UVC: Valerie Van Vu from Ansible Ventures on overcoming doubters during her fund-raising journey, the three Cs she is bringing to the Vietnam startup ecosystem, and their strategy for bridging global networks & knowledge to Vietnam
In the latest episode of the Understanding VC podcast, Valerie Van Vu, Founding Partner at Ansible Ventures shares that they does not only invest in seasoned entrepreneurs, but also in first-time founders who have a strong passion and vision for their business. Ansible Ventures aims to bridge global networks and knowledge to Vietnam by leveraging their international connections and expertise.
Valerie admits that she faced doubters while raising her fund, but she dealt with them by focusing on her vision and building a strong network of supporters. Her areas of interest in terms of investments include e-commerce, fintech, and consumer internet.
The current state of consumer internet in Vietnam is attractive for investment due to the high penetration of smartphones and social media usage in the country. However, investing in fintech poses some challenges due to regulatory issues and the need for strong partnerships with traditional financial institutions.
Valerie is bringing the three Cs - capital, connections, and content - to the Vietnamese startup ecosystem. She uses content creation through her TikTok channel and podcast to change the perception of startups and venture capital in Vietnam and reach a wider audience.
Valerie is also building a community and bridging the gap between Vietnam and the Vietnamese diaspora by organizing events and mentorship programs. She believes that overseas Vietnamese and people of Vietnamese origin are motivated to build startups and contribute to their home country because of their cultural ties and desire to make a positive impact.
In this episode you will learn:
- Does Ansible Ventures only invest in seasoned entrepreneurs, or would it also invest in first-time founders?
- What is Ansible Ventures' positioning and how does it aim to bridge global networks and knowledge to Vietnam?
- Did Valerie face doubters while raising her fund, and how did she deal with them?
- What are Valerie's areas of interest in terms of investments and why?
- What is the current state of consumer internet in Vietnam and why is it attractive for investment?
- How does FinTech relate to e-commerce in Vietnam and what are some challenges in investing in FinTech?
- What are the three Cs that Valerie is bringing to the Vietnam startup ecosystem, and how is she using content creation through her TikTok channel and podcast to change the perception of startups and venture capital in Vietnam, and reach a wider audience?
- What is Valerie doing to build a community and bridge the gap between Vietnam and the Vietnamese diaspora?
- What motivates the interest of overseas Vietnamese and people of Vietnamese origin in building startups and contributing to their home country?
About
Valerie founded Ansible Ventures, a seed fund dedicated to Vietnam in 2022. Previously, she served as Vietnam Country Head for Venturra Capital, where she led over a dozen investments from 2020 to early 2022. From 2016 to 2019, she worked at Deloitte U.S. as a senior consultant where she advised hedge funds, private equity funds and other investment management clients. Valerie graduated magna cum laude in 2016 from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a major in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Pennsylvania. She also founded Career Opportunities in Vietnam (COVN), providing advice to aspiring professionals and co-hosted Forward Vietnam Podcast.
Valerie Van Vu
Founding Partner at Ansible Ventures
Valerie founded Ansible Ventures, a seed fund dedicated to Vietnam in 2022. Previously, she served as Vietnam Country Head for Venturra Capital, where she led over a dozen investments from 2020 to early 2022. From 2016 to 2019, she worked at Deloitte U.S. as a senior consultant where she advised hedge funds, private equity funds and other investment management clients. Valerie graduated magna cum laude in 2016 from Temple University’s Fox School of Business with a major in accounting and is a Certified Public Accountant licensed in Pennsylvania. She also founded Career Opportunities in Vietnam (COVN), providing advice to aspiring professionals and co-hosted Forward Vietnam Podcast.
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