Plug and Play
Vietnam
Connecting Vietnam to Silicon Valley and the Global Innovation Economy
A Strategic Partnership Between Plug and Play and Saigon Asset Management (SAM)
Plug and Play is a global innovation platform and venture capital investor headquartered in Silicon Valley. Operating across 20+ countries and 70+ locations worldwide, Plug and Play helps startups scale, corporations innovate, governments strengthen innovation ecosystems, and universities commercialize research. Through its investment platform, Plug and Play has invested in over 2,500 startups and more than 35 unicorn companies, making it one of the most active innovation and startup ecosystems in the world. Visit Plug and Play Corporate Website →
Saigon Asset Management (SAM) is proud to serve as Executive Advisor to Plug and Play in Vietnam, helping connect Vietnamese startups, corporations, universities, innovation centers, investors, and government organizations to one of the largest innovation ecosystems in the world.
Together, Plug and Play and SAM seek to accelerate Vietnam's emergence as a leading innovation and technology hub in Southeast Asia.
Global Innovation Platform at a Glance
The world's most active ecosystem connecting startups, corporations, governments, and investors is now available in Vietnam. You can gain direct access to a global network that has taken 20 years and billions of dollars to build.
Locations
Worldwide
Ecosystem
Partners
Partners
Investments
Companies
AUM
25+ Industry Verticals
We specialize in driving innovation in 25+ industries — spanning Vietnam's highest-priority sectors including AI, semiconductors, smart manufacturing, fintech, and deep tech.
Vietnamese companies can now engage with Plug and Play's dedicated vertical programs, gaining access to the startups, corporations, and investors already shaping each industry globally.
A Global Track Record of Outcomes
Plug and Play's model has delivered measurable results for innovation ecosystems across Asia, Europe, North America, and the Middle East.
Vietnam is next. Through our partnership with SAM, Plug and Play is committed to delivering these same outcomes — more startups, more capital, more jobs, and stronger global competitiveness — for Vietnam's provinces, cities, corporations, and universities.
More Startups Founded
Accelerating startup formation and entrepreneurship across all sectors
More Investment Attracted
Connecting capital to high-potential founders and innovation ecosystems
Technology Transfer
Commercializing research and moving technology from lab to market
Innovation-Driven Jobs
Creating high-quality employment through startup and corporate innovation
35+ Unicorn Companies
Plug and Play has been an early investor or ecosystem partner in some of the world's most transformative technology companies
Vietnamese startups entering Plug and Play's ecosystem unlock the same investor relationships, corporate networks, and program infrastructure that helped build these companies — now available locally through SAM.
A selection from Plug and Play's 35+ unicorn and major exit portfolio · 250+ new investments annually
How Plug and Play Supports Vietnam
Plug and Play works across the entire innovation ecosystem, providing specialized programs and resources for each sector.
Through our partnership with Saigon Asset Management, every type of Vietnamese organization — startup, corporation, university, or government — can now access the programs, networks, and capital relationships that define the world's leading innovation ecosystems.
Access to Corporate Customers
Engage directly with 550+ global corporate partners, potential customers, pilot partners, and strategic collaborators seeking your technology.
Access to Investors
Connect with venture capital funds, family offices, corporate venture groups, sovereign funds, and institutional investors worldwide.
International Expansion
Gain exposure to markets in North America, Europe, Japan, Korea, Singapore, the Middle East, and beyond.
Mentorship & Guidance
Receive guidance from successful entrepreneurs, executives, operators, and experienced investors who have built companies at scale.
Acceleration Programs
Participate in industry-specific accelerators designed to compress years of relationship-building into months of structured access.
Global Ecosystem Access
Join 100,000+ startups within our global network, all working to solve critical problems and scale to global markets.
PayPal, Dropbox, Honey, and many other successful companies benefited from Plug and Play's ecosystem during their early growth stages.
Opportunity for Vietnamese Startups
Vietnam is producing world-class companies in AI, fintech, enterprise software, semiconductors, robotics, drones, education, healthcare, and deep technology. Plug and Play helps connect these startups to the customers, investors, and partners needed to scale globally.
A simple 7-step flow from challenge to commercial outcome.
Corporate Challenge
Bring us your business problem, or leverage our expertise to define and prioritize business problems to solve — a cost to reduce, a capability gap, a market to enter, a technology to adopt. We make it actionable.
Technology Scouting
We scan our network of 100,000+ startups across 70+ global locations and 25+ industries to find companies solving exactly your problem — often ones you'd never find on your own.
Startup Matching
We shortlist 5–15 vetted, high-quality startups and facilitate direct introductions. You evaluate fit — with our team guiding the process.
Pilot Program
You run a structured, low-risk proof-of-concept. We support deal structuring, program design, and execution — minimising risk while maximising learning speed.
Commercial Deployment
What works gets scaled. You deploy the solution, capture the commercial value, and gain a repeatable model for continuous innovation — without building the infrastructure from scratch.
Stay Ahead Through the Network
Lean into Plug and Play events and corporate networks to keep up to date on the latest tech use cases affecting your industry, meet global partners, and build international connections.
Explore Mature Forms of Innovation
Building your organization's capabilities such as Corporate Venture Capital or Venture Building.
Outcomes for Your Business
Why Corporate Venture Capital Matters
The world's most innovative companies don't just partner with startups — they invest in them. Google Ventures, Intel Capital, Qualcomm Ventures, Samsung Ventures, and Salesforce Ventures all use venture investing to stay ahead of disruption. Corporate venture capital is largely untapped in Vietnam. Plug and Play helps corporations engage with global startup investment without building an entire fund from scratch.
Global partners include: Mercedes-Benz · Panasonic · Walmart · BNP Paribas · Porsche · Hyundai · Nissan · and 500+ others
Supporting Resolution 57
Resolution 57 establishes science, technology, innovation, AI, semiconductors, and digital transformation as strategic priorities for Vietnam. The next challenge is execution.
How do provinces and cities translate policy into measurable innovation outcomes? Plug and Play provides the global network, programs, and expertise to bridge that gap.
Learn more about Resolution 57 →Startup Ecosystem Development
Establish accelerators, incubators, startup programs, and commercialization initiatives from the ground up.
Innovation Training
Programs for city officials, entrepreneurs, SMEs, innovation center leaders, and ecosystem builders.
AI Centers of Excellence
AI training, workforce development, startup engagement, and commercialization programs tailored to Vietnam's priorities.
International Connectivity
Access to global startups, corporations, universities, investors, and proven innovation ecosystems worldwide.
Economic Development
Attract technology companies, investors, talent, and innovation-driven industries to your province or city.
Innovation Center Strengthening
Collaborate with existing centers (NIC, SIHUB, HIHUB) and connect them to global innovation ecosystems.
Proven Global Track Record
Plug and Play has collaborated with JETRO (Japan), Singapore ecosystem partners, regional governments, innovation agencies, and economic development organizations worldwide. The objective is not to replace local innovation centers, but to strengthen them by connecting them to global innovation ecosystems.
Global University Network
Plug and Play has collaborated with leading institutions including:
- Stanford University
- Harvard University
- MIT
- UC Berkeley
- Princeton University
- Cornell University
- Yale University
- Northwestern University
Entrepreneurship Programs
Startup accelerators and innovation programs for students, alumni, and recent graduates.
Research Commercialization
Transform university research into products, startups, licensing opportunities, and economic value.
Startup Ecosystem Development
Establish accelerators, incubators, and startup programs within your institution.
Innovation Training
Deliver innovation and entrepreneurship training for faculty, students, and ecosystem leaders.
Industry Partnerships
Connect faculty and students directly with corporations seeking innovation and emerging talent.
Investor Access
Introduce university startups to venture capital funds, family offices, and strategic investors.
Global Exposure
Provide students and faculty access to international innovation ecosystems and global networks.
Talent Development
Prepare graduates for careers in entrepreneurship, technology, innovation, and global leadership.
Opportunity for Vietnam
Vietnam's universities are uniquely positioned to become drivers of the country's innovation economy. Plug and Play aims to help build a new generation of globally competitive entrepreneurs, innovators, and technology leaders.
Investment Track Record
Deal Flow Access
Consistent access to carefully vetted Vietnamese startups building innovative solutions across key industries.
Market Intelligence
Deep insights into Vietnam's innovation landscape, emerging trends, and high-growth sector opportunities.
Due Diligence Support
Professional team to help evaluate startups, conduct technical assessments, and validate market potential.
Portfolio Support
Help your portfolio companies scale through global network access, strategic partnerships, and resources.
Ecosystem Connectivity
Connect with corporations, government agencies, universities, and other institutional investors worldwide.
Emerging Sector Coverage
Deep expertise in AI, semiconductors, fintech, enterprise software, and other high-growth industries.
Vietnam: An Emerging Investment Hub
Vietnam is producing world-class companies in AI, fintech, semiconductors, enterprise software, robotics, drones, and deep technology. With government support through Resolution 57 and a young, entrepreneurial workforce, Vietnamese startups are positioned to scale globally and deliver exceptional returns.
Join leading global investors in accessing Vietnam's innovation ecosystem. Plug and Play connects you directly with founders, provides market insights, facilitates strategic partnerships, and helps identify and scale the next generation of global leaders.
The Plug and Play Business Model
Unlike traditional accelerators, VC funds, or consulting firms, Plug and Play operates a diversified platform that aligns the interests of every innovation stakeholder.
By partnering with Saigon Asset Management as its Executive Advisor, Plug and Play is bringing this entire platform — its programs, networks, and capital relationships — to Vietnam. Every revenue stream below represents a real opportunity for Vietnamese organizations to engage, grow, and benefit.
How Plug and Play Operates
- Access to emerging technologies
- Identifying and engaging startups
- Running innovation programs
- Developing AI initiatives
- Launching pilot projects
- Exploring venture investment opportunities
- Startup accelerators & incubators
- Innovation ecosystem development
- Entrepreneurship programs
- AI Centers of Excellence
- SME innovation initiatives
- International startup exchanges
- Early-stage startup investments
- Follow-on funding rounds
- IPOs and strategic acquisitions
- Portfolio company exits
- Co-investments with partner funds
- 250+ new investments annually
- Business model refinement
- Access to corporate customers
- Capital raising support
- New market entry
- Strategic partnership building
- Industry-specific acceleration
- Entrepreneurship education programs
- Startup incubation
- Research commercialization
- Industry partnership facilitation
- Student innovation programs
- Global mentor networks
- Cultivate AI literacy and AI adoption
- Scale AI tools to optimize operations across your institutions
- Turn AI research and intellectual property into revenue-generating commercial products
- Scout and source international AI startups to solve your organization's problems
Designed So Everyone Wins
The Plug and Play model is built so that everyone benefits — creating a self-reinforcing ecosystem where success compounds over time.
Startups
Gain customers, strategic partners, investors, and global market access
Corporations
Access innovation, emerging technologies, and startup partnerships
Governments
Strengthen ecosystems, attract investment, and create new jobs
Universities
Accelerate entrepreneurship, commercialization, and industry collaboration
Investors
Access high-quality deal flow, co-investment, and portfolio support
AI Center of Excellence
What is an AI CoE and How Can It Support Vietnam?
An AI Center of Excellence is a shared hub where businesses, universities, governments, and startups work together to adopt AI. It connects organizations with AI startups, expert networks, and structured programs — turning AI ambition into measurable results. It goes beyond tools and pilots — building the internal systems, skills, and partnerships needed for AI to generate lasting value.
- Identify high-impact AI use cases aligned to real business goals
- Safely test and deploy AI technologies through startup pilots
- Upskill employees at every level — from frontline staff to executive leadership
- Build an internal culture of continuous AI-driven innovation
- Develop AI workforce programs for public sector employees and SMEs
- Scout and deploy AI startups to modernize public services
- Support national AI priorities, such as Resolution 57, with concrete programs
- Attract technology investment and innovation-driven economic activity
- Commercialize AI research and turn intellectual property into revenue-generating products
- Build student entrepreneurship programs around AI innovation
- Connect faculty and researchers directly with corporations and investors
- Create pathways from academic discovery to real-world deployment
How It Works
An AI CoE operates as an ongoing, structured engagement with three core components.
Curated access to AI startups solving your specific challenges, with structured pilots and proof-of-concepts.
AI literacy training, hands-on workshops, and leadership programs tailored to each team's level.
Connections to Plug and Play's global network of 100,000+ startups, 550+ corporate partners, and leading research institutions.
Why Choose Plug and Play?
Backed by an extensive global ecosystem and more than 650 AI investments, Plug and Play is the premier partner for Vietnam's AI transformation. Having launched international AI Centers of Excellence alongside Fortune 500 leaders, governments, academia, and venture funds, Plug and Play is actively shaping the future of innovation.