Young Founder Launchpad Programme Launches to Equip Cambodian High School Students with Entrepreneurial Skills
In response to the growing need for an entrepreneurial mindset and skills development at an early stage, the ‘Young Founder Launchpad Programme’ was launched in Siem Reap Province on October 4, 2025, to build entrepreneurial thinking and skills among high school students, aiming to empower them as future job creators.
The programme involves eight weeks of training covering everything from idea generation and prototyping to pitching and business refinement.
The Young Founder Launchpad Programme is co-funded by Mission Alliance and Khmer Enterprise (KE), in partnership with the University of South-East Asia (USEA) and implemented by the ELIX Organisation.
This eight-week initiative seeks to foster innovation, create future opportunities, and equip students with skills that will not only enhance their prospects for university life but also empower them to contribute meaningfully to their local economies and navigate the digital world safely and effectively.
From a competitive pool of over 200 applicants, 48 high school students were selected through a rigorous process to form the first cohort of the Young Founder Launchpad Programme.
Chanda Pen, Chief Executive Officer of ELIX Organisation, emphasised the programme’s importance for Cambodia’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, nurturing local talent with crucial resources.
“We’re offering a space where young people can explore new ideas, think creatively, and become more than just job creators, but innovators in the changing workforce. This initiative is all about giving them the confidence and tools to shape Cambodia’s future in the digital age,” he said.
Set to begin this October, participants will receive training from experienced professionals in the private sector and successful entrepreneurs, take part in entrepreneurial workshops, engage in hands-on learning, and receive ongoing support from 13 university peer mentors to foster and accelerate learning.
The Expert Leadership Innovation Exchange (ELIX) is a local non-profit organisation serving as an implementing partner of the Digital Workforce Development (DWD) project, aimed at empowering Cambodian youth with the skills, resources, and knowledge needed to succeed in the digital era.
San Mos, Project Manager and Leadership Representative of Mission Alliance Cambodia, said this programme directly aligns with Mission Alliance’s core mission globally — empowering people to shape their own futures.
“By nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit in young people, we are investing in a brighter, more self-sufficient future for Cambodia,” he added.
By the end of the programme, all students will have gained knowledge and skills in innovation, business planning, testing, financial management, legal considerations, and pitching, culminating in a final presentation of fully developed business ideas.
