A fresh look at tech and the heart

Technology is not just a set of tools, it starts with a feeling about life. When we look at the story of Zalo’s founder, we see a clear link between curiosity, empathy and the apps we use every day. He told a crowd of 10,000 students at Hanoi University of Science and Technology that the first spark for any tech project is a question that touches the heart. That question could be as simple as “how can I make my friends talk easier?” or as deep as “what does connection mean for people who feel alone?” By starting with that kind of personal need, the later code, design and business plan become a natural extension of a human wish. In this way, tech stops being a cold machine and becomes a bridge that carries feelings across distance.

Why feeling matters in code

Feelings in code sound odd, but they shape choices from the first line to the final user interface. When a developer cares about a user’s frustration, they will spend extra time on a button that is easy to tap, or a notification that does not scream. The Zalo founder reminded the audience that his early apps failed because they ignored the small annoyances that matter to everyday people. He said that listening to friends, family and even strangers gave him clues that no market research could reveal. This listening habit is something any student can practice: ask why a feature feels right or wrong, and let that answer guide the next sprint.

The Zalo founder’s story

The story of Zalo’s birth is a mix of grit and simple ideas. The founder, a young engineer from a modest background, started building messaging tools in a tiny apartment. He did not have big funding, but he had a clear purpose: to let Vietnamese people chat without worrying about expensive foreign services. He tested his prototype on classmates, collected their reactions, and kept tweaking until the experience felt smooth. That cycle of creating, testing, feeling, and improving repeated many times. It shows that a strong purpose can replace a big budget, at least in the early stages. The founder’s words at the ceremony highlighted that purpose as the true engine of growth.

Lessons for students

For the students listening that day, the lesson was practical and personal. They were told to write down one problem that makes them sigh each day, then ask how a tiny app could ease that sigh. The founder suggested turning that problem into a sketch, a paper prototype, or even a simple spreadsheet before writing any code. He also emphasized teamwork: different personalities bring different feelings, and those differences help catch blind spots. By treating every brainstorming session as a conversation about needs, the team can avoid the trap of building something impressive but useless.

Balancing profit and purpose

Balancing profit and purpose is a tightrope walk. The founder admitted that Zalo eventually needed investors, and that meant showing numbers, not just stories. Yet he kept the original mission alive by reinvesting earnings into features that mattered to users, like free voice calls and low‑cost data packs. He argued that a company that forgets its original feeling will lose trust quickly. This perspective is useful for anyone thinking about starting a business: you can chase revenue, but you should never let go of the human reason that sparked the idea.

Looking ahead

Looking ahead, the founder believes technology will keep getting smarter, but the human side will stay the same. He warned that AI and big data can amplify mistakes if they are fed with the wrong intentions. Therefore, he urged the next generation to build safeguards based on empathy, not just algorithms. In his view, the future of tech is a partnership between code and conscience. If we keep that balance, we will see tools that truly improve lives rather than just sell more screens.

Source: Original Article