COVID in Vietnam was harsh with heavy lockdowns. After that the people here value real human connection even more. For young professionals, the ability to come to an offline center after work was critical.
Finding the right spot took time. We analyzed the city, talked to people, and I visited dozens of buildings myself. The 12th floor of Abacus Tower started as an empty concrete box, but the potential was obvious. During planning, I gave the architects a hard time with revisions. My goal was simple: turn pretty renders into a functional space that actually works.
I was out of Vietnam during the main construction phase, watching from the sidelines. In my last post, I wrote that Vietnam taught me not to rush. This launch proved that things get done without my direct oversight. While the renovation was underway, the team didn’t wait for the walls to be painted; they refined the demo class format in coworking spaces. This meant that by the time we opened, we already knew what content worked for our audience.
Now that the academy has its own home, we’ve opened registration for a new round of demo classes. It feels good to see how a concrete box has finally turned into a living space, ready for students.
I’m really looking forward to coming back and seeing it all in person.