Cambodia Investment Review
The Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP) Cambodia marked the conclusion of the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Program Cohort 3 with the announcement of the three winners on 26 August 2025, on the 15th floor of the Business Development Center (BDC). The grant prize ceremony was honorably presided over by H.E. Dr. TAING Nguonly, Executive Director of Techo Startup Center.
Program Concludes with Pitch Competition
GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Program has concluded its third cohort, following a day of Ideathon and Founder Connect, and three days of Hackathon. The program has identified three outstanding teams to receive the grant prize, enabling them to proceed to the next stage and develop their solutions.
Thirteen potential entrepreneurs and university students whose startup focuses on Cleantech, reducing greenhouse gas, have presented their ideas in front of 5 independent judges coming from diverse backgrounds related to business operations or startup development in the ecosystem. The final day started with each team preparing for their business pitch presentation, which they had been provided through the previous 4 days of Ideathon and Founder Connect and Hackathon.
Selection Process and Training
GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Cohort 3 commenced in July 2025 and received 33 applications from early-stage startups and university students with various innovative cleantech solutions. The 13 promising cleantech business ideas were selected for the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Cohort 3 in late August 2025.
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The shortlisted teams have gone through several activities from Ideathon and Founder Connect, where sole founders are linked with like-minded individuals to polish their startup idea. The three-day hackathon then followed, where each team was equipped with knowledge and experience from trainers and guest speakers focusing on business operations aspects, such as technology and product development, business models, market approaches, and strategies, as well as elevator pitch practice.
The intensive training includes a one-day Ideathon & Founder Connect on 23 August 2025 and a three-day Hackathon from 24 to 26 August 2025. The teams also obtained coaching support from supportive mentors and experienced guest trainers.
Winners of Cohort 3
On the final day of the program, the teams pitched their business ideas in front of an independent panel of judges with extensive experience in the cleantech, sustainability, and business sectors. The top three performing teams below were selected to receive grant prizes, totaling USD 5,000.
- First place winner Piezo Youth received USD 2,500
- Second place winner Stablu received USD 1,500
- Third place winner TogetBUS received USD 1,000
Aiming for Long-Term Cleantech Growth
GCIP Cambodia is part of the global initiative GCIP that aims to accelerate cleantech innovation and entrepreneurship in startups and SMEs in Cambodia. GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program Cohort 3 consists of two main phases: the Pre-Accelerator Program and the Accelerator Program.
The Pre-Accelerator has three core objectives including:
(1) to spur and support the development of new ideas among university students or early-stage startups in becoming current or future entrants for the GCIP Cambodia accelerator program
(2) to support the formulation of new teams by connecting sole founders with potential co-founders possessing complementary skills, and experience while inspiring a common mindset
(3) to support the creation of cleantech prototypes in a short period. GCIP consists of 4 main focus areas, such as Agriculture, Manufacturing, Industrial Specific Technologies and Hospitality.
The program also tries to bridge the gap in digital innovation, clean energy, GHG emission reduction, and economic growth through cleantech solutions. GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program strongly encourages startups and SMEs of women and youth to participate and develop their business ideas.
Accelerate Cleantech Business Uptake In Cambodia
GCIP Cambodia is a 5-year project implementation consisting of different phases aiming to accelerate cleantech business uptake in Cambodia. The program has been implemented for 4 years, with the successful completion of its first cohort in 2023, second cohort in 2024, and is now on the third cohort of implementation.
GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program Cohort 3 is funded by the United Nations for Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Techo Startup Center (TSC), and co-organized by Prestige Consulting. The program has also partnered with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Khmer Enterprise, the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), and Impact Hub Phnom Penh.
