SINGAPORE — At one point, Alvin de Souza’s last valuable possession was a Breitling watch — not as a flex, but because everything else had been sold or pawned. He was broke. But he never asked for help, borrowed money, or leaned on family. He rebuilt from zero — alone.
Fast forward to today: Alvin manages a five-storey lifestyle building in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam — one of Asia’s most dynamic emerging markets. The space is home to ventures in café, fashion, beauty, entertainment, and event venue businesses — each backed, shaped, or founded by Alvin and his business partners. It’s a unique investment play: rather than betting on a single concept, Alvin is co-investing in five synergistic businesses under one roof — creating a vertically integrated lifestyle ecosystem.
So how did a once-broke Singaporean end up becoming a serial entrepreneur, mentor, speaker, and regional investor?
We spoke with Alvin de Souza — now in his 30s — about the pain that taught him discipline, the mentors who shaped his DNA, and the methodical approach he now uses to build companies across Southeast Asia.
The Unlikely First Step
Alvin’s first venture — a small events and entertainment business — wasn’t even meant to operate. It was registered simply to secure the brand name before anyone else could take it.
“One of our co-founders was worried someone would steal the name,” Alvin recalls. “So we set it up and ran small events just to hold the brand.”
What began as a placeholder turned into a crash course in entrepreneurship. His co-director brought deep corporate knowledge, and Alvin soaked up everything “like a sponge.” The unexpected blessing? Exposure to the co-director’s father — a highly successful multinational businessman — who became a quiet but powerful influence.
“My co-director’s father was only a primary school graduate, but he was eloquent, knowledgeable, built incredible connections, and truly understood how to play the business game,” Alvin says.
“I got hooked,” he continues. “I realized business isn’t magic. It’s a formula: spot opportunity, build a team, deliver results.”
That “accidental” company didn’t just spark a journey — it eventually opened doors to high-profile exposure. Alvin and his team went on to participate in events alongside major global brands, including Microsoft, Kimberly-Clark, UOB, and Chanel.
What began as an improvised brand defense evolved into a lifelong pursuit. Over the years, Alvin would serve as director in more than 30 companies spanning tailoring, gelato, branding, technology, and business consulting. Today, he has stepped back from 95% of these board roles to focus on building his consultancy firm — one dedicated to fundraising, mergers & acquisitions, and international business strategy.
Not Always a Straight Line
But not everything was a walk in the park. Alvin also faced his lowest point in life, triggered by poor investment decisions — made from a place of emotion rather than logic.
“I lost focus. I made calls based on excitement, not facts,” he admits. “Eventually, I had to sell everything down to my last watch. I was too embarrassed to ask for help — and too proud to borrow money from anyone.”
What helped him rebuild?
“I remembered my dad,” Alvin says. “He was a self-made millionaire in his 30s. He always told me: Don’t be afraid to work hard, be honest, stay creative — and always stay humble. That became my compass.”
Alvin returned to the drawing board — this time with clarity. He rebuilt leaner, faster, and more strategically. He didn’t just survive — he adapted.
Among his biggest milestones: serving as director of Starzer Pte Ltd, a tech startup that achieved S$2.1 million in revenue in under two years. The company was later acquired by a Russian entrepreneur, but eventually shuttered due to the turbulence of 2020.
The Vietnam Chapter
Alvin’s latest project is one of his boldest yet — a five-level lifestyle building in the heart of Ho Chi Minh City.
“I’ve been helping businesses set up in Vietnam for years — and vice versa, supporting Vietnamese companies to expand into Singapore,” he says. “Then it hit me — why not be one of them?”
Before committing, Alvin and his partners conducted market surveys, immersed themselves in the local culture, and spent months understanding consumer behavior and lifestyle trends on the ground. They even ran beta tests — small-scale activations and pilot events — to validate demand and fine-tune their offerings. The results were clear: Vietnam was ready.
The building is an immersive commercial space featuring ventures in café culture, fashion, beauty, entertainment, and events — all integrated under one creative vision. Backed by a small group of aligned investors, the project represents a rare opportunity to co-invest in five complementary businesses under one roof.
“It’s basically all the stuff we love, in one building,” Alvin says. “We were partly inspired by Vingroup — the Vietnamese conglomerate behind major real estate, retail, and lifestyle developments that have transformed the country’s urban landscape. While our model is different, their boldness is something I really admire.”
His admiration extends to Pham Nhat Vuong, founder and chairman of Vingroup, widely regarded as Vietnam’s first billionaire and a visionary in shaping modern Vietnam.
“I would be honoured just to shake his hand or have dinner with him someday,” Alvin adds.
Vietnam, he believes, is entering a golden age of growth.
“FDI is growing, the middle class is booming, and the culture is hungry for modern experiences,” he says. “This is exactly the kind of environment we want to be part of — and contribute to.”
Alvin recently published an article on LinkedIn outlining Vietnam’s market potential — a piece that attracted strong positive response from entrepreneurs and investors alike. He’s also been invited to speak at PayPal Singapore to deliver a keynote on business expansion strategies, with a spotlight on Vietnam’s evolving commercial landscape.
What’s Next?
Beyond property and lifestyle ventures with SG WAS Group, Alvin continues to lead Kingston United Group, a Singapore-based consultancy specializing in mergers and acquisitions, fundraising, deal structuring, and cross-border expansion.
He’s also growing Asian Network Theory, his online ASEAN-wide initiative for business networking, mentorship, and investment matchmaking — now expanding across Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam.
His obsession now? Building companies with speed and precision, while helping others avoid the emotional traps that nearly destroyed him.
“Entrepreneurship isn’t about being brilliant. It’s about building a machine that runs — even when you’re not there,” says Alvin de Souza, reflecting on his approach to building self-sustaining businesses across his portfolio.
Press Contact:
Mr Alvin de Souza
For collaborations & speaking engagements: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alvindesouza
For International Business Strategy, Business Immigration, Wealth Reallocation, and Fundraising: https://www.kugconsulting.com
SOURCE: Kingston United Group & SG WAS Group
