South Korean early-stage investor Nextrans has kicked off the Generation 2 of Venture Capital Foundation Program, Grab Vietnam has announced two new initiatives to help small and medium enterprises while Sydney-based private equity firm Anacacia Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Mwave.
VC firm Nextrans kicks off VCFP 2
South Korean early-stage investor Nextrans has kicked off the Generation 2 of Venture Capital Foundation Program in Vietnam which was established to train startups and founders to win and work well with investors.
The programme offers Ivy League-quality contents, localised for Vietnam and delivered by high-profile experts.
Venture Capital Foundation Program for Generation 2 will provide 2 intensive learning months, covering 3 specific subjects with the involvement of experts from four countries. Its Generation 1, which attracted over 100 applications, was introduced in May to train potential VCs in Vietnam.
The 10-week programme is aimed to promote the development of Vietnam’s startup ecosystem to catch up with top regional countries in terms of both scale and professional capacity.
Nextrans is one of the most active foreign venture capital investors in Vietnam. It deployed $4 million across 17 deals in the country and typically makes seed-stage investments in fintech, logistics and healthcare sectors.
Grab Vietnam announces two initiatives for SMEs
Grab Vietnam announced initiatives to help small and medium enterprises develop their businesses on the online platform, including GrabExpress Boss Club for shop owners and the Ads Support for GrabFood merchant-partners, according to an announcement.
These two initiatives enable SMEs to increase brand awareness and revenue. This is a part of Grab’s long-term commitment to support and accelerate digital transformation for SMEs, helping them overcome difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and contributing to the socio-economic recovery of the country.
According to Nguyen Thai Hai Van, Managing Director, Grab Vietnam, many SME severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they also lack the experience and tools to transform their business model into digital platforms and adapt to an ever-changing business environment.
“As a result, supporting all partners for stronger digitalization by applying technologies, increasing online visibility and improving business operations is among our top priorities. We believe that these initiatives will bring benefits of digital transformation to people, contributing to the country’s socio-economic recovery,” she said.
Anacacia Capital invests in Mwave
Sydney-based private equity firm Anacacia Capital has invested an undisclosed sum in Mwave, an online video gaming and tech hardware retailer.
According to an announcement, Mwave has attracted leading SME investor Anacacia to join its share register. The management team and Right Click Capital will both continue as investors alongside Anacacia.
Management team members will continue in their executive roles but with access to a broader investor base and board to support their growth plans.
Anacacia Capital focuses on small and medium businesses with a market capitalisation of less than $500 million. In 2018, the firm closed its third fund at A$300 million to primarily invest in the consumer, services and industrials sectors.