Phnom Penh
September 18, 2023
The Global Cleantech Innovation Program (GCIP) Cambodia marked the completion of the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator with the announcement of the three winners in the pitch competition on September 17, 2023 at KY iCenter. The competition was presided over by H.E. Dr. Taing Nguonly, Executive Director of Techo Startup Center.
GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator commenced in August 2023 and received 44 applications from early-stage startups and university students with diverse innovative cleantech solutions. The 10 teams with the most potential were shortlisted to the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator in early September 2023.
The shortlisted teams received intensive training on key topics, such as technology and product development, business model, market approaches and strategies, and elevator pitch practice. The intensive training consisted of a one-day Ideathon and Founder Connect on 9th September 2023 and a three-day Hackathon from 15 to 17 September, 2023. The teams also received coaching support from selected mentors and experienced guest trainers.
On the final day of the program, the teams pitched in front of an independent panel of judges with experience in the cleantech and business sectors. The top three performing teams below were selected to receive grant prizes, totaling USD5,000.
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 1 consists of two phases: the Pre-Accelerator and the Accelerator.
The Pre-Accelerator has three main 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, and (3) to support the creation of cleantech prototypes in a short time period.
GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Program Cohort 1 is funded by the United Nations for Industrial Development Organizations (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), organised by the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Techo Startup Center, and co-organized by Prestige Consulting, with support from the Network for Global Innovation.
