Case Studies

ADI provided an anchor equity investment into Ascend Vietnam Ventures (AVV) in 2022, which helped mobilise millions in private and public investment. AVV used this capital to invest in TechCoop while supporting the company with its fundraising efforts and deal structuring strategy.

TechCoop is an AgriFintech company providing micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) with an integrated solution that combines market access, financial services, and technology. The platform aims to support 50 million smallholder farmers across Southeast Asia. Woman-led and founded, TechCoop has a team of 160 employees, with women comprising 52% of the workforce.

Vietnam’s Agriculture: A Fragmented Yet Vital Industry

Vietnam is the world’s second-largest coffee producer and fifth-largest rice producer, with an agriculture sector worth $51 billion and accounting for 14% of the nation’s GDP[1]. This sector relies heavily on smallholder farmers, who generate about one-third of its total output. Despite its importance, the industry remains highly fragmented, with 17 million smallholders working on small plots and two-thirds of the population living in rural areas.[2] Multiple layers of buyers, limited access to finance, outdated technology, and inefficient supply chains further hinder its efficiency.

Hao Diep (F) and Tuan Nguyen (M) founded TechCoop in 2022 to help farmers earn better incomes, empower agribusinesses, and promote sustainable farming practices to address these challenges. TechCoop aims to address the 70% credit gap smallholders and agri-SMEs face while digitising the supply chain.

The co-founders have over a decade of experience in agriculture, fintech, banking, and engineering. They developed an innovative AgriFinTech model.

TechCoop’s clients and impact to date

TechCoop works with farmers across various crops—cashews, coffee, passion fruit, cassava, avocados, jackfruit, oranges, durian, coconut, pomelo, and pineapples, providing them with technology and trade finance.

Company impact to date:

• $30 million in loans disbursed for both input and output financing with a 100% repayment rate;
• 250,000 farmers, 2,000 farmer clubs and over 55 service points benefitted from increased access to resources across key agricultural regions, including the Central Highlands, Southeast and the Mekong Delta;
• Nearly 294,484 hectares of land were made more productive.

TechCoop’s Value Proposition: Helping Clients Like Coffee Concept Scale

One of TechCoop’s early success stories is Coffee Concept, a leading coffee producer in Vietnam’s Central Highlands. The company buys coffee from over 1,000 coffee farms and offers annual training to help farmers adopt sustainable practices and earn certifications like ISO, Rainforest Alliance, and 4C. Combining training with a commitment to purchasing high-quality beans, Coffee Concept has improved farming practices across the region, ensuring top-grade coffee from the Lam Dong Highlands reaches the market.

Coffee Concept began as a spin-off from Tam Trinh Coffee, a family business founded by Duong Doan’s parents, who spent over 30 years in the green coffee trade in Lam Dong province. When Duong Doan (Brian) launched Coffee Concept, he prioritised exports and marketing, driving rapid growth. In a short time, the company reached $800,000 in revenue.

Scaling an export business takes more than great coffee—timing is also essential. To secure supplies, the company needs cash flow at the right moment. That is where TechCoop stepped in. Their trade finance solution provided Coffee Concept with the capital to keep operations running smoothly and sustain growth, proving that access to finance is as crucial as industry expertise. The company could now buy coffee beans in bulk before prices spiked, keeping a steady inventory throughout the year. This financial stability allowed them to continue delivering high-quality, sustainably sourced coffee to their global partners.

“Timing is everything in the coffee business,” said Coffee Concept founder Duong Doan (Brian). “We have to buy when the quality is high and the price is right. Without trade finance, we are stuck. We either miss out on the best crops or take a hit from market fluctuations.”

Coffee Concept participates at the 2024 China International Import Expo (CIIE) in Shanghai, Duong Doan (Brian), founder, is on the right.

With TechCoop’s digital tool, Agri ERP, Coffee Concept optimised its operations, improving efficiency while maintaining its reputation for quality.

“Thanks to TechCoop’s financial and digital solutions, we have ensured that our farmers are paid on time and that we can keep delivering the premium coffee our customers expect,” said Brian, the Coffee Concept founder. “It has allowed us to grow without losing sight of our commitment to quality and sustainability.

TechCoop solution explained: it simplifies access to capital and improves operational efficiency.

TechCoop streamlines financing for agribusinesses, eliminating the delays and bureaucracy of traditional agricultural loans. Instead of waiting weeks for approval, businesses receive quick access to capital, enabling them to purchase supplies, manage cash flow, and maintain smooth operations.

Access to capital is only part of the solution. TechCoop has also developed AgriERP, a digital platform that helps businesses manage supply chains, track transactions, and reduce inefficiencies. AgriERP integrates data from agribusinesses, cooperatives, and farmers, digitising purchase agreements with transparent pricing, quality, and payment terms. It also connects businesses with partner financial institutions, ensuring they have the funding to scale.

With real-time data tracking, businesses can monitor compliance, optimise performance, and make informed decisions, helping them grow efficiently and sustainably.

Looking Ahead: A Broader Agricultural Impact

TechCoop gives Coffee Concept an edge. With better financial and digital infrastructure, they can focus on what they do best—bringing high-quality Vietnamese coffee to the world. Growth is no longer limited by access to capital or outdated systems. As TechCoop scales, more agri-SMEs in Vietnam will break free from those constraints, tapping into trade finance, digital tools, and global markets. The bottlenecks that once held them back are disappearing.

“We see TechCoop as more than just a financial partner,” said Coffee Concept founder. “They are a critical part of our supply chain strategy, helping us to scale while staying true to our values of sustainability and quality.”

Vietnam is the second largest coffee exporter in the world (after Brazil), totalled roughly 1.61 million tons, valued at $4.18 billion[3] in 2023. It is also ranked first globally in coffee cultivation yield with 2.4 tons/hectare, over 710,000 ha of land. Robusta coffee accounts for 97 per cent of total output.

In February 2024, TechCoop will establish a service centre in Buon Ma Thuot, Vietnam’s coffee capital, responsible for 30% of the nation’s coffee production. This centre will promote fair trade, ESG practices, and sustainable farming through partnerships with organisations like the EATU Coffee Cooperative. The goal is to share best practices with over 100 regional cooperatives, driving sustainable growth in Vietnam’s coffee industry.