It’s a long way from fleeing Vietnam to founding Costa Mesa-based software company MeridianLink Inc. by way of a refugee camp in Hong Kong.
Tim Nguyễn, a graduate of University California, Irvine, definitely took the road less traveled.
“The fall of Saigon in 1975 precipitated a mass exodus of the entrepreneurial and intellectual personalities from Vietnam,” Nguyễn told the Business Journal on July 2.
Many of the refugees were highly literate people who were motivated to create a better future for their families.
“The gateway to the American Dream was Camp Pendleton, located on the border of Orange County,” he said by e-mail.
It wasn’t far from there to the Westminster-Garden Grove areas, where tens of thousands of Vietnamese resettled and created flourishing businesses like Nguyễn. He is one of six honored in this week’s Business Journal in commemoration of the 50 years since the fall of Saigon under the title: “Vietnam’s Loss, Orange County’s Gain.”
Boat People Fled Country
Nguyễn’s journey to America began as a young boy in the early 1980s when his family escaped from the Communist regime in the war-torn nation, and he later lived in the refugee camp for about six years.
Hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese fled the country in rickety boats after the war ended a half century ago.
At the age of 10, he made it to Huntington Beach where his great-aunt sponsored his family.
He eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in information and computer science from University of California, Irvine.
In 1998 Nguyễn co-founded MeridianLink, which provides software for credit unions, small banks and consumer reporting agencies.
He served at various points as the company’s president, chief executive officer and chief strategy officer.
Nguyễn turned over the CEO role at the company in 2019 to Nicolaas Vlok, a native of South Africa.
Largest Individual Shareholder
After the company went public in 2021, Nguyễn became the company’s largest individual shareholder, owning 14.4 million shares, or 18%, worth an estimated $360 million.
Nguyễn was recognized as Innovator of the Year by the Business Journal in 2021.
Two months ago, Nguyễn transitioned to the new role of “strategic advisor” for MeridianLink, supporting the company’s executive leadership team.
MeridianLink sported a $1.3 billion market cap (NYSE: MLNK) as of June 30, while the employee headcount was 682 as of March.
Community Importance for Newcomers
What does he tell other immigrants seeking a new life in the U.S.?
“My advice is to connect with the local communities, businesses and educational infrastructure to better leverage and facilitate success for their families and contribute to their communities over time.”
His next project is aimed at improving U.S. education, though he offered no details.
“We need to leverage our leadership in AI to build a system to empower America’s students to create new jobs and opportunities for themselves and this great country, and that is what I’m interested in,” according to Nguyễn.
He also was a board member of Dublin, California-based SavvyMoney, which provides credit score services, extending its reach to over 1,450 banks, credit unions, and fintechs nationwide. He is currently an investor in the company.
Vietnam’s Rise No Surprise to MeridianLink Co-Founder
Once a refugee from war-torn Vietnam, Tim Nguyễn is definitely not surprised that the Southeast Asian country has become a powerhouse in its own right.
“Vietnam’s rise was inevitable, given its highly literate society, talent density, strong work ethic, and hunger of its people. It is a country that has survived multiple invasions and has demonstrated remarkable resilience,” Nguyễn told the Business Journal on July 2. “I am not surprised that it is a rising economic power in Asia. Additionally, Vietnam’s unique geographic position makes it a key player in international trade.”
“What surprises me more is how long the world overlooked it.”
Coincidentally, President Donald Trump said that same day that he had reached a trade deal with Vietnam.