Rootopia, a FinTech startup connecting students seeking education loans with angel investors in Vietnam, has raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round from Genesia Ventures, ThinkZone Venture, and BK Fund.
Founded by Nguyen Xuan Truong and Tran Quang Khanh in July 2021, Rootopia is focused on helping students with tuition and other school fees. The FinTech helps connect angel investors with parents who need funds for their children’s school fees. Since its inception, Rootopia has connected many students in over 100 schools and educational centers in ten provinces and cities in Vietnam with angel investors.
Rootopia makes sure each case goes through strict appraisal to ensure that the loan is granted to the right person and that the borrower can repay it. Since loaned tuition fees are paid directly to schools, the platform ensures that the money is put to good use.
The company plans to use the fresh capital to grow its early user base to reach product-market fit and enhance its technology platform to serve more students to uplift their future through better education.
Genesia Ventures is a Japanese VC firm investing in seed and early-stage startups. It has invested in ten startups in Vietnam, such as Homedy, Luxstay, Kamereo, Manabie, eDoctor, BuyMed, Vietcetera, Fundiin, Selly, MVillage.
ThinkZone focuses on pre-seed to Series A tech startups from diverse verticals, with investment sizes up to US$3 million. Its portfolio companies include EMDDI, eJoy, GIMO, Edupia, and Fundiin.
BK Fund was established by businesses and individuals who are Bach Khoa (HUST) alumni to invest and contribute capital. It invests, incubates, and commercializes technology in universities, investing and incubating staff, students and alums. Some startups funded by the BK Fund are eJoy English and Gimo.