Cambodia Investment Review
On Saturday April 5th, the first cohort of the Techpreneur Bootcamp ended their nine-month programme with a final showcase – the MVP Demo Day, where student teams presented digital products built to address real-world problems. The event was led by DICHI Academy, focusing on the students’ initiated projects under the theme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and saw the attendance of representatives from numerous tech companies, program partners, and industry stakeholders.
Over the past nine months, 30 students, known as Techpreneurs, from various universities in Phnom Penh underwent intensive training to acquire essential technical skills in Front-end, Back-end, and UX/UI Design to get their specialization in Full Stack Development, as well as Entrepreneurial Skills, including problem-solving, design thinking, and problem-solution development. Early in the programme, they participated in four rapid ideation challenges with foodpanda Cambodia, RMA, Phillip Bank, and AMK Microfinance Plc., crafting digital solutions to contemporary business challenges, each within just one week.
Competencies In Both Technical and Value-Driven Aspects
In the final phase, Techpreneurs spent three months building their Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) in response to real-world problem statements by applying the competencies in both technical and value-driven aspects obtained during the Bootcamp. At the event, six teams, each of which consisted of five members, presented and demonstrated their completed projects:
- Jayloy, a mobile tool for tracking spending and savings.
- UniSeek, a quiz-based platform that helps students match with schools based on interests and goals.
- CAMBOT, a chatbot assistant that finds and summarizes uploaded documents.
- CompostLink, a platform that teaches people how to recycle and sort waste properly.
- Smean, an AI assistant that transcribes and summarizes Khmer voice inputs.
- Srok Sart, a DIY and sharing platform encouraging communities to turn waste into usable items.
Through training and mentoring during the bootcamp, students were equipped with confidence and capacity, showcasing their ability not only to propose ideas but to turn their vision into reality.
They shared their reflections on the experience and the journey of participating in the program and building their MVPs:
Ms. Headangelly Huy, a Techpreneur from team Srok Sart shared, “I have learned a lot during this nine-month bootcamp. It felt fast but full of lessons, both technical and entrepreneurial. Without my team and mentors, this project wouldn’t have happened. If I get the chance, I would love to take this initiative further and help society.” Ms. Sok Eng Huot, from team CAMBOT, said, “The learning here is so different from school. It involved business ideas and how to build real solutions. The ideation challenges taught us how to work fast and find solutions under pressure. Mentors helped us debug, decide which features were essential, and guide us step by step.” Empowered by the program, she expressed her willingness to continue supporting the next generation of the bootcamp. “I joined to explore more of myself and meet new people, and if there is a next cohort, I will definitely guide and share my experience with them,” she added.
Promise Of A New Generation Ready to Lead and Shape
The students captivated the companies’ representatives and industry stakeholders with their dynamic passion and groundbreaking ideas, showcased through their engaging product demonstrations. The companies left with an astounding appreciation for the Techpreneurs’ dedication and potential, leaving inspired by the promise of a new generation ready to lead and shape the industry with impact-driven innovations.
Mr. Kimsinawath Chou, Manager/Data Analyst at Foodpanda Cambodia, mentioned how impressed he was by what the students could build within the short 3-month period. “Their passion and dedication for tech are clearly remarkable. We hope they keep on pushing boundaries and reaching new heights, and we are really looking forward to more of their fresh and innovative ideas.” The Vice President of OCIC Group and Founder of Negocia Capital, Mr. Thierry Tea, remarked, “The energy at the Techpreneur Bootcamp by Dichi Academy was electric! It was incredible to see the creativity, technical skills, and bold ideas that the students brought to life in their Minimum Viable Products. Their demos showed real potential to solve meaningful problems. The positive vibes were contagious, and it was exciting to see several of the 20 companies partners, including Vireak Buntham Logistics, AMK Microfinance Plc., and Candadia Bank to already express their interest in hiring some of the students from the program cohort.” He continued, “We need more of the types of bootcamps in the Cambodian Tech industry to fuel innovation and empower the next generation of tech leaders.”
“Coming to this last stage of Techpreneur Bootcamp, today’s MVP Presentation from our Techpreneurs to Representatives from over 20 companies serves a very special opportunity to directly link companies’ employment and project opportunities to the students presented competencies,” said Ms. Sivhuang Lay, Managing Director of DICHI Academy. “I am proud to see how impressed companies are with the functional solutions the students have developed within this short period, and I cannot wait to witness more impactful work from these technical talents.”
Officially launched in June 2024, the Techpreneur Bootcamp was co-organized by DICHI Academy and ELIX Organization, aiming to prepare young Cambodian talents for careers in tech by offering the students an opportunity to receive technical training and mentorship from industry experts, gaining industry-recognized certifications upon graduation. The 9-month program blends technical skills building in full-stack development, understanding of entrepreneurial aspects, problem-solving, and product building with real business input.
