporting founders across areas of growth, tech, capital, talent, and networks." - said Chinh. Good luck, Chinh!

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Temu’s Popularity Dips in South Korea: What’s Happening? Recent data shows that Temu's user growth and installation numbers are declining in South Korea. Despite a significant milestone of 8.29 million monthly active users two months ago, installations dropped by 25% from April to May. Concerns over product quality and data privacy breaches are affecting Temu’s popularity. This trend highlights the importance of continuous improvement in product quality for sustained success in the e-commerce market. #Ecommerce #CrossBorderTrade #TEMU #SouthKorea #ConsumerTrends #ProductQuality #DataPrivacy #Logistics #MarketTrends #BusinessGrowth #GlobalTrade

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The challenge of building a tech product in Southeast Asia. If your product isn't great, fails to address a big problem, or isn't cost-effective, you may find yourself trapped in a self-defeating cycle: 1. The less mature the product, the more you must sell services to compensate for that (SEA is unforgiving to companies that do not drive consistent revenues).     2. Offering more services detracts from the time available to refine and improve your product.     3. The less time you spend on product, the less you can scale your business.     4. That results in a restricted customer base, meaning you'll have to charge more.     5. Higher pricing further narrows your potential client pool and increases overhead, i.e., managing a large service-oriented team. It does not take long until you end up with a great service business BUT not the venture-backable product you dreamed of at the beginning of the journey.

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Japan's 'lost generation' faces slow pay growth, lack of promotion TOKYO -- "The plight of Japan's "lost generation" -- mainly comprising people in their 40s or early 50s -- is persisting, as they struggle to keep pace with the pay growth and career advancement commonly seen in both older and younger age groups. This generation graduated from high school or college during a hiring "ice age" that lasted from the late 1990s into the 2000s, with many finding it tough to find stable employment after the bursting of a bubble economy inflated during the 1980s by soaring real estate and stock prices. While Japan's overall wage level has started to pick up, data shows that there are still noticeable disparities among different age groups. The country's inflation has remained above 2% for over two years amid upward pressure on prices around the world. According to a survey by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, total monthly cash earnings, or nominal wages, have continued to rise year-over-year since January 2022."

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When founders raise money, they focus on valuation when they should be focusing on the terms: https://lnkd.in/gM3mWZpA John Sung Kim Chang (CK) Kim #startupswithseoul

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