Phuong Nguyen is the Founder and CEO of Piktina Vietnam, a resale fashion marketplace that aims to turn unused clothes into cash in South East Asia. Launched in June 2022, Piktina has successfully raised US$1M in a seed round from Touchstone Partners and is now serving 30,000 users, seven months since inception.

‍

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

As a startup founder, I look for an unsolved problem in the market, assemble a team, build the solution and bring that to as many people as possible.

‍

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

People love free shipping in Vietnam. Whether it's a $5 or $50 item, they would still require free shipping to check out.

‍

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

Being able to start a new project with people I have previously worked with. In my experience building startups from scratch, the team we choose decides 50% of success but 100% of failure. The right team should not only be the one who can compliment us well, but also the one whom we can trust, personally and professionally.

‍

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

AI and ESG-related business models, especially climate tech and green financing. They are useful for our society with promises to create a large impact in the long term, sustainably.

‍

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

One: look for a problem that is substantial and scalable, and you are the one who can solve it best in the market. Don't look for something that is on-trend or hyped by VCs as trends come and go every year, but building a successful startup takes at least ten times that.

Two: personal branding is the only branding we have and the only one that matters. Whatever job you do prior to building your own startup, keep it well.

‍

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

Right now, entrepreneurship or business in general. The idea of building a product that can be used by millions of people and create long-term value with it excites me.

‍

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

Can I do a podcast? Right now, I'm enjoying All-in-podcast the most. It's my weekly guilty pleasure.

‍

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

Avocado or coffee, depending on the occasion.