Robert Huynh is the Co-founder and CEO of Vietnam's Nook, a platform to connect workers with contractors. He met his co-founder Nathaniel while at Harvard Business School and was previously at X the Moonshot Factory, Google and Microsoft

Nook is also backed by Y Combinator, Epakon Capital and Goodwater Capital.

👋🏼 How would you explain your job to someone outside tech?

We connect construction workers with contractors. Like how you would book a ride with Uber or Grab, contractors can use Nook to book reliable, high-quality workers so they can finish their construction projects on time.

On the flip side, like how Uber or Grab has provided so many jobs, Nook is also bringing opportunities and consistent work to an underserved population.

🧐 What's something about you or your job that would surprise us?

Because more than two-thirds of construction projects are done by freelancers in emerging markets, there are a ton of inefficiencies as contractors try to find the right workers and vice versa.

🏆 What has been the biggest highlight of your career so far?

Besides building Nook, it would definitely be building a self-serve frozen yogurt franchise while in high school with my family.

It was a highlight for many reasons: spending time with my family, teaching me about being a "froyopreneur," and turning me into a foodie. More importantly, it was so rewarding to build something people want and bring people together over cups of froyo.

💼 What advice would you give someone starting out in your industry?

Don't be afraid to tackle hard, tough problems. The biggest opportunities are the most challenging problems that no one else wants to solve.

This is part of the reason why I've always gone after moonshots like self-driving cars, cybersecurity/infosec, and now why I'm tackling construction tech.

Construction is a traditional industry and is the cornerstone of emerging markets. It is in desperate need of an infusion of technology.

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🗣 What's one thing you can keep talking about for hours?

So many topics, but I'll nerd out with you on video games (League of Legends/StarCraft), board games (current favorite: Wingspan), and card games (Magic: The Gathering).

🎥 What's your favorite movie/TV show?

I'm a huge Star Wars fan (movies, TV shows, books, and games).

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🍨 What's your go-to ice cream flavor?‍

Frozen yogurt > ice cream! I like Original Tart flavor, so I can compare quality across froyo stores. Taro is a close second.