Jake Vu is the founder of Vucar, an AI-enabled used car marketplace in Vietnam.

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👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

Picture this: buying and selling cars as effortlessly and securely as shopping on Amazon. At Vucar, that's exactly what we're doing—streamlining the process, making it as simple and secure, one car at a time.

My day-to-day is basically going around and asking questions—What's the latest customer feedback? Have we improved from last week?  Are our current projects aligned with our main priorities? Do we have the right team tackling these issues?

It's my role to ensure we maintain a clear focus, moving forward efficiently and making sure everyone enjoys their work.

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🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

The sheer amount of time I dedicate to those behind-the-scenes tasks. Those little details that might not seem glamorous, but are absolutely crucial. It’s this blend of roles that keeps my job fascinating.

One moment, I'm talking vision with investors; the next, I'm sorting out a tech glitch or chatting with customers.

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

It's hard to pin down just one, but there was this time when it hit me how incredibly fortunate I am to work with the team at Vucar.

From just two of us to nearly 25. I've always been skeptical of the big corporate way of doing things, holding a strong belief in my ability to cultivate a high-performing, earnest team. That realization, seeing what we've built together, definitely tops my list of career highlights.

And, just for a bit of extra icing on the cake, becoming the youngest person in Southeast Asia to secure Antler funding was pretty awesome, haha.

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🔍 What's a startup trend or space you're watching this year?‍

AI applications in sales & CS. It's automating tasks and personalizing interactions, freeing up teams for the human touch. Exciting stuff!

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💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Focus on the B side, and keep grinding!

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‍🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

Everything related to startups and macroeconomics

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🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

The Man from Earth

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Rum Raisin

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We've edited this interview for clarity.