Cambodia Investment Review
‘World’s first Impact Sourcing social enterprise celebrates key milestone’
Impact sourcing pioneer Digital Divide Data (DDD) is celebrating a quarter of a century of a sustainable technology social enterprise with a series of events in Phnom Penh to mark the organisation’s 25th anniversary.
DDD helps youth from low-income families in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya make their mark on the global digital stage by providing digital outsourcing to major companies and institutions around the world. In doing so, DDD is helping to put Cambodia, Laos and Kenya on the digital map. Since 2001, DDD has employed and trained over 15,000 youth, helping them to obtain employment and find roles that provide a higher standard of living than they would otherwise be able to achieve.
Public Panel Discussion On Cambodia’s Digital Future
To mark the 25-year milestone, DDD is co-hosting a public panel discussion on Cambodia’s Digital Future, with speakers including:
- Secretary General of Cambodia’s Digital Government Committee, H.E. Chea Sereyvath
- H.E. Dr. Seng Sopheap, President, National Institute of Post, Telecoms and ICT and President, Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology
- Mike Maceda, Director, Corporate Partnerships and Open Innovation Asia Pacific, Plug and Play
- DDD’s CEO, Sameer Raina, at the American University of Phnom Penh (AUPP)
The AUPP Technology Center (ATC) is a co-host of the panel, reflecting its role in promoting technology-driven education, industry collaboration, and digital transformation in Cambodia.
H.E. Dr. Chea Vandeth, Minister of Post and Telecommunications, is giving a keynote speech at DDD’s Gala Anniversary Celebration on 31 January 2026 at Koh Pich City Hall on Diamond Island (Koh Pich), Phnom Penh.
Other activities include a briefing at Future Forum, a tour of contemporary Cambodian art, visits to two other local social enterprises, Artisans Angkor and Phare Circus and a gala dinner. Guests from around the world will be present for the occasion.
Phnom Penh was chosen as the host city for the anniversary celebrations because the Cambodian capital was where Digital Divide Data started in 2001. The concept for the ground-breaking social enterprise was the brainchild of DDD co-founder Jeremy Hockenstein, who was inspired by Cambodia’s potential when he saw young Khmers using computers.
Seeing the need to build skills and establish income-generating opportunities for youth, as well as realising Cambodia’s potential for outsourcing, Jeremy co-founded Digital Divide Data. Now, DDD’s innovative social model enables talented youth from low-income families in Cambodia, Laos and Kenya to access professional opportunities and earn a lasting higher income.
Current State to a Future State
DDD Chief Executive Officer Sameer Raina says, “Our reason for being is to do good for our associates – lift them out of poverty and to take them from their current state to a future state where they are making many multiples of the money they are making today. For us, growth needs to be inclusive, it needs to be sustainable, and it needs to be profitable.”
Today, Digital Divide Data’s recruits are employed – and trained – for jobs on projects ranging from artificial intelligence to robotics and data analysis across various industries and a number of sectors. DDD currently has offices in Vientiane, Laos Nairobi, Kenya, as well as in Cambodia and the USA. The enterprise is currently the largest technology employer in Cambodia and Laos.
Numerous companies have since adopted the DDD social impact model worldwide. Today, DDD provides digital services to some of the largest global tech firms. The organisation is a home-grown Cambodia success story that is making a difference in Cambodia, Laos, Kenya and even the United States where DDD assists veterans.
Today Digital Divide Data’s board chair, Jeremy Hockenstein is proud that the alumni of DDD are committed to the enterprise’s ethos. “I wasn’t expecting that so many alumni in Cambodia, Laos, and Kenya would focus on giving back once they achieved success. It’s been inspiring to watch graduates ask what they can do to help their countries,” Jeremy says.
Another DDD co-founder who served as the first board chair, Michael Chertok, said: “We aimed to start a business model that would sustain over time – and now it has lasted for 25 years. That’s something worth celebrating!”
Inspired By DDD’s Model
Board member Kay Lot, who currently runs Cambodia cultural social enterprise Artisans Angkor, is inspired by DDD’s model. “DDD should be immensely proud of its achievements. What DDD does particularly well is teach soft skills that aren’t in any Cambodian curriculum: discipline, responsibility, collaboration, and how to prepare for job interviews. These foundation skills determine career progression.”
Despite challenges such as Covid-19, DDD has thrived.
‘Whatever its moves, DDD has kept its sights on the core mission of changing lives,’ says DDD Kenya Projects Supervisor Sheryl Apondi. ‘That stance is core to DDD’s DNA, shared by leaders and youth associates alike. It’s one opportunity that I’ve never taken for granted.’
The organisation has also been instrumental in promoting the attractiveness of investing in locations such as Cambodia, as well as the available talent pool. Members of a visiting United States Trade Delegation will join in DDD’s celebration.
For more information on Digital Divide Data’s services, please visit https://www.digitaldividedata.com. For information on how DDD has made a global impact, see https://www.dddimpact.org/
