UNDERSTANDING INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR SPACS AND DIGITAL ASSETS
With a diversified portfolio of USD 3.8bn in assets under management, VinaCapital is one of Vietnam’s leading investment management companies. Seeking to generate returns for their investors by tapping on extensive market knowledge and capitalizing on opportunities emerging in Southeast Asia, VinaCapital covers the full range of traditional and alternative asset classes, including listed equity, private equity, venture capital, fixed income, and real estate.
As financial markets have become more sophisticated, exemplified through increased financial innovation and the rise of cryptocurrencies, VinaCapital posed a challenge to the students to identify potential investment opportunities for SPACs and digital assets in Southeast Asia.
Through the projects, students had first-hand experience of the sharp and fast-paced buy-side analyst job of identifying the high-alpha projects to benefit the various funds that VinaCapital was focusing. Students were also able to gain a deeper knowledge about trendy, modern and highly sophisticated financial products such as SPACs and digital assets, and understand how each have different characteristics under different macroeconomics and financial market situations (especially in developing countries). As final deliverables to VinaCapital, students had to evaluate the investment projects from different stakeholders’ perspectives and provide recommendations. They gained access to the investment process, and how to tap into market fluctuations to identify asset classes that could deliver positive investment returns.
“Presenting on exciting topics to a highly qualified panel of industry veterans, the team and I found it absolutely enriching. The challenging nature of our project made it more satisfying when our efforts culminated in our final presentation. The feedback and criticism shared by the executives from VinaCapital was constructive and sharp, value-adding to my own skillset in my career ahead.” – Year 3 Student in ECON248 course
“This trip was very helpful in my development as a student and young professional. Although I have travelled quite a bit in my life, it has never been for a presentation such as this which made this a unique learning experience. I was able to better test myself in balancing work and school projects as well as having fun during free time and exploring the new environment. Additionally, Ho Chi Minh was a very different city from everywhere I’ve been before so it was great to be able to explore in our free time and experience the new culture. Working with VinaCapital was also incredible because it was a major company that was a bit intimidating to present for in their office. Because of this, it places me a bit outside my comfort zone and pushed me to do well under difficult circumstances. Overall, I think it was a great experience and I am very grateful for the opportunity to go.” – Exchange Student in ECON248 course
