Cambodia Investment Review
La French Tech Phnom Penh has announced its new board for the 2026–2028 term, marking a renewed push to strengthen Cambodia’s position within the francophone innovation ecosystem as the country prepares to host the Francophonie Summit in November 2026.
The announcement, made on March 20 to coincide with International Francophonie Day, comes at a time of increasing focus on technology, entrepreneurship, and regional collaboration. The newly appointed board will guide the organisation through a period seen as strategically important for Cambodia’s growing digital economy and its positioning within Southeast Asia.
New leadership reflects growing tech ecosystem
The nine-member board brings together a mix of entrepreneurs, investors, and technology professionals, reflecting the continued development of Cambodia’s startup landscape. Five of the nine members are women, highlighting a continued emphasis on gender representation within the technology and innovation sector.
New members joining the board include individuals with experience across multiple industries, including venture capital, agribusiness, digital development, and sustainability. Their backgrounds span both local and international markets, reflecting the increasingly global nature of Cambodia’s business ecosystem.
The new 2026 board members include:
- Thierry Tea, Co-Founder & CEO of Canadia Impact Fund and Vice President of OCIC Group
- Laurine Chateau, CEO & Co-Founder of UMAMI
- Sophie Meas, Co-Founder of ShopRunBack
- Suntheary de Montaigne, Agribusiness Investment Specialist at FAO Cambodia
- Maximilien Grolier, Founder of Techflow Agency
- Cédric Kang, Deputy CEO at SBI Group APAC, Co-founder of Bikay
- Jannine Sem, Head of People & Culture at Solutions BI
- Eva Berlinson, Sustainability Associate at Canadia Impact Fund and Partnership Marketing Supervisor at OCIC Group
- Benoit Deruffe, Business Development Director at BiKay
The composition of the board reflects a balance between international expertise and local engagement, with members bringing experience from markets including France, the United States, Singapore, and Cambodia.
Strategic timing ahead of Francophonie Summit
The formation of the new board comes ahead of Cambodia’s hosting of the Francophonie Summit in November 2026, an event expected to attract international attention and strengthen ties between francophone countries.
The summit is expected to provide a platform for showcasing innovation and entrepreneurship, particularly from emerging markets in Southeast Asia. Within this context, La French Tech Phnom Penh is positioning itself as a bridge between Cambodian startups and international investors, partners, and ecosystems.
Globally, La French Tech operates as a network of 114 communities, including 69 international hubs, supported by more than 1,400 volunteers. The initiative, launched in 2013 and later expanded under French President Emmanuel Macron, has played a role in promoting French innovation internationally while supporting collaboration with local ecosystems.
Expanding Cambodia’s role in regional innovation
La French Tech Phnom Penh, affiliated with the French Chamber of Commerce in Cambodia (CCIFC), currently brings together more than 60 startups and innovation-focused organisations. These operate across sectors including fintech, foodtech, software development, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, blockchain, and e-commerce.
The organisation also benefits from institutional support from the French Embassy in Cambodia and Expertise France, helping to facilitate public-private collaboration and international engagement.
Looking ahead, the new board has outlined several priorities for the 2026–2028 period. These include further structuring and professionalising the community, organising larger-scale and more impactful events, strengthening connections between French and Cambodian ecosystems, and supporting the growth of member companies.
A key focus will be positioning Cambodia as a francophone innovation hub in Asia, leveraging its growing digital economy and increasing interest from international investors and partners.
As Cambodia continues to develop its technology sector, initiatives such as La French Tech Phnom Penh are expected to play a role in connecting local entrepreneurs with global networks, while contributing to broader efforts to position the country as a regional destination for innovation, investment, and high-skilled job creation.
