Phnom Penh & Tech: The DICHI Academy's Techpreneur Bootcamp concludes with a presentation of innovative projects

On Saturday 5 April, the first Techpreneur Bootcamp class concluded its nine-month programme with a final presentation, MVP Demo Day, during which teams of students presented digital products designed to solve concrete problems.

The event, organised by the DICHI Academy, focused on projects initiated by students within the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and brought together representatives from numerous technology companies, programme partners and industry stakeholders.

Over the past nine months, 30 students, known as Techpreneurs, from various universities in Phnom Penh have undergone intensive training to acquire essential technical skills in Front-end, Back-end and UX/UI Design in order to obtain their specialisation in Full Stack Development, as well as entrepreneurial skills, particularly in problem solving, design thinking and solution development.

At the start of the programme, they took part in four rapid ideation challenges with Foodpanda Cambodia, RMA, Phillip Bank and AMK Microfinance Plc., developing digital solutions to contemporary business challenges, each in just one week.

In the final phase, the Techpreneurs spent three months building their minimum viable products (MVP) in response to real problems, applying the technical and commercial skills acquired during the Bootcamp. At the event, six teams of five members each presented and demonstrated their projects:

• Jayloy, a mobile tool for tracking expenses and savings.

• UniSeek, a quiz platform that helps students find schools that match their interests and goals.

• CAMBOT, a chatbot that finds and summarises uploaded documents.

• CompostLink, a platform that teaches people how to recycle and sort waste properly.

• Smean, an AI assistant that transcribes and summarises voice input in Khmer.

• Srok Sart, a DIY and sharing platform that encourages communities to transform waste into usable objects.

Thanks to the training and mentoring provided during the bootcamp, the students gained confidence and skills, demonstrating their ability not only to come up with ideas, but also to realise their vision.

They shared their thoughts on the experience and the process of participating in the programme and building their MVPs:

Ms Headangelly Huy, a Techpreneur from the Srok Sart team, said: ‘I have learnt a lot during this nine-month bootcamp. It has been fast-paced, but I have learnt both technically and entrepreneurially. Without my team and my mentors, this project would not have happened. If I get the opportunity, I would like to continue this initiative and help society.’

Ms Sok Eng Huot, from the CAMBOT team, said:

‘The learning here is very different from school. It was about developing business ideas and finding real solutions. The design challenges taught us to work quickly and find solutions under pressure. The mentors helped us debug, decide which features were essential and guide us step by step.’

Enriched by the programme, she expressed her willingness to continue supporting the next generation of the bootcamp. ‘I joined the programme to get to know myself better and meet new people, and if there is a next intake, I will certainly be there to guide them and share my experience with them,’ she added.

The students captivated business representatives and industry players with their dynamic passion and innovative ideas, showcased through their engaging product demonstrations. Companies left with an astonishing appreciation of the dedication and potential of Techpreneurs, inspired by the promise of a new generation ready to lead and shape the industry with high-impact innovations.

Mr Kimsinawath Chou, data analyst/manager at Foodpanda Cambodia, said how impressed he was with what the students had been able to achieve in just three months. ‘Their passion and dedication to technology is truly remarkable. We hope they will continue to push the boundaries and reach new heights, and we look forward to hearing about their innovative new ideas.

The OCIC Group Vice-President and Negocia Capital founder, Mr Thierry Tea, said: ‘The energy at the Dichi Academy Techpreneur Bootcamp was electric! It was incredible to see the creativity, technical skills and bold ideas that the students implemented in their minimum viable products. Their demonstrations showed real potential for solving important problems. The positive atmosphere was contagious and it was exciting to see several of the 20 partner companies, including Vireak Buntham Logistics, AMK Microfinance Plc. and Candadia Bank, already expressing interest in hiring some of the students from the programme's cohort.’

He continued: ‘We need more of these types of bootcamps in the Cambodian tech industry to drive innovation and empower the next generation of tech leaders.’

‘As we approach the final stage of the Techpreneur Bootcamp, today's MVP presentation by our Techpreneurs to representatives from more than 20 companies is a very special opportunity to directly link the job opportunities and projects of the companies to the skills presented by the students,’ said Ms Sivhuang Lay, Managing Director of DICHI Academy. ‘I am proud to see how impressed the companies are by the functional solutions that the students have developed in such a short time, and I look forward to seeing more outstanding work from these technical talents.’

Officially launched in June 2024, the Techpreneur Bootcamp was co-organised by DICHI Academy and ELIX Organization, with the aim of preparing young Cambodian talent for careers in technology by offering students the opportunity to receive technical training and mentoring from industry experts, and to obtain industry-recognised certifications at the end of their studies. The 9-month programme combines the development of technical skills in full-stack development, an understanding of entrepreneurial aspects, problem solving and product creation with a real commercial contribution.

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About DICHI Academy

DICHI Academy is a technical training organisation offering programmes that are recognised worldwide. Its varied and in-depth programmes are at the cutting edge of the industry and truly designed for the digital economy of the 21st century. With a view to strengthening the skills of the Cambodian technology industry, they favour practical training, enabling students to build real projects and develop solid portfolios to enter the digital job market with confidence and competence.

For more information, please contact:

Hengjimmy Song - Senior Technical Programmes Manager

Telephone number: 092327127

Email: jimmy.js@dichi.academy