(Battambang): The public pitching and award ceremony of the “Cambodia Startup Launchpad – Food Edition” Season 3 concluded successfully in Battambang, showcasing innovative, market-ready food products developed by Cambodian students and young entrepreneurs.
The event brought together key stakeholders from government, development partners, academia, and the private sector, and was presided over by Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology & Innovation (MISTI) and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Khmer Enterprise (KE).
The program, run by the National University of Battambang (NUBB) in collaboration with KE and the Korean International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), aims to foster creative food product development and cultivate an entrepreneurial mindset among students from universities and technical and vocational education and training (TVET) institutions nationwide.
Addressing the event, Minister Hem Vanndy said, “This program shows how innovation can move from the classroom into the marketplace. What we see today are not just student projects, but early-stage products with real commercial potential. This is exactly the direction Cambodia needs, to build entrepreneurs who can add value, develop competitive products, and strengthen our position in regional and global markets.”
Season 3 of the program brought together 10 student teams, comprising 39 participants, who completed a 16-week intensive training program. This included product development, sampling, field visits to food processing enterprises, and market validation through direct consumer feedback, culminating in final product presentations at the grand finale.
Sok Khorn, Rector of the National University of Battambang, said, “This food processing competition serves as an inspiration for generating new product ideas as alternatives to commercial activities, with the goal of enhancing the productivity and diversity of Cambodian food cooperatives. Furthermore, this program has significantly contributed to the food processing skills education at the National University of Battambang, enabling it to better meet the skill requirements of the job market.”
Suyoung Chang, Representative of KOICA, said, “All ten teams independently declared the same mission in their business plans: 'Support Khmer Farmers.' These young entrepreneurs designed their ventures as part of a broader agro-processing ecosystem, not merely as personal commercial pursuits. The ten teams that competed today are not just students launching products, they are the early architects of a more inclusive and resilient Cambodian food economy.”
The final 10 innovative food products created by the student teams include Cocoa Oil, Instant Rice, Samlor Kako Rice Pot, HD HOTDOGS, Papaya Drink, Cricket Sauce, Healthy Corn Juice, Women’s Health Detox Tea, Black Bean Milk Powder, and Sweet Potato Noodles.
At the conclusion of the competition, the three winning teams are:
1- Team Baby Kakor (Product: Quick Kakor)
2- Team Cacao (Product: Cacao Oil and Cacao Powder)
3- Team Ratanak (Product: Healthy Corn Juice)
Each student team was also awarded a startup seed fund of 20,000,000 riels.
About Khmer Enterprise
Khmer Enterprise (KE) is established by the Royal Government of Cambodia to implement the support programs and directly work with partners and beneficiaries. It aims to mobilize, invest, and manage resources from all legitimate sources to support the development of a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem and to provide financial and non-financial support to related entrepreneurial ecosystem builders. They are entrepreneurs, innovative startups, potential SMEs, and partner institutions that participate in promoting entrepreneurial activities, driving innovation and value-added creation in Cambodia’s economy.
About KOICA-Peace Village Project
The Peace Village Project, funded by the Korean government through the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), is a five-year integrated rural development initiative being implemented in the northwestern provinces of Cambodia, including Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, and Pailin. In collaboration with the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), the project aims to build inclusive and sustainable rural communities by improving living conditions and villagers’ capacities, strengthening governance, and increasing sustainable agricultural incomes.
About National University of Battambang
National University of Battambang (NUBB) is Cambodia's largest public university in the northwest of the country, providing access to higher education services in order to develop their individual careers as well as those of local communities while also reducing knowledge gaps between rural and urban areas. NUBB has five faculties, and the institute includes (1) Faculty of Business Administration and Tourism, (2) Faculty of Agriculture and Food Processing, (3) Faculty of Sociology and Community Development, (4) Faculty of Arts, Humanities, and Education, (5) Science and Technology, and (6) Institute of Foreign Languages. The BSc. Food Processing program is modernized to meet market needs and aligns with global educational quality standards. The BSc. Food Processing is applying Outcome-Based Education (OBE) and the AUN-QA standard in 2025.
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