The 1st accelerator in Vietnam for very-early stage startups
Apply into VSV Accelerator Bootcamp to receive the following benefits:
4 months intensive bootcamp program
Tailored made mentorship
$20.000 Investment
A network of more than 40 local and international mentors and investors
$100.000 later stage funding
Alumni of 43 startups including millions+ companies like Lozi.vn, TechElite, SchoolBus...
WHAT IS VSV BOOTCAMP?
VSV Bootcamp is a 4 month accelerator program where we provide seed funding and tailored made mentorship for startup to help them find product market fit and growth opportunities in exchange for a small equity in the company. At the end of 4 month, each startup will present their company at our Demo Day in front of more than 50 investors for a chance to raise more funding.
For more established companies our program can help facilitate entry into new market or fund raising through our network of mentors and investors.
Below is the outline framework of the bootcamp:
BOOTCAMP APPLICATION PROCESS
How: Hit the 'Apply' button then answer 50 questions on F6S platform. Remember to save F6S account in the case you want to update answers.
Why: 50 answers will tell us about your team, business model, tractions, financial plan and etc.
Next step: After 1-2 weeks from the day closing online application, we will email or call you about the result and the next process.
How: you will have 30mins of interview via Skype.
Why: We want to see and meet you, the founders, and listen to your story.
Next step: after 1-2 weeks from the interview day, we will email or call you about the result and the next process.
How: you will have a 15 minutes interview in front of our investors panel.
Why: We want to access you presentation and communication skill. For us, these skill indicate the clarity of your project and your ability to sales the product and company.
Next step: after 1-2 week from the interview day, we will email or call you about the result and the next process.
How: Your founder team have 1 full month to learn, work and do trial at VSV Corner. You will be coached by our mentors for business model development to start and grow your business.
Why: This is a chance for both you and us make our final decision. You are taking a chance on us as much as we are taking a chance in investing our time and money in you.
Wow: if you qualify 1 month with good performance, we will enter a contract of funding $10-20k for 10% equity. Then you start 3 months of intensive bootcamp program with VSV.
WHO SHOULD JOIN THE BOOTCAMP ?
Who are we looking for?
Our program is designed to benefit startups/companies that have the potential to become national market leaders and aim to go to global market. Past program startups/companies have ranged from 3-5 employees up to 100+ employees.
General Requirements
Sectors
All technology startups from a broad range of industries, including but not limited to:
DETAILED TIMELINE FOR THE NEXT BOOTCAMPS
Bootcamp 2017
Expected Timeline
26 July 2017 – Applications Close
14 August 2017 – Online Interview
26 August 2017 – Interview with Investors
11 September 2017 – Bootcamp program starts
31 December 2017 – Demo Day
Note: All dates above are subject to change.
Location
VSV Corner, 7th Floor, 24 Ly Thuong Kiet Str., Hoan Kiem Dist., Hanoi, Vietnam.
Hotline: +84 163 9472056 (Mr. Thắng)
OUR MENTORS ARE YOURS
Our mentor network include serial entrepreneurs, industry experts, and investors. Some of them are the best in Vietnam and the World at what they do. Joining VSV alumni mean you can leverage their expertise and experience in building your company.
See our complete mentor database HERE.
Mr. Ngoc Vu Han
CEO of Vietnam International Bank
Mrs. Michelle E. Messina
CEO of Explora International LLC
Mr. Jonathan C. Baer
Founder and a principal at Threshold Ventures
Mrs. Le Anh Thach
Chair woman of ATV Vietnam
Mr. Frank M. Saviane
CEO and Founder of Fast Forward Advisors
Prof. Alan Barrell
Chairman of MedTech International
Mr. Manh Hung Tran
Principal at Baker & McKenzie Vietnam
Mr. Hung Dinh
CEO and Founder of Joomart and Designbold
MEET YOUR FUTURE ALUMNI
Our passion is to see startup succeed.
That's why we have invested and accelerated up to startups so far.
Bootcamp 2017
This year, VSVA gladly gives 11 excellent startups over nearly 100 applications great opportunities of working closely with mentors and expanding their business in the BA 2017 along with many big events such as "Accelerator Prototype Day", "Techfest".
Bootcamp 2016
In the last season, we proudly presented 10 startups from a diverse technology group of agritech, IOT, toys, IT, education... Half the companies from this batch has received recognition and awards from competition such as Nhân Tài Đất Việt and Hatch Fair 2016.
Bootcamp 2015
A bigger space and a better program. 2015 Bootcamp was held at our current VSV Corner. This is where companies like SchoolBus, Homily... stay and grow their user base 40x over the course of 1 year.
Bootcamp 2014
Meet the first 10 companies went through VSV Bootcamp 2014. The first bootcamp was held in a 150m2 room where startups like Lozi, TechElite, Loan Vi, Jobwise... hurdled and worked for 4 months. Some of them are now millions+ company.
ADDITIONAL PERKS
LEGAL SERVICES
Access to free and discounted legal services including a complimentary incorporation package through Baker McKenzie company
ACCOUNTING SUPPORT
Access to free and discounted accounting and tax services through programs of Grant Thornton Vietnam - a law company
INTERNS
Help with finding an intern through connections with local universities, AISEC
COMMERCIALIZING
Have a big chance to commercialize such as distribution or sale network through LOTTE Group in Vietnam
DISCOUNTS
Discounts on products and services essential to any startup like Amazon Web Services, Apple, and ZipCar through our Global Accelerator Network membership.
FOOD & DRINK
Our kitchen is always stocked with lots of coffee, tea, snacks and noodles.
TESTING IOS app
Your IOS apps will be tested and advised by Asian Apple experts.
MEDIA EVERYWHERE
By partnerships with more than 30 media channels in Vietnam and 5 ones in Southeast Asia; you can be everywhere
FAQ
1. How much funding do VSV Accelerator companies receive?
Each start-up will receive $20,000, of which $13,500 will be in cash, spreading over 4 months and $6,500 will go to cover company's office and event costs during the four-month boot camp.
2. What types of companies do you fund?
We focus on, but not limited to, a broad range of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) start-ups. We encourage every start-up to complete the application because even if we are unable to fund your start-up, we can refer your company to many investors in our network that might.
We typically fund a company that has a working prototype and a business model that has been validated or one that is in the growth stage.
3. How do you choose which companies to accept into the program and to fund?
i. Our evaluators will do a first round assessment based on your online application on f6s. In this round, we focus on understanding your product, the problems you trying to solve (your product needs to be solving a real-world problem) and the founders’ personalities.
ii. Once you pass the first stage, we will invite your team in for interview. We expect a 15 -30 minute pitching session with Q&A. The main focus is on your ability to communicate your business and idea, personalities and mind-set, and collaboration with your co-founders. Although we prefer interview session conducted in English, it is accepted for groups pitching in Vietnamese.
We expect every Founder to attend this interview day. Your start-up success is important to us but it should be even more important for you as the founders. If you can’t be bothered to show up for a 15-30 minutes interview session than you are not the type we are looking for.
4. I’m a single founder. Can I get accepted into VSV Accelerator, or do you only look for teams?
No, we don’t accept single founder start-up. The workload is just too much for a single person, and you will need to have a partner(s) to share your responsibilities when it gets tough.
To increase your chance of admission into the accelerator, as well as building a successful start-up, you should be looking at:
- Round out your team with business, technical (product development), marketing and other necessary skills.
- Make progress on your prototype or product and reference it in the application.
- Show everyone you’ve really thought about your business and have gotten off your butt to do something about it.
5. What does VSV Accelerator get out of this?
Typically 10% of your start-up’s stock.
6. What sort of control am I giving up by granting equity to VSV?
We don’t want any control over your start-up. We take equity in start-ups to align our interest with yours. Ultimately, our success depends on your success, and we trust in you to run the show.
7. Is my company “too far along” to apply to VSV Accelerator?
Probably not. We accept companies with fully developed products and we will help them with business model, introductions, financing, and more. Likewise, nothing is too early.
8. Can I apply if our company or founders are not from Vietnam?
Yes. We accept applications from around the globe. You just need to establish your headquarter in Vietnam, and legally reside in Hanoi during the 4-month boot camp.
9. Why do I need to answer all these questions when there is a chance that my company doesn’t get accepted to VSV?
We design our application to align with what start-up founders should already know about their business. If you really know your business as well as you think you do, you shouldn’t have any trouble in providing us with a kick-ass application. If you think these questions are unnecessarily lengthy, keep in mind that those are the ones you need to ask yourself about your business if you want to be successful anyway.
10. Do I have to submit an application to get funding or can I just send you my start-up profile?
You have to complete our application. For 2 reasons:
1. Discipline is very important to us, and we need you to show us that you have enough discipline by sitting down and producing a kick-ass application.
2. The application structures how you communicate your ideas and business to our evaluators, and allow us to access your writing skill.
11. What if I don’t have Demo video (question #33) or I don’t have a working prototype to demo yet?
We generally will not accept application without demo video. If your prototype is not ready for demo, please provide us with a video of the founders explaining the product.
12. What if I don’t have Founder introduction video (question #8)?
We will not accept application without a video introducing all the founders. Funding start-ups at this early stage is about the people we fund as much as it is about the idea, we need to know who we fund and put a face on the business/idea.
We don’t ask for an elaborate introduction video, just tell us your name your role and expertise in your start-up would do just fine (or in case you really want leave an impression, sing a song!).
13. My English is not that good; can I submit the application in Vietnamese?
You can, but a good number of our mentors and investors cannot understand Vietnamese, and our goal is to integrate you into the global ecosystem after the boot camp. You should have someone on your team who is efficient in writing and speaking English to help communicating with international mentors and investors.
14. Do I need to write a business plan?
Not for our accelerator. We make funding decisions based on our application form and personal interviews. However, Demo video and Founders introduction video is a MUST.
15. Can we do it without moving to where you are?
No. A big part of the accelerator program is integrating start-ups into a mentorship network. Good mentors are extremely busy, and they won’t chase after you, unless you are in an accessible community.
16. What if my company doesn’t ultimately succeed?
At the end of the boot camp you would have met a large number of smart and well-connected people who can support you with your next endeavour.
17. What will a typical day be like for a VSV founder?
We provide a working space while you provide the content. A typical day at the accelerator will consist of you working hard on your start-up, building your product, validating your business model, and developing your strategy, etc. Our mentors will drop by the accelerator from time to time to meet with your team, this will normally occur after business hour.
Each week, we have a status report meeting with each start-up team to get updates on your progress, and to agree on the next steps. Fortnightly, we organise a networking event for the members of your start-ups to mingle with people, who are doing the same job with them from the other teams in the accelerator. In month 3 and 4 of the boot camp we will start organising closed-door pitching session.
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