Cambodia's first incubation program! Over one year, EPIC provided a launchpad for technology-based impact start-ups.
finalist social impact start-ups
weeks of coaching, training, and other support
Championing diverse changemakers
EPIC, implemented in 2016, was Cambodia’s first one-year incubation program and a groundbreaking approach in the Kingdom to supporting social impact startups.
In the first stage, we selected 10 teams to take part in 8 weeks of workshops, bootcamps, and tailored coaching. Five of the most promising ventures were selected at a Demo Day to move on to the 36-week program. We invested over $20,000 in prototyping funding, consulting, workspace, and stipends in each of the five startups.
By the end of the program, the startups had secured contracts for services, others had received investments, and others changed their original business idea altogether to adapt to a changing market. Many of these ideas fundamentally shaped Cambodian society. Beyond direct support to these startups, EPIC demonstrated the effectiveness of the incubator model to support Cambodian social enterprise start-ups. In the years since, dozens of incubator programs have followed suit, driving enduring change across Cambodia’s entrepreneurial landscape.
A Launchpad for Some of Cambodia’s Most Successful Social Enterprises
Edemy
In the years since joining EPIC, Edemy has become Cambodia’s leading ed-tech startup. Their mission is to equalize access to quality learning for all young Cambodians. They created Tesdopi, a popular competency-based learning app to help high school students excel in math, science and social science subjects. Thousands of students have used their app to date. And, Impact Hub Phnom Penh proudly collaborated with Edemy to develop our online learning platform!
My Dream Home
My Dream Home, one of our EPIC start-ups, is a social enterprise addressing the lack of affordable housing in Cambodia by developing interlocking bricks (like Lego bricks). These bricks use less cement and are less labor intensive to build with than traditional red clay bricks. My Dream Home joined EPIC after a few years of operation. The company has continued to thrive since — producing millions of eco-friendly bricks to improve the affordability of housing in Cambodia.
The Start of Something EPIC
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