From Startup to IPO – Workshop

From Startup to IPO: How to Build a Financial Roadmap

An exclusive workshop at Techfest Vietnam’s Innovative Design Thinking Community

As part of Vietnam’s leading startup conference, the Innovative Design Thinking Community at Techfest Vietnam 2022 proudly hosted the workshop “From Startup to IPO: How to Build a Financial Roadmap” — a deep dive into one of the most critical and challenging journeys for startups and SMEs.

An IPO (Initial Public Offering) is often seen as the ultimate dream for startups. However, the path to going public is rarely straightforward. For many founders, the IPO process takes longer, requires more preparation, and involves greater complexity than expected.

Vietnam is experiencing a vibrant wave of innovation and entrepreneurship, with a booming number of startups in technology and creative industries. Yet, despite this energy and potential, IPO activity in Vietnam remains below expectations compared to regional and global levels. While some startups are making impressive breakthroughs, many others face serious challenges in solving real market pain points and managing internal operations — especially when it comes to building a solid financial strategy.

To empower the next generation of founders with essential financial planning skills and strategic thinking, the Innovative Design Thinking Community brought together top-tier experts for this exclusive session. The goal? To create a comprehensive, actionable roadmap for startup financial health — paving the way toward sustainable growth and eventual IPO success.

Key takeaways of the workshop included:

• Understanding key financial milestones on the startup journey

• Designing a financial roadmap aligned with growth strategies

• Real-world insights from seasoned investors and IPO advisors

• Interactive Q&A and peer-to-peer learning

This dynamic session featured a distinguished lineup of speakers — innovators, founders, and policymakers — who brought diverse expertise to the table:

1. Ms. Dương Tường Nhi – Head of the Innovative Design Thinking Community / Founder of Meta Uni
   Topic: Design Thinking for Innovation

2. Mr. Trần Giang Khuê – Representative of the Southern Office, Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Viet) / Co-Head of the Innovative Design Thinking Community
   Topic: Intellectual Property and the Startup IPO Journey

3. Dr. Nguyễn Thiên Bảo – Founder of HBB Tech / AI Tech Lead at MetaLifestyle / Head of AI Committee, Innovative Design Thinking Community

4. Dr. Ngô Ngọc Quang – Founder of Fikash / Founder & CFO of Meta Uni / Lecturer at Ho Chi Minh Banking University / Co-Head of the Innovative Design Thinking Community
   Topic: Capital Planning & Financial Strategy

5. Mr. Kha Nguyen – President of the IPO Club at Saigon Innovation Hub / Chairman of Sigma JSC / Head of IPO & Investment Linkages, Innovative Design Thinking Community
   Topic: Building a Financial Roadmap – From Vision to IPO

This startup conference workshop offered a rare opportunity for Vietnamese startups and SMEs to engage directly with experts who have walked the IPO path — delivering practical knowledge, actionable frameworks, and invaluable networking opportunities. With a focus on innovation, strategic financial planning, and investment readiness, the program aimed to unlock the full growth potential of Vietnam’s next generation of entrepreneurial leaders.