Venture Forum 2025: Redefining capital for the startup ecosystem

DNVN - On May 29, the Venture Forum 2025 high-level dialogue forum jointly organized by VinVentures Technology Investment Fund and the National Innovation Center (NIC) took place in Hanoi. Venture Forum 2025 not only connects startups with investors but also creates momentum for capital flows towards the startup ecosystem in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.

Venture Forum 2025 attracted more than 200 guests who are leading leaders and experts in the investment and startup world, opening up a space for open and substantive dialogue to promote effective investment capital flows.

Notably, for the first time, three leading venture capital organizations in Southeast Asia – Genesis Alternative Ventures, InnoVen Capital and January Capital – have come together in Vietnam, opening up opportunities to access attractive capital sources for Vietnamese startups.

Venture Forum is an annual event that is expected to become a prestigious meeting place for investors, startups and policy makers in the region.

Venture Forum 2025 includes three in-depth discussion sessions with the theme of “Redefining Capital” and direct networking activities, clarifying how financial models, from equity investment, convertible loans, financial technology to traditional banking - are together shaping a more flexible and comprehensive financial ecosystem for startups.

The first panel discussion, “ When Banks Think Like Venture Capital Funds,” focused on how banks are approaching startups through equity investments, strategic partnerships and innovation programs, rather than just providing traditional credit.

The second panel – “Redefining Venture Capital in Southeast Asia” – discussed the evolution of debt-based capital funding models for startups.

The final panel discussed “The Role of Fintech in Expanding Access to Capital”. Fintech is increasingly playing a pivotal role in increasing access to capital for underserved groups such as small and medium enterprises (SMEs), household businesses and ordinary consumers. The panel brought together founders from prominent startups such as Infina, Fundiin and Gimo to share their sustainable growth models and strategies.

The dialogue sessions featured leading speakers from banks, investment funds, venture capital providers and fintech startups in Vietnam and the region, including: Mr. Fred Lim, former CEO and Chairman of Tnex; Mr. Bui Hai Nam, CEO of Sales Handbook; Mr. Chin Chao, Partner in charge of Growth Credit Fund at January Capital; Mr. Ben Cheah, Partner of InnoVen Capital (in charge of Southeast Asia operations); Mr. Jeremy Loh, Co-founder and CEO of Genesis Alternative Ventures; Ms. Ngoc Nguyen, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of DealStreetAsia Vietnam; Mr. James Vuong, CEO of Infina; Mr. Nguyen Anh Cuong, CEO of Fundiin; Mr. Nguyen Anh Quan, Co-founder and CEO of Gimo; and Mr. Nam Doan, representative of ThinkZone Ventures.

Mr. Vu Quoc Huy, Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC), emphasized: “To promote Vietnam as a destination for innovation, expanding and reshaping capital flows plays a fundamental role. The Venture Forum 2025 event not only connects startups and investors, but also lays the foundation for a modern and flexible financial ecosystem – where capital goes hand in hand with strategy and technology, creating momentum for sustainable growth.”

Mr. Vo Xuan Hoai - Deputy Director of the National Innovation Center (NIC) spoke at the event.

Ms. Le Han Tue Lam (Executive Director of VinVentures Fund - Vingroup Corporation) also shared: "Although still modest compared to international forums, we aim to make Venture Forum one of the leading technology investment forums in the region, opening up a network of cooperation between the government and large corporations with startups".

Ms. Le Han Tue Lam - Executive Director of VinVentures Fund - Vingroup Corporation spoke at the Venture Forum 2025 event.