The views expressed are those of the Ralph team and do not represent the views of any particular business or organization.
For many, a startup is a dream—a journey of creative freedom, of deciding your own path and writing your own unique story. But at Ralph, we believe that a startup is more than just a glittering destination. It’s a road full of surprises, where emotions fluctuate between excitement and uncertainty, between moments of triumph and days of despair. And perhaps, the things no one tells you before you begin are precisely what will shape how you proceed.
1. Current startup trends in Vietnam
In Vietnam, the term “startup” comes up in every coffee shop, in conversations over drinks, and in online groups. Never before has entrepreneurship been so accessible. Many young people choose to change careers after securing stable jobs to pursue a new idea. Many people working abroad decide to return home to start businesses in their homeland.
The general trend is that people are starting to see more opportunities in the domestic market — from applying technology to agriculture, tourism, and education, to entirely new fields like AI, digital services, or experiential learning models. And what’s special is that startups are no longer confined to a fancy office or millions of dollars in investment. Many startups originate in a small room, with a group of friends, or even a shared workspace somewhere.
2. Why are startup founders getting younger and younger?
While a few years ago, the image of a founder was often associated with someone who had been working for many years, now we meet many young people under 25 who have their own projects. This is partly because technology has narrowed the gap between ideas and action. With just a laptop and an internet connection, a young person can test a product, reach customers, and even sell across borders.
Furthermore, today’s younger generation tends to adopt a “trial and error” approach more quickly. They aren’t afraid to take action, aren’t afraid of failure, and are willing to get back up after their first setbacks. This mindset makes them confident in starting businesses early, viewing each failure as a lesson rather than an end.
3. Concerns and worries when moving out on your own.
Starting a business from scratch isn’t just about passion. It’s also about a host of worries that you might not have anticipated at first:
Finances: You will have to calculate everything yourself, from rent, equipment purchases, salaries (if you have staff) to personal living expenses.
Guidance: There won’t always be someone to show you the way. You’ll have to find the answers to hundreds of questions yourself—which market to choose, who your target customers are, how the product should change.
Emotions: Some days you wake up full of energy, but other days you just want to give up. Maintaining consistent motivation isn’t always easy.
These concerns aren’t meant to discourage anyone from starting a business, but rather to remind you that a startup isn’t just a pretty poster. It’s a journey that requires both mental and resource preparation.
4. Freedom or self-reliance?
One of the reasons many people choose startups is the freedom to decide on their product, direction, team, and even how they work. But along with that freedom comes a truth that few people talk about: you have to fend for yourself.
You’ll be responsible for everything from big things like strategy, capital, and contracts, to small things like internet bills, printing paper, or an unanswered customer email. And sometimes, that feeling of “freedom” is replaced by “always being in a state of having to deal with problems.”
But from another perspective, this very act of “taking care of yourself” helps you mature faster, better understand the value of each decision, and learn to take responsibility for all the results.
5. What opportunities exist for persistent effort?
Although starting a business isn’t easy, we believe that opportunities always exist for those who persevere. Today, the startup community in Vietnam is increasingly dynamic and open. There are many groups sharing experiences, many networking events, and many people willing to support each other, from operational expertise to useful connections.
More importantly, persistent effort often opens new doors. Sometimes a seemingly failed project becomes the foundation for creating a better product. Sometimes the relationships you build during difficult times become the partners that help your startup grow later on.
At Ralph, we always see the value of keeping going, even when the path is shrouded in mist.
6. A future full of challenges lies ahead.
When talking about the future, it’s difficult to imagine any startup journey following a straight line. The market is constantly changing, technology is developing rapidly, and today’s customer habits may no longer be relevant tomorrow.
Challenges certainly won’t disappear. But it’s these challenges that provide the reasons to innovate, adapt, and find more creative solutions. A startup is like a mountain climb: you won’t always see the summit, but each step builds your endurance, skills, and resilience.
The future of a startup depends not only on its product, but also on the founder’s ability to connect—with teammates, customers, and the community. That’s also how Ralph sees his role: pioneering, connecting, and telling the startup story in the most inspiring way.
Conclude
Starting a startup from scratch is an unpredictable journey. There will be times when you’re incredibly excited, and times when you’re so tired you want to stop. But if you understand that both joy and worry are part of the game, you won’t be surprised when they come.
For Ralph, every startup is a story. And no one else will tell that story for you — so tell it in the most authentic way possible, so that one day it will become an inspiration to someone else who is also starting from scratch.
