adminHANOI, Vietnam – As global enterprises struggle to move AI from “experimentation” to “deployment,” Tasco Group—Vietnam’s leading mobility conglomerate controlling 13.7% of the auto market—has successfully executed a massive compression of the corporate innovation cycle through Tasco Innovation Day, in collaboration with GenAI Fund.
In a six-week operational sprint powered by GenAI Fund, the initiative bypassed traditional R&D delays by matching 30 specific operational problems with global AI and technology providers.
The program concluded on January 15 with 71 closed-door PoC (Proof of Concept) exploration sessions across 11 business units, effectively processing a year’s worth of vendor sourcing in a single afternoon.
The “GenAI Fund” Methodology: From Problem to PoC Kick-off in 6 Weeks
Tasco Innovation Day was more than just a global event that brought together 350 participants that was curated from 600 registrations globally; it was a deployment-focused exploration sprint powered by GenAI Fund’s “GenAI Open Innovation Playbook”.
By working directly with Tasco’s operational leaders, Tasco Innovation Committee and GenAI Fund curated 30 AI-focused problem statements—ranging from “Vehicle Inventory Optimization” to “Automated Compliance Governance”—within a single week.
This “problem-first” architecture is designed for large enterprises seeking immediate validation. Instead of generic pitches, GenAI Fund delivered a highly curated funnel:
- Global Sourcing: Attracted 300+ proposals from AI-focused startups across 15 markets, including the US, Singapore, Malaysia, India, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Europe, and Australia.
- Rigorous Filtration: Shortlisted 39 startups for private business matching sessions with decision-makers.
- Execution Focus: Resulted in 71 high-intent exploration sessions on event day, delivering preliminary Proofs of Concept (POC) in as little as 7 days to kickstart the validation process.
Global Magnetism: Bringing the World’s Best AI to Vietnam
The event demonstrated GenAI Fund’s unique capability to mobilize the global AI ecosystem for Southeast Asian enterprises like Tasco Group. The showcase featured 102 exhibiting AI startups selected from over 200 applications.
While 60% of participants were local, this initiative successfully attracted 40% international participation, proving that Southeast Asian enterprises can command global attention when the path to validation is clear. High-demand solutions included:
- Automotive & Mobility: Global AI startups were sourced from leading innovation hubs to address inventory efficiency and operational optimization across Tasco Auto’s nationwide network of more than 150 showrooms.
- Insurtech & Fintech: Industry-specific AI startups were connected directly to Vietnam’s insurance and financial infrastructure, enabling immediate assessment of real-world PoC
- AI & Data: Cross-industry AI and data platforms were introduced to support enterprise analytics, automation, and decision intelligence across multiple Tasco business units.
Executive Commentary
“Speed comes from structural alignment, not just access,” said Laura Nguyen, Partner at GenAI Fund. “Our role was to force the definition of 30 specific operational problems before we even opened applications. This ensures that when we bring global startups to the table, they are discussing concrete PoC requirements with a confirmed buyer.”
Phong Nguyen, Tasco Innovation Committee, added: “In this event, just like other innovation initiatives at Tasco, we put business units at the center and focused on problem statements that are strategically relevant and operationally grounded. This alignment between leadership, business teams, and the Innovation Committee created the conditions for faster decision-making and a clear path toward validation and deployment across Tasco Group..”
Tasco Innovation Day demonstrated how enterprises in Southeast Asia can engage global AI startups through structured, execution-led open innovation. With clearly defined use cases, active decision-maker involvement, and global startup access, the initiative showed a practical path from discussion to deployment.
More broadly, it reinforces Vietnam and Southeast Asia as regions where enterprises are increasingly open to sharing real operational challenges with the global AI ecosystem, enabling focused collaboration over exploratory pilots.
Information about Tasco:
Tasco Joint Stock Company is a leading enterprise in Vietnam in the fields of intelligent transportation infrastructure and automotive services. Its member company, Tasco Auto, is currently the largest automotive distributor in Vietnam by market share, holding 13.7% of the market (according to VAMA). Tasco Auto operates a nationwide network of more than 150 showrooms and is the authorized distributor and dealerships of 16 automobile brands, including Lotus, Volvo, Lynk & Co, Zeekr, Geely, Toyota, Ford, Mitsubishi, Hyundai, and many others.
Tasco Auto’s strategic shareholder is Mitsui, one of Japan’s leading conglomerates.
In the field of intelligent transportation infrastructure, Tasco, through its subsidiary VETC, operates an electronic toll collection (ETC) system with approximately 75% market share, serving around 4.1 million customers and processing an average of 2 million transactions per day. With a vision to become a leading provider of comprehensive mobility solutions, Tasco continues to expand its value chain—from new and used vehicle distribution, maintenance and repair services, to financial solutions and after-sales services meeting international standards, as well as tolling services—aiming to enhance customer experience and promote the sustainable development of Vietnam’s automotive industry.
Information about GenAI Fund:
GenAI Fund is Southeast Asia’s first AI-focused venture capital fund, supporting startups in building, deploying, and commercializing AI solutions, while working closely with governments, enterprises, and international partners to foster the region’s innovation ecosystem.
For further information or support, please contact: Ms. Laura Nguyễn
Director, GenAI Fund
Email: [email protected]
