Current Role | Co-Founder & CEO, ELSA Speak |
Previous Position | Management Consultant, Booz & Company |
Key Recognition | Forbes 30 Under 30 Vietnam | Top 5 Women-Led Startups at SXSW Edu |
Background and Early Foundations
Vu Van grew up in Vietnam, where she personally experienced the challenges of mastering English pronunciation as a non-native speaker. She pursued an MBA and Master’s in Education from Stanford University, combining business acumen with a passion for education.
Determined to solve the global English learning gap, she co-founded ELSA Speak (English Language Speech Assistant) in 2015 — using AI-powered speech recognition to help millions of learners improve their spoken English.
Today, the Vu Van Vietnam entrepreneurship story inspires how technology and purpose can reshape global education.
Career Milestones and Impact
Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
2015 | Co-founded ELSA Speak in San Francisco |
2016 | Won Top 5 Prize at SXSW Edu Launch Competition |
2019 | Raised $7 million in Series A funding |
2022 | ELSA reached over 25 million users globally across 100+ countries |
- Funding: Raised $27 million+ from Gradient Ventures (Google’s AI fund), Monk’s Hill Ventures, and Vietnam Investments Group
- Core Tech: Proprietary AI speech recognition tailored for non-native speakers
- Global Impact: Used by millions across Asia, Latin America, and Europe
Leadership Style and Influence
Vu Van exemplifies visionary, mission-driven entrepreneurship:
- Focuses on AI for education equity — making quality language learning accessible
- Champions women-led tech startups — actively mentoring in Vietnam’s startup ecosystem
- Advocates cultural confidence — helping learners overcome language bias barriers
Her leadership reflects a new generation of Asian entrepreneurs who build global products rooted in personal experience.
Legacy and Future Focus
Vu Van’s growing legacy includes proving that deep tech from Southeast Asia can scale globally.
Her future focus includes:
- Expanding ELSA’s enterprise solutions for companies and schools
- Enhancing AI personalization to adapt to regional English accents
- Building partnerships with governments to improve national English proficiency programs
She is turning voice technology into a tool for empowerment, not just education.
