Doanh Nguyen
STARTUP, VENTURE CAPITAL & INNOVATION LAWYER
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Founder, StartupLAW Vietnam
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Managing Partner, Potekyu Law Firm
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Startup Legal Advisor
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Startup Mentor
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Bar Admission / Qualified Lawyer Certificate
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Industrial Property Representative Certificate (IP Agent)
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Intellectual Property Asset Management Certificate (IAM)
About Doanh
Doanh Nguyen
is a Startup, Venture Capital, and Innovation Lawyer with more than 16 years of experience advising startups, technology companies, venture capital funds, and emerging business models across Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
In 2015, he founded StartupLAW, one of Vietnam's pioneering legal platforms dedicated to the startup ecosystem.
He currently serves as Managing Partner of Potekyu Law Firm.
Over the past decade, Doanh has worked alongside hundreds of founders through multiple stages of growth—from company formation and product launch to fundraising, international expansion, M&A, and exit.
Practices
I. BUILD
From Idea to Foundation
II. SCALE
From Traction to Growth
III. PROTECT & EXIT
From Growth to Value Creation
Legal Solutions Across the Startup Journey
Legal solutions for the entire startup journey.
Designed specifically for startups and innovative businesses, StartupLAW's solutions support businesses from the formation, growth, fundraising, international expansion, to exit.
Build Stronger. Scale Faster. Exit Smarter.
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Business Structuring
Designing the legal and operational foundation that supports long-term business growth. -
Cross-border Structuring
Building international corporate structures, including holding companies, offshore/onshore alignment, and global expansion frameworks. -
Regulatory & Licensing
Navigating industry-specific licenses, approvals, and regulatory requirements. -
Tax Structuring & Incentives
Creating tax-efficient structures and leveraging available incentives. -
Equity Structuring & Allocation Strategy
Designing founder ownership, co-founder arrangements, early team allocation, and investor-ready equity structures. -
ESOP Design & Implementation
Building employee ownership programs that attract, retain, and motivate key talent. -
Product Legal & Tech Legal
Developing legal frameworks for technology products, digital platforms, and innovation-driven business models. -
Marketplace & Multi-sided Platforms
Structuring platform-based businesses and multi-sided ecosystems. -
Intellectual Property (IP) & Commercialization
Protecting and commercializing intellectual property to create sustainable competitive advantage.
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Fundraising & Investor Relations
Advising on fundraising strategy, investment rounds, and investor engagement. -
Cross-border Transactions
Supporting international investments, FDI structures, SAFE-like instruments, and cross-border transactions. -
Commercial Contracts
Drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts that support business operations and growth. -
Data Protection & Privacy
Helping businesses navigate data governance, privacy requirements, and regulatory compliance. -
ESOP & Equity Management
Managing ownership structures and employee equity programs as the company grows. -
Ongoing Regulatory Compliance
Supporting businesses in maintaining compliance throughout rapid growth and expansion.
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M&A & Exit Strategy
Preparing businesses for acquisitions, strategic transactions, and exit opportunities. -
Legal Due Diligence
Conducting legal reviews for investment, fundraising, M&A, and strategic transactions. -
Risk Management Framework
Building practical legal risk management systems aligned with business objectives. -
Dispute Resolution
Supporting negotiation, mediation, arbitration, and litigation processes.
How Doanh Works
Innovation often moves faster than regulation.
Many startups operate in industries where legal frameworks continue to evolve. This creates uncertainty for founders, investors, and management teams.
Rather than focusing solely on legal opinions, StartupLAW helps businesses make better decisions in complex and fast-changing environments.
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Business First. Legal Second.
Understand the business before applying the law. -
Balance Growth & Risk.
Find the right balance between innovation, growth, and risk management. -
Practical Over Theoretical.
Prioritize solutions that can be implemented in the real world. -
Local Expertise. Global Standards.
Bridge Vietnamese legal realities with international investor expectations and global best practices.
LawTalk
Strategic Conversation for Founders
LawTalk is a founder-focused strategic conversation personally hosted by Doanh Nguyen.
It is to help founders make better business decisions.
Common discussion topics include:
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Business Model & Growth Strategy
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Fundraising & Investor Readiness
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Equity Structure & ESOP
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Cross-border Expansion
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Regulatory & Compliance Issues
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Legal Risk Management
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M&A & Exit Planning
