Apply for Reverse Innovation Accelerator Program (Cohort 5) – Cambodia

Challenge Pool

• “Inclusive Digital Finance for the Informal Economy”
  •  line with Cambodia’s Digital Economy and Society Framework 2021-2035 and Cambodia Financial Technology Development Policy 2023-2028, advancing financial inclusion is a national priority. However, a vast segment of the population including street vendors, gig economy workers, smallholder farmers, and micro-entrepreneurs, remains active in the informal economy. Lacking the formal credit history, financial records, or collateral required by banks, they are restricted from accessing loans and other financial services. This creates a dangerous gap, forcing many to turn to high-interest loan sharks and trapping them in cycles of debt.
• “Combating the Rise of Online Scams”
  • The issue of online scams is a significant threat to public trust and financial security in Cambodia. The government is actively cracking down, but a multi-faceted, community driven approach is essential. Startups, in co-creation with various stakeholders, can build solutions that empower and protect Cambodian citizens.
• “Market Access for Smallholder Farmers”
  • For hundreds of thousands of Cambodian smallholder farmers, a successful harvest doesn’t guarantee a fair price. Disconnected from profitable markets by their remote location and a lack of transport and price information, they are forced to sell to local middlemen at a fraction of the true market value. Many farmers still struggle with the 4 Is: Isolation, Information Asymmetry, Infrastructure Gaps, and Intermediary Exploitation.
• “Last-mile Logistics for Rural Areas”
  • Cambodia’s e-commerce market is booming, projected to reach nearly $1.78 billion by 2025, as highlighted in the PROFITENCE E-Commerce Report 2024. This growth is fueled by a digitally savvy population in cities who expect fast, reliable service. However, the report also identifies a critical bottleneck holding back national growth: slow and inefficient last-mile logistics, especially for rural and cross-province deliveries. While an urban customer might receive a package in hours, sending an item from Phnom Penh to a provincial village, or between two provincial towns, can take many days.
• “Simplified ERP System for Cambodian SMEs”
  • Most Cambodian SME owners are trapped in “system chaos.” They juggle disconnected tools — notebooks for sales, Excel for inventory, and social media for customer relations — leading to hours of manual work, costly errors, and no clear view of their business’s health. With professional ERP systems out of reach due to cost and complexity, this operational inefficiency becomes a major barrier to growth. The key is to leverage the power of robust open-source software, such as Odoo, to develop a “light version” of an ERP system specifically tailored for the needs and budget of Cambodian SMEs.

Program Overview

• The program spans across three months and includes four main phases:
  • Reverse Pitch Day (1 Day)
    • This event marks the official launch of the Reverse Innovation program. Shortlisted startups are invited to the opening ceremony to gain a deep understanding of the program and the Challenge Statements. It’s also their first opportunity to connect with the domain experts who will guide them throughout their journey.
  • Bootcamp (4 Weeks)
    • During this intensive four-week bootcamp, startups will work closely with domain experts to deeply diagnose their challenge, understand the user context, and co-define a viable solution. The bootcamp concludes with Elimination Pitch Day, where teams that successfully demonstrate a strong Challenge Solution Fit will advance to the acceleration phase.
  • Acceleration (8 Weeks)
    • In the acceleration phase, startups focus on developing a clear roadmap to launch their MVP and increase traction. Startups will receive group training sessions, 1-on-1 mentoring, AWS cloud credits, access to co-working space, office hours with Entrepreneurs-in-Residence (EIRs), and other infrastructure support. The acceleration concludes with an Evaluation Pitch Day, where startups will pitch to a panel of judges to select the finalists.
  • Forward Pitch Day (1 Day)
    • Forward Pitch Day is the startup showcase and awards ceremony. During this finale event, startups will pitch their solutions to a wide audience of investors, partners, and the public, demonstrating how they solve their chosen challenge. The top five finalist teams will receive equity-free investment and an opportunity to attend a regional exposure trip.

Benefits

• Startups will receive mentorship and training from domain experts, along with access to infrastructure support throughout the program.
• The finalist startups will secure an equity-free investment to accelerate their growth and scale their solutions.

Who Should Join Reverse Innovation Cohort 5?

• Teams that are already in the market and are currently building a product to address a significant market challenge.
• Teams that are interested in developing an innovative solution to tackle one of the program’s listed Challenge Statements.

Eligibility Criteria

• To ensure a successful and collaborative cohort, they ask that all applying teams meet the following criteria:
  • Your team must have at least two co-founders with complementary business and technical skills.
  • At least one founder must demonstrate a deep understanding of and expertise in your chosen challenge.
  • Founding team must have an existing working relationship, with a history of collaborating on at least one project together.
  • You are committed to actively participating in all program activities, including training sessions and mentorship, and to completing all assignments on time.
  • You are willing to openly and honestly share progress updates and to actively collaborate with their domain experts, mentors, EIRs, and the program team.

For more information, visit Techo Startup Center.