Young Talent Development Pathway at KisStartup

Where you don’t just work – you build yourself

Founded in 2015, KisStartup was established with the mission of accompanying the startup community and businesses in strengthening innovation capacity, helping business models grow effectively and generate meaningful value for society.

We believe that to build a sustainable innovation ecosystem, the first priority is to nurture people with an innovative mindset, a strong learning spirit, and the courage to challenge themselves.

That is why KisStartup does not look for people who simply “follow rigid job descriptions.”Instead, we seek young individuals who want to grow through real experiences, learn from real projects, real people, and real societal challenges.

Who is KisStartup for?

The development pathway at KisStartup is especially designed for:

• Second, third, and fourth-year students seeking an environment to explore their strengths and potential
• Those who may not yet know what they are best at, but are willing to learn and experiment
• Individuals who enjoy challenges, multitasking, and real-world exposure, rather than repetitive work
• People who want a deep understanding of entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, and ecosystem development
• Those seeking long-term career development, not just a short-term internship experience

If you are looking for a place where you can learn, work, and grow at the same time, KisStartup could be the right starting point.

Development Pathway for Young Talent at KisStartup

1. Internship & Self-Discovery Phase (Intern / Project-based Intern)

This is the most important stage, where you are not confined to a fixed role.

You will:

• Participate directly in real projects: training, startup incubation, ecosystem development, research, communications, content creation, and events
• Work with a diverse network: startups, businesses, lecturers, mentors, international organizations, and local partners
• Rotate across tasks to discover where you fit best: content, research, operations, projects, communications, community development
• Be encouraged to ask questions, experiment, make mistakes, and learn from them

The goal of this phase is not to “perform perfectly,” but to understand who you are and which direction you want to grow in.

2. Professional Development & Personal Direction Phase (Junior Executive / Project Officer)

Once you have a clearer understanding of yourself, you will work with your manager and mentor to design a personal development roadmap, based on:

• Your demonstrated capabilities
• Your interests and career aspirations
• KisStartup’s development needs and ongoing programs/projects

At this stage, you will:

• Take on clearer roles in one or more professional areas
• Be given real responsibilities, not just support tasks
• Learn how to work with partners, clients, and larger organizations
• Develop essential skills: systems thinking, teamwork, task management, and professional communication

3. Multi-skill Development & Ecosystem Mindset Phase (Multi-skill Development)

At KisStartup, we believe that innovation practitioners cannot rely on a single skill.

You will be supported to:

• Develop multiple skills: research, content creation, operations, analysis, and project coordination
• Understand how an innovation ecosystem functions -from training and mentoring to incubation, market linkage, and social impact
• Participate in activity and program design, not just execution
• Learn to view challenges at a strategic level, beyond day-to-day tasks

This phase builds a strong foundation for long-term career development, whether you later work in a startup, a business, or a development organization.

4. Long-term Engagement & Growing with the Organization (Senior / Core Team – depending on orientation)

For those who wish to commit long term, KisStartup is not just a workplace, but a growing community.

You will have opportunities to:

• Become a core member of key programs and projects
• Develop as a project manager, content specialist, ecosystem coordinator, researcher, or trainer
• Accompany KisStartup in new initiatives in Vietnam and internationally
• Create real social impact, not just personal achievements

Learning Culture & Values at KisStartup

At KisStartup:

• Everyone is learning something, all the time
• Challenges are seen as opportunities for growth
• Simplicity is intelligence
• Transparency builds trust
• Curiosity keeps us moving forward

We believe that young people do not lack capability—they lack environments that offer trust and meaningful challenges.

If you are looking for…

• A place to discover yourself
• A clear yet flexible development pathway
• An environment of real learning, real work, and real exposure
• A community that learns, fails, and grows together

KisStartup welcomes you.

Những hành trình trưởng thành tại KisStartup

Ta Huong Thao

From a Language Student to Incubation & Investment Manager and Expert in Intellectual Property and Commercialisation

- Educational background: Graduate of the University of Languages and International Studies, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
- Time at KisStartup before overseas study: 2018–2023 (5 years)
- Roles at KisStartup/KisImpact before studying abroad: 

• Incubator & Pre-Accelerator Manager
• Capacity Building Program Coordinator
• Manager of the KisStartup Innovation & Startup Investment Fund

- Current engagement with KisStartup:

• Technical advisor for incubation programmes focusing on intellectual property, impact innovation, and investment terms
• Coach and programme designer for enterprise incubation initiatives within KisStartup-led projects

Development journey:

Starting from a language studies background, Ms. Ta Huong Thao joined KisStartup in project support and research roles. Through hands-on work with startups, enterprises, international organisations, and policy-related projects, she gradually developed deep expertise in impact innovation, startup coaching, and large-scale programme coordination. After several years at KisStartup/KisImpact, she pursued a Master’s degree at Chalmers University of Technology (Sweden), where she was among a small number of Asian students admitted and actively participated in university-based startup projects. Her academic and practical focus on 

sustainable innovation

further strengthened her professional capacity and enabled her to continue contributing back to the organisation.

Today, she is recognised as an expert in:

• Designing and operating incubation and capacity-building programmes
• Coaching startups in building impact-driven business models
• Research on intellectual property, policy, and the startup & innovation ecosystem
• Country of residence and work: Sweden
• Current main position: Data Analyst at LOT Network

Her journey is a clear reflection of KisStartup’s philosophy: we do not recruit “ready-made” people — we grow together with those who are willing to learn, experiment, and evolve with the organisation.

Pham Thi Mai

From a Language Student to Digital Business Acceleration Manager

- Starting point: Language major student
- Roles at KisStartup before overseas study:

• Manager of the Digital Acceleration Program (DAP)
• Manager of Digital Innovation Strategy
• Project Manager for inclusive digital transformation projects (IDAP)

- Current roles at KisStartup:

• Chief Technology Officer for Innovation at KisStartup
• Program Manager of the Inclusive Digital Acceleration Program (IDAP)

Development journey:

Ms. Pham Thi Mai joined KisStartup through early support roles in communication, research, and content development. Over time, she expanded her expertise into digital business analytics, digital business models, and digital marketing tools.

Alongside her professional growth, she pursued and completed a Master’s degree in Business Analytics at Central European University (Austria). This academic foundation enabled her to become a core team member in designing and operating digital acceleration programmes for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.

Currently, she plays a key role at KisStartup in:

• Digital transformation for SMEs
• Business model and data analysis
• Designing acceleration programmes linked to business model innovation

Her journey demonstrates that at KisStartup, career development is not limited by one’s original academic discipline, but is opened up through continuous learning, responsibility, and real-world engagement.

Pham Phuong Linh
Alumna of Investment Economics, Banking Academy

- Interned & developed at KisStartup (2023–2024)
- Project Management Assistant
- Managed projects and developed the first Femtech (technology for women) activity chain in Vietnam

“For me, the most wonderful thing I gained was the opportunity to meet many talented and interesting people. I learned how to network much better compared to my past self, so when I left KisStartup, I was able to independently build and expand relationships related to my new workplace. The work topics KisStartup has been and is working on were also very new to me. Now, whenever I am assigned something new, I feel excited to explore and work on it — I’m no longer afraid. Another important thing is the positive working environment where everyone supports one another. I feel that the seniors created a very healthy environment for us.”

Ha Tuan 
Alumnus of Investment Economics, Banking Academy

- Interned & developed at KisStartup (2023)
- Project Management Assistant (2024)
- Official Finance Officer (2024–2026)

“The most valuable thing for me was the significant change in my mindset. I shifted from passively receiving information to proactively seeking information. At KisStartup, there has always been a culture of ‘you can try, you can fail,’ and through experimentation, we find the most suitable direction. The advantage of this is that I can be more creative”