In the context of ongoing challenges faced by social organizations in Vietnam in securing sustainable funding, WeShare has chosen a different path: integrating everyday consumer behaviors—such as online shopping—with community contributions, without incurring any additional cost for users. From a simple idea to a technology system that supports tens of thousands of transactions, the development journey of WeShare offers valuable practical lessons for founders aiming to create social impact through technology.
Motivated by a personal interest in the nonprofit sector, the founding team of WeShare recognized the potential of fundraising through affiliate marketing—an approach widely used in e-commerce but yet to be applied for social purposes in Vietnam. By leveraging commissions generated from each transaction, WeShare enables users to support a social organization of their choice with just one click on the platform.
The MVP (Minimum Viable Product) was built using a core tech stack of JavaScript and Firebase, directly integrating APIs from major e-commerce platforms such as Shopee, Tiki, and Lazada. To minimize risks in the absence of significant funding, the platform was initially launched as a browser extension before evolving into a full-fledged web app. Internal testing with a few dozen early users demonstrated the system’s ability to record orders and allocate commissions correctly, validating the feasibility of the model.
The biggest challenge WeShare faced was ensuring the transparency and stability of its order tracking system—a critical component in affiliate operations. The team developed an additional dashboard to transparently manage the funds raised for each organization, applied data analytics to optimize conversion rates, and gradually scaled the system to handle thousands of concurrent orders.
To enhance credibility, the platform provides clear information on each partner organization, publicly discloses financial flows, and confirms user contributions via personalized emails sent after each transaction. This approach not only strengthens user trust but also encourages repeat engagement—an essential factor for long-term fundraising models.
In Vietnam, most fundraising models are donation-based, relying on direct transfers or e-wallet payments. Platforms such as MoMo or other crowdfunding sites typically require users to pay out-of-pocket, limiting both reach and repeat usage.
In contrast, WeShare taps into existing consumer behavior—online shopping—to foster passive yet sustainable support. Its “no extra cost” feature is a key differentiator and creates a long-term competitive advantage.
Since 2022, WeShare has participated in several support programs within the innovation ecosystem. The startup won two consecutive seasons of Impact Chapter Vietnam, triumphed at the ACI Youth Leadership Summit 2023, and received multiple international awards in the field of social entrepreneurship.
In addition, incubation programs have helped WeShare refine its business model, connect with reputable nonprofit organizations such as SOS Children’s Villages Vietnam and VietSeeds, and build a robust technical system. By 2024, the platform had processed over 73,000 orders, generating more than VND 81 million in donations, with a total shopping value exceeding VND 4.7 billion, supporting more than 15 social organizations.
One of the most valuable lessons from WeShare is the importance of aligning user behavior with social impact goals. Rather than trying to create new behaviors (such as persuading users to donate money), the platform leverages existing behaviors—shopping—as a powerful catalyst. This is a form of high-conversion product thinking, particularly crucial for technology models serving community impact.
Moreover, transparency, convenience, and deep integration with existing systems (e-commerce platforms, affiliate APIs, CSR reporting tools) are the three key technological pillars that help the startup maintain user trust while opening opportunities for collaboration with businesses to integrate the platform into their CSR strategies.
For founders working in tech-for-good, WeShare demonstrates that growth and social impact can go hand in hand. When technology is embedded at the intersection of individual benefit and community value, startups can scale while creating meaningful, positive change for society.
