Phnom Penh, 2 September 2024: ERIA concluded the third pre-event of the One ASEAN Start-up Award 2024 with a prestigious ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Phnom Penh. This competition, which highlights outstanding start-ups across Southeast Asia, aims to cultivate innovation and entrepreneurial spirit throughout the region.

The event, attended by over 150 participants, was graced by Her Excellency CHAM Nimol, Minister of Commerce of Cambodia, and His Excellency Dr Taing Nguonly, Executive Director of Techo Startup Center (TSC). Their presence underscored the celebration of remarkable achievements within the start-up ecosystem.

Start-ups in Southeast Asia play a vital role not only as drivers of the new economy through technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), but also as providers of innovative solutions to social challenges, thereby supporting stable development in the region. ERIA is committed to spotlighting these impactful start-ups and generating global interest in the ASEAN start-up ecosystem.

In his opening remarks, Dr Aladdin D. Rillo, Managing Director for Policy Design and Operations at ERIA, emphasised the competition’s purpose.

‘The One ASEAN Startup Award is a platform for the most promising startups in Southeast Asia to showcase their potential. This competition is designed to encourage partnerships, drive growth, as well as create positive social and environmental change. By collaborating with various stakeholders, we hope to play our part in supporting entrepreneurs amid these challenging times and establishing the region as a global tech hub.’

Her Excellency CHAM Nimol highlighted the event an invaluable opportunity for entrepreneurs to network and forge connections that could elevate their start-ups.

‘The collaborations that emerged from this event may be the catalyst for some of the most groundbreaking innovations we are yet to see.’

For this pre-event, ERIA partnered with Techo Startup Center (TSC), established in 2019 by the Ministry of Economy and Finance of Cambodia. TSC is dedicated to empowering digital businesses in Cambodia, implementing the Startup Cambodia National Program, a key component of the Cambodia Digital Economy and Society Policy Framework 2021–2035.

His Excellency Dr Taing Nguonly expressed his pride in co-organising the event:

‘As the local co-organiser, TSC is honoured to have hosted the third Pre-Event in Phnom Penh. We are thrilled to see three Cambodian start-ups – SalaTech, Atelier, and DataTicon – amongst the ten finalists. Their selection is a testament to the growing strength and innovation of Cambodia's start-up ecosystem. TSC is committed to supporting these start-ups and fostering a vibrant entrepreneurial environment in the region.’

Cambodia is home to 150 active start-ups, with software as a service as the dominating vertical, followed by e-commerce.[1] Although the nation’s tech ecosystem is still nascent, it is brimming with potential. However, tech talent development remains a challenge, as discussed in the ‘Workshop on Cambodia’s Tech Talent and Innovation in the Digital Economy and the Engagement of ERIA Digital Innovation and Sustainable Economy Centre (E-DISC),’ held on the same day as the One ASEAN Start-up Award ceremony.

The panellists, who are high-profile government officials and digital economy experts, agreed that cross-sector and multi-actor collaboration, along with cultivating a culture that values entrepreneurship, is crucial. The One ASEAN Start-up Award exemplifies this approach by offering emerging entrepreneurs recognition, mentorship, and networking opportunities, thus empowering them to innovate and drive regional growth.

After a competitive selection process and an insightful pitch session, two start-ups emerged as the winners of the third pre-event: Ipinfra Networks in the Digital/AI Category and Sala in the Impact Startup Category.

Ipinfra Networks, hailing from Malaysia, provides advanced IoT and AI solutions for smart agriculture, buildings, and cities, aiming to enhance efficiency, sustainability, and quality of life through innovative technology.   

‘This event is one of the platforms that can help us scale up our solutions and expand across ASEAN countries,’ said Suzairi Abdul Rahman, CEO of Ipinfra Networks.

Sala, a Cambodian all-in-one platform, supports students and youth in finding college majors and skill training, while also providing better learning tools and facilitating job matching.

‘One ASEAN Startup Award is a unique opportunity for us as it allows us to make an impact while doing business,’ said Leap Sok, CEO and founder of Sala.

Both start-ups will advance to the final round of the One ASEAN Start-up Award, to be held in Lao PDR later this year. They will compete against winners from the previous pre-events in Manila on 3 April 2024 and Kuala Lumpur on 25 June 2024.

[1] Data as of 2023 from Techo Startup Center’s ‘Startup Cambodia Insight 2023.’