Marina Tran-Vu is the founder and CEO of EQUO, a sustainable brand providing 100% plastic-free and compostable solutions for everyday single-use plastics.

Their products are made from materials like grass, rice, coconut, sugarcane and coffee. They have raised over $1.3M for their seed round and were featured in global media, including Forbes, Shark Tank Vietnam and Front Office by PlayersTV in the US.

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

I manage and run an eco-friendly product startup. My business is D2C and wholesale and a startup, so I handle everything from big customers to overseeing e-commerce and raising funds!

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

How I take a very different approach to brand building than typical brands, especially in the commodity space.

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🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?The biggest highlight has been sharing our journey and vision with the entire world on global TV shows like Shark Tank in Vietnam and Front Office by PlayersTV in the US.

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

Watching social shopping like TikTok shopping which seems to be a very popular shopping channel and medium that is growing rapidly.

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

Perseverance and hard work will beat talent any day — and authenticity. Really believe in what you are doing, and that will get you through even the hardest times.

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

‍People and their behavior, why they do what they do.

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Armageddon

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

Caramel with Toffee Bits or Cookie Dough — otherwise, Durian.