Phnom penh: The Global Cleantech Innovation Programme (GCIP) Cambodia marked the conclusion of the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Programme Cohort 3 with the announcement of the three winners. The grant prize ceremony, held on Aug. 26 on the 15th floor of the Business Development Centre (BDC), was honorably presided over by H.E. Dr. Taing Nguonly, Executive Director of Techo Startup Centre.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Programme has concluded its third cohort, following a day of Ideathon and Founder Connect, and three days of Hackathon. The programme has identified three outstanding teams to receive the grant prize, enabling them to proceed to the next stage and develop their solutions. Thirteen potential entrepreneurs and university students whose startup focuses on Cleantech, reducing greenhouse gas, have presented their ideas in front of five independent judges coming from diverse backgrounds related to business operations or startup development in the ecosystem.
The final day started with each team preparing for their business pitch presentation, which they had been provided through the previous four days of Ideathon and Founder Connect and Hackathon. GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Cohort 3 commenced in July 2025 and received 33 applications from early-stage startups and university students with various innovative cleantech solutions. The 13 promising cleantech business ideas were selected for the GCIP Cambodia Pre-Accelerator Cohort 3 in late August 2025.
The shortlisted teams have gone through several activities from Ideathon and Founder Connect, where sole founders are linked with like-minded individuals to polish their startup idea. The three-day hackathon then followed, where each team was equipped with knowledge and experience from trainers and guest speakers focusing on business operations aspects, such as technology and product development, business models, market approaches, and strategies, as well as elevator pitch practice.
The intensive training includes a one-day Ideathon and Founder Connect on Aug. 23 and a three-day Hackathon from Aug. 24 to 26. The teams also obtained coaching support from supportive mentors and experienced guest trainers. On the final day of the programme, the teams pitched their business ideas in front of an independent panel of judges with extensive experience in the cleantech, sustainability, and business sectors.
The top three performing teams below were selected to receive grant prizes, totaling US$5,000. First place winner Piezo Youth received US$2,500, Second place winner Stablu received US$1,500, and Third place winner TogetBUS received US$1,000. 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 Programme Cohort 3 consists of two main phases: the Pre-Accelerator Programme and the Accelerator Programme.
The Pre-Accelerator has three core 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 programme, (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 period. GCIP consists of four main focus areas, such as Agriculture, Manufacturing, Industrial Specific Technologies and Hospitality.
The programme also tries to bridge the gap in digital innovation, clean energy, GHG emission reduction, and economic growth through cleantech solutions. GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Programme strongly encourages startups and SMEs of women and youth to participate and develop their business ideas. GCIP Cambodia is a five-year project implementation consisting of different phases aiming to accelerate cleantech business uptake in Cambodia. The programme has been implemented for four years, with the successful completion of its first cohort in 2023, second cohort in 2024, and is now on the third cohort of implementation.
GCIP Cambodia Accelerator Programme Cohort 3 is funded by the United Nations for Industrial Development Organisations (UNIDO) and Global Environment Facility (GEF), organised by the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Techo Startup Centre (TSC), and co-organised by Prestige Consulting. The programme has also partnered with the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation, Khmer Enterprise, the Cambodia Academy of Digital Technology (CADT), and Impact Hub Phnom Penh.