Venture Forum 2025 Rethinking Capital

2025 Theme: "Rethinking Capital"

Venture Forum 2025, themed “Rethinking Capital”, will explore how new funding models are reshaping the way startups are financed in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. The event comes at a time when the Vietnamese government is accelerating its national strategy for innovation and entrepreneurship, while the financial market is seeing the rise of more flexible financing tools, particularly venture debt, which is gaining traction as a viable option for growth-stage startups.

Who are coming?

The forum brings together leaders from banks, venture capital funds, venture debt providers, and high-growth startups to discuss emerging trends in capital and their impact on the innovation ecosystem.

About Venture Forum

Venture Forum aims to serve as an annual strategic platform that connects investors, financial institutions, and tech startups, fostering flexible funding solutions, diversifying capital flows, and driving innovation throughout the region.

Event
Overview

About Venture Forum

Venture Forum aims to serve as a strategic platform that connects investors, financial institutions, and tech startups, fostering flexible funding solutions, diversifying capital flows, and driving innovation throughout the region.

2025 Theme: Rethinking Capital

Venture Forum 2025, themed “Rethinking Capital”, will explore how new funding models are reshaping the way startups are financed in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia. The event comes at a time when the Vietnamese government is accelerating its national strategy for innovation and entrepreneurship, while the financial market is seeing the rise of more flexible financing tools, particularly venture debt, which is gaining traction as a viable option for growth-stage startups.

Panel 1: When Banks Think Like VCs: Unlocking Innovation Through Strategic Investments

As traditional banks face increasing pressure to innovate and stay competitive, many are launching or expanding venture arms to invest in startups and emerging technologies. This panel explores how commercial banks and their VC or investment subsidiaries are navigating startup partnerships, not through traditional lending, but through equity investment, strategic alliances, and corporate innovation programs. Hear from leading banks and their venture arms on what they look for in startups, how deals are structured, and what success looks like beyond returns.

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Moderator

Mr. Bui Hai Nam - CEO of So Tay Ban Hang

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Speaker

Mr. Fred Lim - Vice Chairman Board of Director Tnex

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Speaker

Mr. Suzuki Daisuke - Managing Director
Deputy Head of Hanoi Branch
MUFG Bank, Ltd.

Speaker

Dr. Jeremy Loh - Co-founder & Managing Partner of Genesis Alternative Ventures

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Speaker

Mr. Chin Chao - Partner (Growth Credit Fund) of January Capital

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Speaker

Mr. Ben Cheah - Partner (Responsible for SEA operations) of Innoven Capital

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Speaker

Mr. Vinnie Lauria - Founding Partner, Golden Gate Ventures

Moderator

Ms. Ngoc Nguyen - Deputy Editor, Vietnam of DealStreetAsia

Panel 2: Rethinking Venture Debt in Southeast Asia

This session brings together venture debt funds to explore the growing role of debt-based capital solutions for startups in Southeast Asia - covering eligibility criteria, risk-sharing mechanisms, and the evolving position of venture debt as a key alternative to equity financing.

Panel 3: Fintech’s Role in Expanding Access to Capital

As Vietnam’s financial ecosystem evolves, fintech startups are becoming key enablers of inclusive access to capital, serving underbanked consumers, SMEs, and informal sectors through models such as BNPL, salary advances, P2P lending, and digital wealth platforms. This panel gathers founders from leading fintech companies to share how they are unlocking new financial pathways, navigating regulation, and scaling responsibly in a space traditionally dominated by banks.