A 6-month leadership program to develop students' entrepreneurial mindsets and turn their tech startup ideas into reality
students supported since 2017
cohorts of digital innovators
Kickstarting the next big tech idea
The SmartStart Young Innovator Program (YIP) turns great ideas into actual tech enterprises. We have supported 580 university students over 5 cohorts of SmartStart YIP between 2017 and 2022, and in the process, helped launch dozens of cutting-edge ventures that are making their mark on Cambodia’s tech landscape.
The program, designed for Cambodian university students with a passion for entrepreneurship and digitalization, helped them launch their digital startups through hands-on learning experiences, mentorship, networking, and financial support.
A Hands-On Learning and Doing Experience
1. Hatch and Digithon
We started by selecting 120 motivated university students for each cohort. They went through a series of knockout rounds, including YIP’s hallmark ‘Hatch’ and ‘Digithon’ challenges that helped participants form teams, refine their ideas, and practice pitching their concepts.
2. Technopreneurship Challenge
The 15 most promising teams were invited for a 5-day immersion into the fundamentals of ideating and growing a digital startup. They received business and technical mentorship throughout the bootcamp as they worked on their first prototypes and pitched to a panel of judges.
3. Internship and Incubation Experience
Five outstanding teams per cohort were selected for a three-month paid internship. We placed them with leading digital and tech startups, which offered real working experience in Cambodia’s thriving startup ecosystem. At the same time, they received support (mentorship, co-working space, masterclasses, and more) from Impact Hub Phnom Penh as they worked to develop their own business prototype.
4. Grand Final Pitch
At the end of the internship, teams showcased their progress and the top startup was selected by judges to receive a $6,000-$10,000 grant to continue working on their business ideas — a transformational investment that allowed the team to bring their idea to fruition.
Meet the inspiring changemakers
Haystome
Haystome
Haystome is a platform that connects travelers with local artists for authentic experiences. They want to provide local artists with additional income and keep traditional Cambodian art forms alive.
Movery
Movery
Movery is a moving service that aims to help reduce waste from moving by providing eco-friendly materials and facilitating the moving process.
Style
Style
Style is a digital platform supporting tailor shops in Cambodia to provide clothes renting service to people who want to rent dresses, suits and traditional clothes for traditional events.
iCompost
iCompost
iCompost is a smart waste recycling machine that transforms daily food kitchen waste into nutrient-rich compost to feed indoor and outdoor plants.
Kela
Kela
Kela is a platform that allows users to search sports venues, teammates, opponents close to their current location, and facilities available, based on sport type.
PhumCAKE
PhumCAKE
PhumCAKE is a platform offering customizable cakes for any celebration. They hope to also support home bakers to access new markets and raise additional revenues.
Tos Rean
Tos Rean
Tos Rean is a matching platform for tutors and students. They understand the challenges faced by students and want to provide a solution that helps them find the right tutor for them.
Somjot
Somjot
Somjot is a mobile parking application that makes the lives of vehicle and parking-space owners a lot easier. They want to bring vehicle parking into the 21st century by creating an app to replace the paper ticket system.
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