Nguyen Manh Duy: From Freelancing to a $95K-a-Month Startup

Across the world, more students are turning their skills into profitable businesses even before graduation. One example is Nguyen Manh Duy, who has built a startup generating up to $95,500 in monthly revenue while still in school.

From Freelancing to Startup

Nguyen Manh Duy, a final-year Information Systems student in Vietnam, began his journey as a self-taught programmer in high school. He learned coding through online resources and started taking freelance projects in his final year, earning money by building simple websites and software tools.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while studying remotely, he continued freelancing and began collaborating with others who shared similar interests in technology. This eventually led to the creation of a startup, AIT Software Technology, which he co-founded with two partners.

Building and Scaling the Business

Since its launch, the company has grown to a team of nearly 30 people and now serves over 2,000 clients both locally and internationally. The business focuses on providing software solutions for online sellers, especially those operating on platforms like TikTok and Shopee.

The company also offers tools powered by artificial intelligence to help businesses automate customer service, marketing, and sales processes. In addition, part of its revenue comes from building custom software for other companies.

Over time, the team moved from building small tools to developing more advanced systems that could scale, which contributed to the growth of the business.

Challenges Along the Way

Like many student entrepreneurs, Duy faced several challenges while building the startup. These included limited funding, lack of management experience, and balancing schoolwork with business responsibilities.

At one point, he had to prepare for exams while also working to meet a project deadline. After finishing his exams, he had only two days left to complete the project, forcing him to work almost non-stop to deliver on time.

There were also moments when he considered giving up, especially during difficult periods.

Lessons from the Journey

Despite these challenges, Duy continued building the company while improving both his technical and business skills. He credits his university education for helping him develop problem-solving abilities and expand his thinking.

His journey highlights a growing trend among students who are using their skills to build real businesses before graduation. It also shows that while the process can be demanding, consistency and learning over time can lead to significant growth.

As his company plans to expand into other Southeast Asian markets, his story serves as a reminder that student entrepreneurs can start small and still build something impactful.