HOANG THI KIM DUNG

I was born in Hanoi and currently work in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. After passing an entrance exam as the valedictorian of the Faculty of International Economic Relations (Japanese) at Foreign Trade University, I received a full scholarship from the Japanese Government's MEXT program to pursue an undergraduate degree in Japan in 2012.

My interest in startups began when I was a 3rd-year student at the Faculty of Economics, Osaka University, Japan. The business startup class at university inspired me greatly, and my entrepreneurial journey began to take shape. Although those startup projects were not successful, they ignited my passion and strong enthusiasm to enter the startup world.

After graduating from Osaka University, I worked as a Sales Representative at IBM Japan. In this role, I used IBM technology systems and solutions to work with large financial institutions in Japan. I was also exposed to many innovative startup-related activities, such as supporting startups joining the IBM Blue Hub Program. This program helps startups leverage IBM's ecosystem and technology solutions. Additionally, I built the Zunzun News channel to share information about business models and innovative technologies with my customers, partners, and colleagues every day.

These experiences with startups led me to pursue a career in VC. In April 2019, I joined Genesia Ventures in Tokyo, Japan. Then I came back to Vietnam to open the first representative office in Ho Chi Minh City in September 2019. My strong and consistent desire in this VC profession is to support more successful startups in Vietnam. I have been working with startups since I was young and understand how important it is to have support, such as financial support, sharing experience, and knowledge, or access to talent and business networks. I can deeply sympathize with startup founders facing difficulties and challenges, and I want to support them to increase their chances of success.

To learn more about me, visit HERE.

Place of birth/residence

Born in Hanoi, now living in HCMC

Hobbies, Favorite Things, Holidays

Enjoy playing with Cats; Learning and writing blogs with a cup of Coffee and good music; Running 30mins every day; Having meaningful conversations with thoughtful people

Episodes from your school days (club activities, majors, etc.)

Major in Economics, lean to the startup world since my 3rd year of university, all are dots connected to where I am today. Read HERE for more information.

Favorite country/episode

Japan in which I spent more than half of my life learning the language and culture.

Favorite Company/Vision/Value

Genesia Ventures. Since it is the most one I resonate with on the deepest level.

Why did you become a VC?

This is one of the most frequently asked questions I receive, and I understand that it is an important question that should not be taken lightly. Therefore, I have decided to write a “shareable and repeatable” blog on this topic to share fully and passionately with anyone interested in why I chose to become a venture capitalist. By reading it, you will better understand my commitment. Please click HERE to read the blog.

Favorite motto

Where there is a will, where there is a way / Keep fighting!!

The worldview you want to achieve, the problems you want to solve, and the areas you want to make better

I want to support entrepreneurship in Vietnam by promoting successful startups. Successful startups serve as role models and inspire others to venture into entrepreneurship to create innovative products and services and provide employment opportunities. Entrepreneurship is an important driving force for the country's development, and to nurture it, we need many successful startup models. However, the road to success with startups is full of challenges for founders. As a supporter, I will connect founders with resources such as finance, talent networks, and potential business partners, as well as provide knowledge about startups.