The impressive achievements of Zalo's founder Lê Hồng Minh

DNHN - The founder of Zalo is also known as the founder of VNG. From his passion for gaming, he became a pioneer in the industry and built a billion-dollar empire.

Known for his role as the founder of VNG - the parent company of the multi-platform messaging app Zalo, Lê Hồng Minh holds a Bachelor's degree in Finance and Banking from Monash University, Australia. After returning to Vietnam in 2001, he began building his career, starting from his passion for video games. From there, he gradually built VNG, Vietnam’s leading technology company, and became a pioneer in the industry, helping to shape the country's technology sector.

VNG started as a gaming cafe that Lê Hồng Minh co-founded with a friend in September 2004. Initially, the company was named Vinagame, before being renamed VNG Corporation in 2009.

The founder of Zalo is one of the major shareholders of VNG, and he held the position of Chairman and CEO from 2004. However, at the beginning of 2023, he transferred the position of Chairman to Võ Sỹ Nhân. According to the company's announcement on September 7, 2024, VNG officially appointed Kelly Wong as the acting CEO.

VNG's primary business is video games, particularly well-known role-playing games in the Vietnamese market. Additionally, VNG has developed online platforms such as Zingme and Zalo. Beyond gaming, the company operates in various sectors, including software production, programming, real estate, and telecommunications services.

In 2012, VNG launched Zalo - a free messaging and calling app for mobile platforms. By 2014, VNG was valued at $1 billion by World Start-up Report, officially becoming Vietnam's first tech unicorn. This success marked a significant milestone in VNG's development, affirming the company's position in both domestic and international tech markets.

Also in 2014, VNG reached a valuation of $1 billion. Five years later, Singapore's Temasek investment fund raised VNG’s valuation to $2.2 billion. In 2021, Mirae Asset fund management company bought shares of VNG at 1.7 million VND per share.

After nearly 20 years of development, under the leadership of the founder of Zalo, VNG has attracted many foreign shareholders, including Tenacious Bulldog Holdings Limited, GS Treasure Sarl, and Tencent Holdings Limited.

By the end of 2023, VNG's total assets reached 9,595 billion VND, an increase of 7.8% compared to 2022. Notably, cash, deposits, and cash equivalents rose sharply by 46%, to nearly 3,838 billion VND.

With his talent, Lê Hồng Minh has achieved many significant accomplishments in his career, leading VNG to continuous growth, contributing to affirming Vietnam's technology sector's position in the international market.

Ha Chi