Phnom Penh
January 23, 2024
On 23 January 2024, from 8 am at Oakwood Premier Phnom Penh, Techo Startup Center and Prestige Alliance co-organized the Final Judging and Award Ceremony of the “GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program Cohort 1”. This ceremony was attended by the GCIP Global team, representatives from relevant Ministries and Institutions, Development Partners, entrepreneurial support organizations, Corporates, Investors, Incubators, NGOs, Service Providers, Universities, and the Finalists. There were approximately 100 participants who attended physically.
The Ceremony marked the completion of the GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Programme Cohort 1, featured two main sessions: 1) The Final Judging: aims to assess the finalists who have the greatest potential through their pitch presentations based on 8 judging criteria, including 1) Business Description, 2) Customer Discovery, 3) Product/Technology Validation, 4) Go-to-Market Tactics/Sales Model, 5) Finances, 6) Team, 7) Sustainability, and 8) Executive Summary & Presentation, to identify three winners. 2) The Award Ceremony: celebrates the remarkable achievements of the three winners and finalists of the cohort.
GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Programme Cohort 1 commenced in September 2023 with thirteen Startups and SMEs shortlisted through a rigorous selection process. The shortlisted teams underwent an intensive five-month training before heading to pitch in the Semi-Final Judging, where only seven out of thirteen teams advanced to pitch in the Final Judging, in front of an independent panel of four judges with extensive experience in cleantech, finance and business. After the judges’ deliberation, the top three greatest potential teams below were selected to receive the grant prizes, totaling USD 50,000:
The Ceremony embarked with 2 reporting speeches by Mr. Chong Vathinh, Program Coordinator of Techo Startup Center, highlighted the program’s proceeding and objectives. And, Mr. Kevin Braithwaite, Vice President of Network Global Innovations (NGIN), reflected on his positive observation and optimism during the previous in-country support to the Startups and SMEs of this cohort. Following the reporting speeches, seven finalists provided their showcase presentations to the distinguished audience to establish networks, connections, and relationships that can be optimized as the teams progress toward their future milestones. After the showcase, Mr. Sok Narin, Country Representative of United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in Cambodia, provided impression remarks to express his positive thoughts and cheerfulness formed upon witnessing the showcase presentations.
This ceremony was presided over by H.E. Dr. Taing Nguonly, Executive Director of Techo Startup Center and Secretary of the Project Steering Committee. During his keynote speech, H.E. Dr. Taing Nguonly, emphasized the critical role of cleantech entrepreneurs in addressing climate change through innovation, promoting energy transition, and attracting green investment. Their efforts benefit the environment and socio-economic development by addressing the need for sustainable solutions and driving the market adoption of cleantech innovation whilst creating a more sustainable and resilient future in Cambodia. He hopes that the project will serve as a platform for nurturing and supporting local cleantech innovation entrepreneurs through strategic partnership and collaboration with the global program, which opens the gateway to access resources, expertise, and network that can accelerate the market adoption of cleantech innovative solutions and leapfrog past the lesson learned from other countries.
“GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program is a six months program, designed with three main objectives, including 1) Identifying, supporting, and celebrating entrepreneurs with cleantech innovative solutions that can contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions, 2) Enabling the participating entrepreneurs to successfully de-risk and scale their ventures, and 3) Enhancing the capacity of local stakeholders to successfully support innovation and entrepreneurship activities, especially the long-term growth of local cleantech venture,” said H.E. Dr. Taing Nguonly.
The Ceremony is also attended by H.E. Meas Sophal, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Environment; H.E. Hul Siengheang, Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation, and Member of PSC; H.E. Dr. Taing Nguonly, Executive Director of Techo Startup Center, and Secretariat of PSC; Mr. Sok Narin, Country Representative, UNIDO; and Mr. Heng Solay, Artificial Intelligence Research Coordinator, CADT.
GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program Cohort 1 is a six months program, designed with three main objectives, including 1) Identifying, supporting, and celebrating entrepreneurs with cleantech innovative solutions that can contribute to greenhouse gas emission reductions, 2) Enabling the participating entrepreneurs to successfully de-risk and scale their ventures, and 3) Enhancing the capacity of local stakeholders to successfully support innovation and entrepreneurship activities, especially the long-term growth of local cleantech venture.
GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Programme Cohort 1 commenced in September 2023 with thirteen startups and SMEs shortlisted through a rigorous selection process. The shortlisted teams underwent an intensive five-month training with specific deliverables and sequential validation framework identified as the GCIP 20 Business Elements, integrated into four key activities including 1) National Academy, 2) Global Training Webinars, 3) Mentoring, and 4) Business Clinics.
GCIP Cambodia is funded by the United Nations for Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), organized by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Techo Startup Center, and co-organized by Prestige Consulting, with support from the Network for Global Innovation.
