The Cambodia Tech Catalyst event, supported by Google and held in Phnom Penh, recently shone a spotlight on female entrepreneurs in the technology and investment sectors. The event, themed ‘Kingdom of Possibilities,’ showcased local start-ups, incubators, venture capital firms, founders, and investors through panel discussions that explored the hurdles encountered by start-up businesses in Cambodia.
The event featured two panel discussions that included a diverse group of women entrepreneurs and start-up founders. The discussions focused on strategies for scaling up businesses within Cambodia and insights on making successful investments in the region. The aim was to explore the potential for growth in the fields of digital technology, entrepreneurship, and technological transformation.
The first panel discussion was moderated by Kounila Keo of Mekhala Radiant Communications and included speakers such as Molika Meas from iCare Benefits, Lida Loem from SHE Investments, and Lisa Chao from Khmer Enterprise. The second panel was moderated by Melanie Mossard of Impact Hub and featured various start-up entrepreneurs and founders.
Organized by OCIC Group, Koh Pich, Impact Hub Phnom Penh, and Khmer Enterprise, the event attracted over 200 participants. It emphasized the importance of participation, collaboration, and inclusivity in Cambodia’s rapidly growing and evolving technology and digital landscape. Participants had the opportunity to share their experiences of overcoming obstacles and achieving success, as well as to present their business growth stories to the audience and seek feedback.
Tea Thierry, Vice President of the Overseas Cambodian Investment Corporation, expressed his delight at the high registration numbers for the event in an interview with Khmer Times. He highlighted the pleasure of welcoming colleagues from Google Singapore to the event.
Kounila Keo reflected on the value of the event, noting the opportunity to meet with technology leaders and entrepreneurs from Cambodia, exchange ideas, and interact with the Google team. She emphasized the learning opportunities from Cambodian start-up founders and the chance to reconnect with the business community.
Jovany Antonio, Executive Director at UAS, stressed the importance of support for start-ups to overcome growth challenges and succeed. He highlighted how such ecosystems help unite growing companies and lay a solid foundation for success.
Tea Thierry also commented on the eagerness among attendees to learn about the potential impact of AI on entrepreneurship in Cambodia and the prospects for economic growth through technology. He mentioned the challenges faced by start-ups in Cambodia, pointing out the need for more initiatives from the private sector, especially from large Cambodian companies. He revealed plans to invest in infrastructure innovation centers as part of efforts to address this gap.
The event underscored the boundless potential for start-ups in Cambodia, especially with the advent of AI technology. The future prospects for these businesses appear limitless, with much anticipation for what lies ahead.
