Turning cultural differences into a Competitive Edge: Tekai’s strategy to elevate Vietnam in global IT outsourcing

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Bài viết này có ngôn ngữ Tiếng Việt.

When it comes to IT outsourcing in Finland, most people still think of India. Could Vietnam be the next serious player in Northern Europe’s high-standard tech scene? That’s the question Jarvis Luong is working to answer. As the founder of Tekai, Jarvis is on a mission to redefine how the region sees Vietnamese tech talents. By building bridges between Vietnam and the Nordic tech ecosystem, he is working to make Vietnam a reliable and high-quality partner for the Finnish and broader European market. 

In September 2016, Hai arrived in Finland to study at Tampere University. After completing his bachelor’s degree, he finished his master’s program at Aalto university. It was there that he met Hieu Nguyen and Nguyen Hoang Quang Trung – Vietnamese students in Finland who shared the same entrepreneurial mindset.

In 2019, Hai and Trung co-founded Reactron Technologies. After five years of growth, they noticed a clear trend: Finnish companies were becoming more open to outsourcing to optimize costs. Still, India remained the default choice. Meanwhile, Vietnam, a promising market with a high-quality talent pool, remained largely under the radar.

Vietnam is increasingly gaining recognition as home to a young, talented, and globally competitive IT workforce. Each year, tens of thousands of tech engineers graduate from universities across the country, equipped with strong technical foundations and the ability to quickly adapt to new technologies. Vietnamese developers, in particular, are known for their logical thinking, problem-solving skills, flexibility and creativity – all while offering a cost-effective advantage.

Hai Luong Jarvis Luong Tekai

“When you prove your position, you’ll easily attract top talent, retain your best people, and win clients.” – Tekai CIO Luong Dang Hai (Jarvis Luong).

Hai and Trung made a bold move: Why not put Vietnam on the map as a source of top tech talent in Finland and across Europe?

With deep knowledge of both markets: Vietnam’s high-quality workforce and Finland’s business  environment – they believed the timing was perfect to connect the two ecosystems. They saw enormous potential in bridging Vietnamese IT talent with Finnish companies that were increasingly seeking high-quality, cost-effective outsourcing solutions.

Driven by a strong belief in this vision, they set out to build something groundbreaking. In October 2024, Tekai was born with a bold mission: to position Vietnam as the go-to destination for IT outsourcing in Finland.

Tekai’s model differs from traditional outsourcing companies. Vietnamese software engineers based in Finland work directly with local clients, ensuring deep understanding of project requirements, client expectations, and industry context. The team in Vietnam then executes the project. This approach breaks down cultural and language barriers and ensures smooth, efficient collaboration.

In 2024, Hai and his team also founded Qaraton, a company focused on QA and software testing, offering high-quality assurance services.

So, what challenges did Hai face on this entrepreneurial journey? How did he seize the right opportunities, and what were the key turning points that helped Tekai establish its position in Finland’s tech landscape? Let’s explore this inspiring story with BiziVietnam. 

What difficulties and challenges have you encountered in the business process, and how have you overcome them?

The business model we built with Reactron allowed us to establish a solid customer base, build trust, and achieve significant growth—especially during the COVID-19 period. However, when the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, we began to face serious challenges.

First, our original model struggled to scale. Finland is a relatively small market, and without innovation in our business approach, sustainable growth seemed out of reach. Language barriers also posed an issue – our team wasn’t proficient in Finnish, which limited our ability to communicate effectively in business settings. In addition, small-scale projects weren’t enough to retain top talents or help our company reach the scale needed to compete. We realized that without change, we would remain stuck. 

So, we decided to pivot in two directions. First, instead of only offering software consulting, we launched Qaraton to specialize in QA and software testing. Second, the valuable advice from our advisor Jani Muuronen “Why not leverage Vietnamese tech talent more strategically?” helped shape our next move. That led to the birth of Tekai – to connect Finnish companies with high-quality Vietnamese engineers.

Thanks to these two decisive moves, Tekai not only weathered the storm but accelerated faster than we had imagined.

Beside the difficulties, what advantages have you had? What kind of support have you received from the people around you?

The first major advantage actually came from the COVID-19 pandemic. As the world shifted to remote work and digital transformation accelerated, Finnish companies began investing heavily in software services and IT talent. This was a turning point for Reactron. The company gained new opportunities, attracted more clients, and saw a surge in revenue. During this period, our revenue jumped from €80,000 to €800,000, eventually peaking at €1.6 million – a reflection of the company’s rapid growth in response to a changing market landscape. However, following that period of explosive growth came the very challenges I mentioned earlier—ones that ultimately led to the founding of Qaraton and Tekai in 2024.

Another key advantage was having the right people. Trung, my co-founder, is well-connected and respected in the Vietnamese business community in Finland, which opened important doors early on.

I’ve also been fortunate to have two trusted advisors who offered invaluable guidance. Jani Muuronen, a senior executive at Witted – one of Finland’s largest IT consulting firms has been a long-time partner of Reactron. The second advisor is Toni Mikkola, former senior executive at Vincit and also one of our early clients. Toni is currently part of Teak’s board.

One more significant advantage lies in Tekai’s unique operational model. It’s a model built by Vietnamese professionals, run by Vietnamese leadership—and it’s working. This approach has helped us attract not only new clients, but also reputable investors. For us, it’s a golden opportunity we simply couldn’t afford to miss.

What is the company's greatest achievement to date?

Tekai Vietnam welcomed Mr. Samuli Savo, Director of the Reaktor Fusion Ecosystem, Hanoi – March 2025.

If I were to pinpoint the most memorable milestone so far, it would undoubtedly be Tekai’s official joining the Reaktor Fusion Ecosystem in March 2025. The ecosystem comprises 30 companies and 2,300 specialists, with a total revenue of €200 million. Reaktor is one of Finland’s leading tech and software consulting firms, specializing in digital solutions, software development, UX/UI design, and digital business strategy.

Joining the ecosystem is a huge boost for Tekai, validating our reputation, the quality of our team, and opening the door for even greater growth and recognition. I was honestly surprised by how quickly Reaktor agreed to collaborate with us. It shows the value Tekai brings and the trust investors have in our vision. I’m proud to be leading the first Vietnamese tech company to successfully enter the Finnish tech ecosystem alongside industry giants.

How do you think cultural differences affect working with local partners? How was your experience?

Vietnamese professionals are known for excelling in IT outsourcing, but many are traditionally operated with an East Asian work mentality similar to that of the Japanese and Koreans, where management follows a top-down approach and “do as you’re told.” This was a challenge when we started working with the Tekai Vietnam team. In contrast, the Nordic culture values critical thinking, open discussion, and appreciate initiative to find the best solutions. Luckily, the Tekai Finland team was fully aware of these cultural differences, and acts as a bridge to close the gap in working styles and communication.

We began a mindset shift at our Vietnam office by promoting proactivenes. For instance, we frequently organized workshops and joint meetings between the two teams to improve mutual understanding. This allowed us not only to overcome cultural barriers but also to turn those differences into a competitive advantage.

In addition to cultural differences, time zone discrepancies posed another challenge. However, we quickly resolved this through flexible and efficient work arrangements.

Tekai’s Finland team includes Vietnamese engineers with years of experience in Finland, well-versed in Northern European work culture.

 

Do you have any advice for immigrant startup founders?

Success doesn’t just come from talent or ideas alone. It is also shaped by the mentors and teammates. I’ve been lucky to have Trung as a mentor and other advisors who trusted me and supported my career journey in Finland.

We aim to inspire the Vietnamese entrepreneurial community in Finland to support one another and grow together. At Tekai, we offer Vietnamese talents the opportunity to become co-owners of the company, building and developing the business together. Beyond business, I hope we can work towards building a strong and united Vietnamese community here in Finland.

Hai and his Tekai co-founders at the partnership signing event with Reaktor in March 2025.

Co-founders of Tekai Nguyễn Hoang Quang Trung, Lượng Dang Hai and Nguyen Hieu with two board advisor Jani Muuronen and Toni Mikkola .

What are your plans for Tekai? 

In the coming years, I hope to contribute to strengthening the Vietnamese brand, not just through Tekai and IT outsourcing, but also by inspiring Vietnamese entrepreneurs to create other brands and introduce Vietnam’s diverse strengths into Finland and Europe.

Additionally, I envision Tekai becoming a home for Vietnamese IT talent in Finland, a place where they can build their careers and work together to create sustainable value.

Looking even further ahead, I dream that one day Tekai will grow beyond a small company within an ecosystem. I want it to grow into a major player,  a publicly listed company that affirms the position of Vietnamese intellect on the global technology map.

Jarvis Lương Tekai Reaktor

“If you are truly talented, you can go on your own; but the journey might be long, and there will be moments of doubt. With a companion by your side, you’ll have confidence and the path ahead will be shorter.” – Tekai CIO Luong Dang Hai (Jarvis Luong).

Thank you for this conversation, and I wish Tekai continued growth and success.

Interview conducted by: Hoang Minh Phuong

Article written by: Hoang Minh Phuong & Do Bich Hang

BiziVietnam's Insights

Reaktor—a leading name in Finland’s tech scene – choosing to partner with Tekai is a clear testament that Vietnamese can absolutely play big and play long in the European IT industry. And this is just the beginning.

For a foreign startup to succeed in Finland, having a local on the team, whether as a co-founder or key personnel, is a game-changer. It not only helps the company connect more deeply with the market but also builds trust with clients and partners. Trust is absolutely vital in the Nordic business environment. In fact, this model has proven effective not only in Hai’s company but also in many other successful Vietnamese-led tech startups in Finland.

Tekai sends a strong message to the community: “Vietnamese people do IT outsourcing well, Vietnamese software is high-quality, and we support each other.” We should put our hearts into what we do and take every chance to build meaningful connections—because one day, the people you meet along the way might become the mentor or the key that opens a big opportunity for you.

Finally, for anyone looking to start a business in Finland, transparency, clarity, and trustworthiness must be top priorities. These are the keys to building long-lasting trust in this market.

Finland Business Insider: Perspectives from a Vietnamese-Finnish entrepreneurs

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