CEO drives Saigon Technology from small team to global tech force

How did you grow the team from a few people to over 200 in 10 years?

Saigon Technology started with just a handful of engineers and focused on securing long-term contracts with overseas clients who valued not only cost-efficiency but also quality and communication. By building our delivery process around transparency, agile methodologies, and a deep understanding of our clients' industries, we were able to deliver consistent value.

Over time, our reputation grew, particularly in the U.S. and Europe. We targeted high-demand markets such as California, New York, Germany, Australia and other European countries - and each new client brought fresh opportunities to expand. Today, our team of over 200 professionals provides full-cycle software development services across multiple time zones. Our approach has allowed us to become deeply embedded in our clients' business models, ensuring a close partnership that helps them succeed.

How has being a member of the Forbes Technology Council contributed to your journey as an entrepreneur?

The Forbes Technology Council is a great platform for exchanging insights with fellow tech leaders. By contributing articles on software trends, outsourcing strategies, and the evolving role of AI, I've been able to raise our company's global profile and stay ahead of emerging technologies as well as thoughts leadership. Being part of the council has also allowed me to learn from peers, helping me to continuously improve as a CEO in this fast-moving industry. My articles on Forbes gain 40k views and counting, my authorship there is helping startups and SMEs in the digital transformation journey.

Pham Tien Thanh, co-founder and CEO of STS Software Technology JSC (Saigon Technology). Photo courtesy of Thanh

What is your vision for the application of AI in the SME sector?

AI's potential for SMEs is enormous. Once considered a tool for big tech, AI is now within reach for small and medium-sized businesses. It can streamline operations, enhance customer service, forecast sales, and even detect fraud. At Saigon Technology, we're focusing on making AI more accessible to SMEs. We're creating packaged solutions that are faster to deploy, cost-effective, and easy to integrate. Our aim is to democratize AI, making it a practical tool for everyday business decisions.

What about healthcare? How do you see AI transforming that industry?

Healthcare holds incredible promise for AI innovation. Over the past five years, we've been the core engineering team behind a U.S.-based healthcare information management system, which was later acquired by a famous Venture Builder in the USA. This project gave us deep insights into complex challenges such as data interoperability, patient privacy, and clinical workflow optimization.

We see AI revolutionizing healthcare through predictive diagnostics, patient engagement, and operational efficiency. By automating administrative tasks, AI can reduce the burden on medical staff and assist with early disease detection. However, it's essential to design these solutions with compliance and patient safety as top priorities.

How is Saigon Technology helping shape the future of financial services with AI?

Fintech is evolving rapidly, and AI is at the center of this transformation. We're working with clients on credit scoring models, customer behavior prediction, and fraud detection systems - all powered by AI. This field moves quickly; we can build, test, and refine models in real-time, which allows us to deliver smarter, faster, and more secure financial services. By developing scalable AI solutions, we aim to help fintech companies stay ahead in an increasingly competitive market.

What's next for Saigon Technology?

We're focused on expanding our R&D capabilities in AI and deepening our expertise. At the same time, we're continuing to grow our presence in key markets, particularly in the U.S., Australia, Germany, and Northern Europe. While we're proud of how far we've come, our mission remains unchanged: to empower global clients with world-class software development from Vietnam. The journey is just beginning.