Tech Planter Vietnam 2024 announcement of Judges

Mr. Abdul Hakim Sahidi, Managing Director, Leave a Nest Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. (Head of Judge)

Mr. Abdul Hakim Bin Sahidi is one of the pioneer members of Leave a Nest Malaysia, having joined the company in 2016. Since then, he has played a crucial role in establishing and leading a passionate team in the country. His primary focus lies in business and technological advancements that have the potential to create significant impacts on society. With his extensive experience, Mr. Abdul Hakim has been actively involved in mentoring researchers and startups in both Malaysia and Indonesia. He plays a vital role in bridging them with the right partners, both locally and from Japan, to facilitate collaboration and growth opportunities. Through his efforts, he aims to nurture and cultivate a new generation of technopreneurs in Malaysia, while also supporting the implementation of meaningful technologies that can benefit society as a whole.

Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh, CEO & Co-Founder, KisStartup Innovation Consulting, Coaching, Mentoring

Nguyen Dang Tuan Minh (Ms.) is the founder of KisStartup Innovation Consulting, Coaching, Mentoring. Minh is among 16 women leaders from 13 countries in the world selected to join Fortune – U.S. Department of State Global Women’s Mentoring Partnership in 2018. She is one of 12 Innovation Coaches certified by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Vietnam and Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland. With more than 15 years of experience working and researching in entrepreneurship, business development, management and digital enterprise management and startup; 5 years of experience in teaching in English of e-business, innovation & entrepreneurship, Minh also contributes to the innovation community by both intensive innovation coaching, mentoring and researching. Minh serves as the Manager of SME Mentoring 1:1 in Hanoi. Minh is also an author of the book “Innovation & Entrepreneurship – Mindset and Tools”. She serves as Head of Investment Matching Department at Techfest 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2020; head of Corporate Innovation Village at Techfest from 2022, 2023, 2024

Dzung Ngo, Growth Advisor, Lead The Change

Dzung is a startup ecosystem builder and mentor in the Vietnam Startup Ecosystem. With +12 years of experience in entrepreneurship & manufacturing management in various industries, he has supported +200 startups & SMEs, providing expertise in innovation training, business development, and project consultancy, leading to successful connections with investors globally. Holding a MBA & degrees from serial entrepreneurship programs from Japan and Singapore, he's served as a Program Director for cross-border acceleration programs, collaborating with countries like Israel, New Zealand.

He’s also an entrepreneur and innovator by himself. He’s a CEO of Brave Cat Co., an innovation & data science consultant agency. Before entrepreneurship, he spent over 6 years as a SQA Manager at Ajinomoto Group, contributing significantly to their strategy in the Vietnamese market. Currently, he’s a Growth Advisor at Lead The Change, one of Vietnam's largest youth-centric educational organizations for social impacts.

Le Hoang Phuong, Program Manager, Business Startup Support Centre (BSSC)

Mr. Le Hoang Phuong, the Program Manager at BSSC, is a highly skilled professional with a diverse background encompassing business advisory and sales representation. He has served as a Former Advisor to VBP and Meinan Vietnam, and as a Sales Representative for Unilever Vietnam, one of the country's most successful FMCG companies, which has equipped him with valuable insights into business development.

His international experience further extends to his role as Deputy Sales Manager at Next Ads in Singapore and as Head of Business Development for the Automotive Division at Tan Thanh Do Group. This extensive and varied career path underscores his adaptability and proficiency in different industries and markets. Additionally, Mr. Le Hoang Phuong holds a Professional Certificate in Brokerage from the Mercantile Exchange of Vietnam. With his robust background in advisory, sales, and business development, he could tackle challenges and drive growth in diverse business environments.

Tanveer Gill, Chief Financial Officer, Pharmacity

Tanveer Gill is currently the Chief Financial Officer at Pharmacity JSC Vietnam, which has created the first modern retail pharmacy chain brand in the country, offering convenience and product variety with a commitment to quality and competitive pricing. With a career spanning over two decades, Tanveer began his journey in the private banking industry, where he has developed extensive expertise in investment and capital raising, cultivating a vast network of relationships with asset management firms, financial institutions, credit ratings and research firms. Throughout his career, he has successfully built various businesses, led multiple fundraising rounds to secure vital capital that fueled growth and innovations, with a strong track record. Prior to his current role, he worked at Masan Group, a conglomerate with industry-leading companies in branded fast-moving consumer goods, branded meat, modern retail, financial services and telecommunications. These sectors represent some of the most transformational growth segments in Vietnam’s economy.

Norio Asahara, Director of Research and Development, Glico Asia Pacific

Glico manufactures not only confectionery and ice cream, but also a wide range of food categories such as beverages, dairy products, processed foods and baby milk powder. Mr. Asahara is the Director of Research and Development in Glico Asia Pacific. He is looking for new research partners as well as technical support, investment and opportunities for various collaborations such as buying of new ingredients. He is responsible for new business in Asia Pacific.

Cheng Liang Qi, Chief Operating Officer, Delightex Pte., Ltd.

Cheng is the Chief Operating Officer of Delightex and is currently leading innovation efforts in the FMCG wellness space, focusing on naturally derived ingredients. This includes end-to-end product
development, from needs identification to product validation in selected markets.
He is a serial entrepreneur with investment experience in Family Office, Government and Private Venture Capital Firms. Cheng is also a Chartered Accountant with a Double Degree in Accounting and Finance from Nanyang Technological University

Dinh Cong Bang, SAP Project Manager, Aureole Group 

Mr. Dinh Cong Bang has over 15 years of experience in information technology, with a focus on SAP ERP technology, web, and e-commerce solutions. Currently, he is serving as a SAP Project Manager at Aureole Information Technology Inc. (AIT). His extensive experience includes a three-month on-site stint in Japan working on a SAP project. He has dedicated seven years to SAP ERP technology as both a project manager and an ABAP developer. Additionally, he has seven years of experience as a founder and product owner in an IT solutions start-up company, which specialized in jobs and real-estate marketplaces, web solutions, and software outsourcing. Mr. Dinh Cong Bang holds an engineering degree in computer science and a bachelor's degree in business administration.