As economic output falls, unemployment rates rise, and another global recession looms, being an entrepreneur can truly be a difficult path to tread. Despite the struggle, an innate risk-taking edge sets some apart from the rest of the world—enter Kanin Asvaplungprohm (“Asva”).
Born in Asia and raised and refined globally, Asva became a natural leader, acquiring a set of entrepreneurial skills not confined to business decision-making and courage alone. An empathetic team player, and someone who knows how to keep his head high while recognizing leadership in others, Asva considers himself a “cultural sponge,” stating “I’ve seen it all, and I can foster relationships with anybody.”
Today, we take a close look at Kanin Asva’s life, the aspects that helped him become who he is today, and the goals he has for the future.
Early Childhood, Education, and Career
Asva was a reserved child and an avid reader. Hailing from a family of entrepreneurs—his grandfather Pichit and father Prachaks both prominent Thai businessmen—he gained a strong sense of work ethic and meticulous attention to detail, allowing him to envision his success from a young age.
A graduate of the University of California, where he majored in management science, Asva later pursued a master’s degree in financial analysis and graduated summa cum laude from the University of San Francisco.
Asva then had the opportunity to manage over $200M in the various roles he served, from Bangkok Bank to Oyster Ventures and Dynafolio—a small-cap private equity firm primarily focused on rehabilitating troubled businesses. The practical exposure he gained handling different businesses and their challenges helped hone his operational, financial, and managerial skills as well as his professional dexterity.
Through his experiences, Asva learned why businesses fail and how to save them. Today, he is an active member on the boards of Smart Squadron and the ShareWaves Foundation. He also advises startups and growth-stage companies on Southeast Asia’s complicated regulatory structure and tech ecosystem.
His Greatest Achievement (Yet)
Robust is a venture created and nurtured by Asva. With funds raised from scratch—a process Asva calls his “biggest and most humbling challenge,”—Robust was established to create long-lasting impact and value for budding entrepreneurs, investors, and anyone interested in stepping into the realm of technology and finance. “My only regret is not starting sooner,” he says.
The company, headquartered in North America and Southeast Asia, is backed by a knowledgeable think tank. The talent of these industry veterans, strategic specialists, and notable investors—well aware of the geopolitical fabric of Southeast Asia—is exactly what gives Robust its competitive edge over other venture capital firms.
So far, Robust has invested in two groundbreaking companies: Offsight, a project management software company that boosts productivity in modular construction, and Symbiome, a microbiome-nourishing skincare company with a strong R&D foundation.
Asva believes in contributing toward a long-term, sustainable, and successful future for his team, partners, community, and the world at large. Robust, just one year old, is already making waves in the corporate and investment sectors. All of Asva’s hard work has finally paid off, and this is just the beginning.
You can find and follow Kanin Asva through the links below:
Instagram: @GemKanin
Twitter: @GemKanin
Website: https://www.robust.vc/
Crunchbase: @KaninAsva
