The “All-in-One” Startup Helping SMEs Solve Every Problem: From Timekeeping and Scheduling Meetings to Tracking Project Progress

Mr. Le Viet Thang

After graduating, Thang joined FPT, but not to become a programmer like many of his peers, but to learn the software creation process at FPT Software. After more than 2 years there, 8 months at Visky, and 6 months at VnPay, the 8x-generation young man decided it was time to end his career as an employee to pursue his own dream.

In 2009, Thang used the 30 million VND his father got from mortgaging the land title at a bank to start his first company, DOS.

“DOS is pronounced like ‘đốt’ (to burn). It represents the determination that no matter what you do, the important thing is to always burn with passion,” Thang shared.

DOS was quite successful, designing over 200 websites for businesses and creating an operating platform for real estate companies, but it soon ‘died out’ because it couldn’t raise investment capital.

Continuing to borrow 500 million VND to pursue the dream

Undeterred, in mid-2011, Thang was determined to create the 1Office management solution. He wasn’t overly focused on finding external funding, but instead developed by bootstrapping, working and finding customers simultaneously to further develop the product.

Additionally, the software provides other related features such as scheduling meetings, sending contacts, sending SMS messages, announcing new events, group chat, and conversations… “The problem I’m solving isn’t new; in essence, people around the world have already solved this problem, but the disadvantage is the excessively high cost. Meanwhile, in Vietnam, over 90% are SMEs, and their operating costs are not large.”

“Imagine I provide you with a platform for internal communications, human resource management, customer management, and a retail distribution system, all in one for just 50,000 VND/employee/month. On average, a business with 20 to 50 people would only have a cost of about 1 million to 2.5 million VND per month,” Thang shared.

In the early days, 1Office collaborated with Vat gia and had about 3,000 regular customers. 1Office also received the Sao Khue Award for its SME management software solution in 2014.

Just when things seemed to be on track, in 2015, Thang split off to go his own way. Difficulties piled up as 3 of the 5 company founders left, and there was no capital to continue operations. Thang had to borrow another 500 million from his family to keep the company afloat.

“‘My father said this: ‘I’m lending you this money not for you, but because I know if you don’t do this, you’ll do something else. But I’ve been to the company and seen the guys who have been with you for several years now, and I couldn’t bear it,'” Thang recalled.

“When things are toughest, the first people I think of are my parents; if I waited for investors, I would have already sunk.”

With 500 million in hand, Thang began to redefine a clear direction and plan more carefully. In 2016, 1Office became a promising application as voted by the startup community. From the initial 3,000 users, 1Office grew to 50,000 users, with many well-known companies like Media Mart and Canifa choosing the platform.

The 1Office platform helps businesses save 30% of the working time of the administrative and HR departments, reducing printing costs, meeting time, and the time needed for data sign-offs.

Looking back on his 8-year startup journey, Thang said that despite facing many hardships, he never thought of stopping.

“‘When you want to stop, look back and think about why you started. In the past, difficulties couldn’t knock me down, and they still can’t knock me down now, because the path I’m on is much bigger than those difficulties,'” Thang shared.

The 8x-generation CEO also said that in 2017, he would dedicate 1.5% of 1Office’s revenue to a promising startup chosen by the community this year, as a way to show gratitude for the award he received last year and also to encourage other businesses to continue striving to survive and grow.

Source: https://genk.vn/