Over the course of the bootcamp, 30 students, known as Techpreneurs, underwent intensive training in full stack development. Supplied
On Saturday last week, DICHI Academy celebrated the culmination of its first Techpreneur Bootcamp cohort with a final showcase: the MVP Demo Day.
This event marked the completion of a nine-month journey, with students presenting digital products they have developed to address real-world challenges.
Focused on the theme of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the event was attended by representatives from various tech companies, programme partners and industry stakeholders.
Over the course of the bootcamp, 30 students, known as Techpreneurs, from multiple Phnom Penh universities, underwent intensive training in full stack development.
“They honed essential technical skills in front-end, back-end and UX/UI design, while also building entrepreneurial competencies in problem-solving, design thinking and product development,” explained DICHI Academy.
Lay Sivhuang, managing director of the academy, praised the students for their achievements.
“Today’s MVP presentations have directly linked our students’ skills with the opportunities that companies are offering,” she said.
“I’m proud of the functional solutions they’ve developed in such a short time, and I look forward to seeing more impactful work from these emerging tech talents,” she added.
At the MVP Demo Day, six teams — each comprising five members — presented their projects, which ranged from innovative mobile apps to platforms promoting sustainability. Supplied
Early in the program, students participated in rapid ideation challenges with companies like foodpanda Cambodia, RMA, Phillip Bank and AMK Microfinance Plc., where they crafted digital solutions for contemporary business challenges in just one week.
The final three months saw the Techpreneurs building Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) to address real-world problems.
These projects were the result of the students’ hard work, applying their technical expertise and entrepreneurial insights.
The energy and passion the students demonstrated during the event left a strong impression on industry representatives.
“The students’ passion and dedication are remarkable. They’ve proven their ability to push boundaries in tech, and we’re excited to see what they create next,” said Kimsinawath Chou, manager/data analyst at Foodpanda Cambodia.
“The creativity and technical skills at the bootcamp were incredible. The potential of these students to solve meaningful problems is real, and I’m excited to see how they continue to evolve,” added Thierry Tea, Vice President of OCIC Group and Founder of Negocia Capital.
At the MVP Demo Day, six teams — each comprising five members — presented their projects, which ranged from innovative mobile apps to platforms promoting sustainability.
The student projects showcased during the event included Jayloy, a mobile tool for tracking spending and savings, as well as UniSeek, a quiz-based platform that helps students match with schools based on their interests and goals.
CAMBOT is a chatbot assistant for finding and summarizing uploaded documents. CompostLink is an innovative platform that teaches users how to recycle and sort waste properly.
Smean is an AI assistant that transcribes and summarises Khmer voice inputs, and SrokSart, a DIY and sharing platform, encourages communities to turn waste into usable items.
“The nine months flew by, but I learned so much — both technically and entrepreneurially. I wouldn't have been able to do this without my team and mentors. If I get the chance, I would love to take this project further and make a positive impact on society,” said Headangelly Huy, from the SrokSart team.
“The learning here was different from school — it was more practical. We worked under pressure, finding quick solutions and the mentors helped us refine our ideas and develop the final product,” added Sok Eng Huot, a member of the CAMBOT team.
Launched in June 2024, the Techpreneur Bootcamp was co-organized by DICHI Academy and ELIX Organization.
The programme prepares young Cambodian talent for careers in tech by offering technical training, mentorship from industry experts and industry-recognised certifications.
By blending technical skills with entrepreneurial insights, it aims to empower the next generation of leaders to innovate and make a difference in the Cambodian tech industry.
