The Covid-19 pandemic indeed has caused a severe impact on the whole economy in general and harsh challenges to startup companies in particular. We believe the situation has made startup founders more aware of available support and resources by working with suitable accelerator programs. Throughout the selection process, we focused on giving meaningful advice to all applicants based on their stage of development and market conditions regardless of being accepted into the program.
Eventually, two startups in Medical-Tech and Fashion-Tech were selected to join VIISA 3-month program journey.
The 2 startups selected for VIISA Acceleration Program Batch 8 in Orientation Day
Doctor Bear is a health platform for patients with chronic diseases. The mobile app enables users to consult with specialised doctors via video call and offers various test packages according to the treatment plan. DoctorBear Team consists of a group of medical doctors with over 15 years of professional experience and an in-house technology chief. Doctor Bear's vision is to become a trusted companion app for people with level one chronic diseases in Vietnam, and later the SEA region.
Drobebox is a disruptive fashion tech startup that offers a clothing subscription service for women. Subscribers can truly unlock their dream closet by using DrobeBox's packaged service and simply enjoy any desired items without buying, maintaining, and of course, cleaning. Moreover, DrobeBox’s service provides a unique opportunity for users to explore a whole new retail experience, because users can decide to own any item they love after fitting. DrobeBox is found and managed by a passionate tech-background team who believes only AI can recommend clothes to women better than themselves.
Since Covid-19 is still causing a wealth of uncertainties, our Batch 8 activities will mostly be taken online. Thanks to what we have done and learned, we can assure the quality of services and resources delivered to the founders to be at the highest level.
Besides the initial funding as well as advantages from VIISA’s partners, we also devote ourselves to connect startups with resourceful corporate partners and prospective investors who are keen on assisting the startups to achieve as much meaningful traction over the course of 3 months in the program.
Finally, startups that graduate from VIISA Acceleration Program will have a chance to receive a follow-on funding up to $200,000 out of VIISA Investment Track if they procure a fresh round of funding from an outside lead investor.
"We have had a record large amount of first-round interviews with 46 sessions. The surge in the number of carefully prepared applications has lifted our confidence with this batch. It is truly inspirational witnessing Vietnamese founders remain thriving throughout the COVID19 pandemic time. Their strong determination in working with VIISA program has once more put more pressure on the value creation philosophy VIISA has committed to." explained Mr. Hieu Vo, Program Director and CFO of VIISA.
The two fresh startups of Program Batch 8 and other startups of the VIISA alumni are all hoping to showcase their businesses on the Investment Day in December 2020. As usual, the VIISA signature event will welcome an exclusive set of investors, mentors, company partners who are active in the SEA region.
VIISA Acceleration Program recruitment process is on a rolling basis. Therefore, startups can always apply to the program on VIISA’s website: www.viisa.vn
About VIISA:
Established in January 2017 by FPT Ventures and Dragon Capital, VIISA is an acceleration program and seed-stage fund that invests to build global-ready startups from Vietnam. After 7 batches, there have been 35 graduates with some highlighted names such as Medigo, UrBox, WisePass, VDes, BoxShop, EcomEasy, TripHunter, which have created more than 450 jobs and raised a total committed US$5 million from other investors.
CONTACT PERSON:
Trang Vu (Ms.)
Program Coordinator, VIISA
trang@viisa.vn