Through our Swiss-funded Entrepreneurship Program, JAA arranged for a presentation on impact investing by Keith Ippel, one of our Entrepreneurs in Residence, at #Techfest2020, Vietnam’s largest innovation event.

Now in its sixth year, the Entrepreneurship Program, Swiss EP, helps entrepreneurship ecosystem support organizations (ESOs) improve their programming and business strategies, helping business startups and scale-ups. These ESOs – such as incubators, accelerators, universities, angel investors, entrepreneur associations, venture capital, mentorship organizations, workspaces, innovation centers and networks, and their events and services, form the core of sustainable, high-quality ecosystems. Swiss EP’s ecosystem focus in Vietnam is on Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Danang, and Hue.

JAA also assists public and public-private organizations, advising national and municipal programs and policy development targeting entrepreneurship and innovation.

Swiss EP has emerged as a trusted resource for ecosystem stakeholders. We have helped create and build specialized resource providers’ capacities – the Vietnam Mentors Initiative, women’s entrepreneurs’ networks, and angel investment network.

Swiss EP’s Phase One results (2015-2019) substantially exceeded target goals and included approximately:

• $15m Capital raised by the entrepreneurs assisted by our partner ESOs
• 1400 mentors trained
• 825 investors trained
• 66 implementing partners
• 7000 new jobs created

The 7-country Swiss EP is implemented by Swisscontact and J.E. Austin Associates in Partnership. JAA is the lead partner for the Vietnam program.