ACV Capital joins VIPC Summit 2025, sees strong investment potential in Vietnam and ASEAN
Published on April 24, 2025
As Southeast Asia’s innovation ecosystem continues to evolve, Vietnam is drawing increasing attention for its strategic focus on technology, sustainability, and private capital. This year’s Vietnam Innovation and Private Capital (VIPC) Summit 2025 welcomed over 10,000 participants and more than 100 investment groups, reinforcing the region’s growing global relevance in next-generation industries. ACV Capital’s Founder & Managing Partner, Adrian Li, joined the summit as part of the Singapore Venture Capital and Private Equity Association (SVCA) delegation, observing strong opportunities for innovation and regional growth.
The forum, opened by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Chí Dũng, highlighted Vietnam’s commitment to creating an investor-friendly environment. During the event, the Vietnam Innovation and Capital Report 2025 was released by the Vietnam Private Capital Agency (VPCA), the National Innovation Centre (NIC), and Boston Consulting Group (BCG). The report emphasized Vietnam’s resilience and its growing appeal to global investors.
Vietnam’s innovation sector attracted nearly US$2.3 billion through 141 deals in 2024, signaling strong interest despite a broader global investment decline. While overall investment dropped by 17 percent, this decline was notably smaller compared to the global dip of 35 percent, reflecting Vietnam’s robust investment climate. Larger deals in the US$100–300 million range rose by 2.7 times, and early-stage investment activity also surged, with sub-US$500,000 deals growing by 73 percent year-on-year.
The report also identified deep-tech sectors such as AI, clean energy, semiconductors, and agritech as key drivers of this growth. AI startups, in particular, secured eight times more funding, while agritech received nine-fold increases, fueled by global demand for food security and digital supply chains.
Vietnam’s economic outlook remains strong, with GDP growth of 7.1% in 2024 and projections to reach US$1.1 trillion by 2035—more than double its current size. Foreign direct investment (FDI) totaled US$25 billion, while the country’s digital economy now contributes 18.3% of GDP, with a target of 35% by 2030.
ACV Capital sees Vietnam as a strategic market with immense growth potential. Adrian Li emphasized the firm’s commitment to supporting local founders in scaling their businesses across ASEAN, tapping into new markets, and driving long-term impact. “Vietnam’s growing role in Southeast Asia’s innovation ecosystem presents significant opportunities for investment, and we are excited to support the next generation of leaders here,” Li said.
Vũ Quốc Huy, Director of NIC, further underlined the importance of private investment in driving Vietnam’s innovation breakthrough, stating, “Vietnam is entering a golden period to enhance its global competitiveness through innovation.”
The summit’s discussions also underscored the need for increased regional collaboration to fuel innovation and expand market reach. As Vietnam continues to strengthen its position as a destination for innovation and private capital, the ASEAN region is positioned for even greater growth.
