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By: Marianne S. Montecillo
AIT School of Management is proud to introduce one of our doctoral candidates, Mr. Pham Thanh Huu, a seasoned tech entrepreneur, CEO, Founder and innovation leader with extensive experience in international technology. Passionate about deep-tech and national innovation, Mr. Huu is dedicated to positioning Vietnam as a strong player in the global tech industry. Intrigued, we asked him a few questions.
Q: Tell us about yourself.
A: I am Pham Thanh Huu, the Chief Executive Officer of IVS Corporation, a software company with over 400 engineers across Vietnam and Japan. I also serve as the Scientific Director at ADAI Laboratory, an applied AI and Data Science research center based in Nha Trang City, Vietnam. I also founded VNX Robotics in 2025.
With more than 24 years of experience in technology leadership across Vietnam, Japan, the United States, and Canada, I have developed substantial expertise in digital transformation, legal AI, robotics, and innovation management. I am passionate about bridging advanced technologies with effective governance, especially in emerging markets.
Q: Why did you choose to study the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) program at AIT School of Management (AIT-SOM) Vietnam Campus?
A: With over two decades of experience managing international technology companies, I sought a doctoral program that could meet a unique combination of academic depth, global perspective, and practical value.
Specifically, I was looking for a program that would:
Deepen my theoretical foundation in business and innovation,
Strengthen my analytical and research capabilities for executive-level decision-making,
Enable me to design strategic frameworks that integrate cutting-edge technologies, such as AI, into legal systems, organizational models, and innovation management,
Possess a strong and reputable brand within the global education landscape and
Provide access to a dynamic and well-connected alum community to support business expansion and collaboration worldwide.
The DBA program at AIT-SOM fulfills all these expectations. It offers a multicultural and academically rigorous environment guided by a globally recognized faculty with deep theory and real-world practice expertise. Over the past three years, I have also appreciated the program's responsive academic services and the vibrant alum network that extends across industries and geographies, providing inspiration and concrete business opportunities.
AIT-SOM has been a place of learning and a platform for strategic growth, leadership development, and global connection.
Q: Tell us more about your companies and startups.
A: I lead two organizations, reflecting my long-standing commitment to technology leadership and deep-tech entrepreneurial ambition.
IVS Corporation:
IVS Corporation was founded in 2002 when I graduated from Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT). At that time, computers, software, and information technology were still considered futuristic in Vietnam. I recall coding on IBM 286 machines and accessing the Internet via dial-up telephone lines. Yet, driven by a firm conviction that informatics and software would become a leading industry to empower Vietnam’s rise, I co-founded IVS with a Japanese partner, starting with just four people and a single old desktop computer.
Two decades later, IVS has grown to over 400 engineers, with nearly 10% being experts from Japan and other countries, operating across Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Can Tho, Nha Trang, Tokyo, and Hyogo.
Our business is focused on two core segments:
Software outsourcing and system development for international markets (60% revenue) with over 100 system integrator partners across Japan, the U.S., and Canada;
Digital transformation services for Japanese companies operating in Vietnam and Southeast Asia (40% revenue), serving a base of more than 600 enterprise clients.
"To give you an idea of our presence: if you see a Japanese brand or factory in Vietnam, there is a 90% chance they are a customer of IVS. We take pride in delivering high-quality, secure, scalable software solutions that empower clients on digital transformation journeys."
VNX Robotics (New Startup):
In 2025, driven by a firm conviction that AI and sentient robotics will shape the world in the next five years, and with a sense of urgency and national responsibility over Vietnam’s lagging robotics industry compared to neighboring countries like China, I founded VNX Robotics – where "VNX" stands for Vietnam eXcellence. Our mission is to build technological autonomy in robotics for the nation. VNX Robotics focuses on research and development of quadruped robots for two key applications:
Civilian use: industrial inspection, disaster response, intelligent factory automation, and advanced STEM education;
Military and defense: tactical logistics, terrain surveillance, and autonomous operations in complex environments.
We leverage cutting-edge technologies such as reinforcement learning, real-time embedded systems, motion control, and AI-powered perception and navigation.
With bold ambitions, VNX Robotics aims to become Vietnam’s first unicorn in the robotics sector within the next five years, delivering technological innovation and national pride.
Q: Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
A: Over the next five years, I envision myself at the intersection of national contribution, technological innovation, and global impact.
For IVS Corporation, I aim to broaden our digital capabilities into smart manufacturing, legal-AI, and fintech while expanding our footprint beyond Japan into ASEAN markets.
For VNX Robotics, the vision is to establish a world-class deep-tech company from Vietnam, launching globally competitive quadruped robot platforms, owning core IP, and transforming from a startup into a tech unicorn that leads Asia in autonomous robotics.
I remain committed to advancing AI and robotics research, contributing to policy advocacy, and mentoring young Vietnamese innovators, to help shape a more resilient and self-reliant technological future for the nation.
Q: Do you have any advice or words of inspiration for new startups?
A:
Find a real pain in your community or nation, and take responsibility for solving it. When your startup begins with a mission of service rather than profit, that purpose will sustain you through the most challenging, darkest moments in the market.
Think big, but execute perfectly from the most minor things. Dream globally, but observe and adapt deeply to your local context. This balance is what allows you to go far, steadily and sustainably.
As a founder, develop three types of eyes:
-The eye of the eagle for strategic, high-level vision;
-The eye of the fish to sense the current of your product and the flow of the market, from upstream trends to downstream execution;
-And the eye of the ant to detect the granular, on-the-ground problems faced by customers and teams.
Together, these three "eyes" will guide you toward successful entrepreneurship.
Invest in people. And to invest sufficiently in people and pay attention to organizational culture. Technology evolves rapidly, but culture is the anchor that keeps a company stable and enduring.
Q: Thank you very much for taking the time to answer our inquiries and we are happy to have you as a student of AIT-SOM. We applaud your efforts in mentoring young Vietnamese innovators and investing in the technological future of your country.