Cellcard’s accelerator program, which is designed to provide young talented innovators an opportunity to turn ideas to reality, closes its 1^st cycle with over 100 applicants.

Through a series of evaluation and interviews, an internship program, a children’s game and an educational platform outshone dozens of other creative business ideas.

The winners – 3D-based building block game DoyDoy, internship program iLink and the Way to Potential educational platform, saw the creative minds behind these ideas awarded with exclusive admission to the Lab – an extensive three-month accelerator program that features specialized workshops, personalized mentoring and access to loads of resources.

Apart from enjoying the use of Impact Hub’s co-working space, winners will also enjoy a fully- funded, three-day visit to Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia to attend a workshop at the prestigious MaGIC (Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre) Acceleration Program and tour the Microsoft office in the capital.

DoyDoy creator Chanrithykol Em said he developed his business idea after discovering there was limited access to quality, creative Cambodian games for children. The Institute of Foreign Languages (RUPP) student put on his thinking cap and soon came up with an affordable, fun and colorful building-block game that utilizes 3D joints connected with straws.

“This was really unexpected, but I feel ecstatic and excited at making the top three!” said Em. “I’m thankful to be a part of Cellcard Lab and the opportunities it offers as I now feel I’m one step closer to achieving my first milestone.”

The Way to Potential, on the other hand, saw students Samphous Mey and Channita Thok as well as IT entrepreneur Dongjin Moon put their heads together to create an educational platform. The platform offers personalized tests and other applications that helps students unsure of their future academic choices or professional careers to make the right decision.

“Cellcard Lab has provided us an opportunity to boost our project to the next level,” said Mey, who studies at the Pannasastra University of Cambodia. “Cellcard and Impact Hub have really supported us by making available valuable mentoring, coaching, networking and resource opportunities.”

Phoeun Sokphan, Phon Sophath, Oun Veasna and Pork Langheng, the team behind iLink, came together for their project with the desire to provide students with more skills upon entering the job market. This led to the iLink website, which offers Cambodian students internship opportunities within ASEAN.

“Thanks to this opportunity, we are looking forward to expanding our network and possibly getting in touch with angel investors interested in supporting our startup,” said Sophath, who like his teammates, works fulltime. “And thanks to the organizers, we’ll get to travel to Malaysia and have wonderful opportunities to network and find potential partners for our program.”

A total of 100 applications were received for Cellcard Lab, which rewards three winners every quarter with the opportunity to turn their ideas into viable, social business ventures. The initiative also aims to provide participants with the opportunity to identify causes behind social and environmental problem and design sustainable solutions; develop a strong and unique value proposition designed for their customers’ needs; and create a strategy roadmap for their future ventures.

“Congratulations to our three deserving winners, who really pushed themselves to excel in their quest to realize their business dreams,” said Cellcard CEO Ian Watson. “The first quarter of the Cellcard Lab program received an overwhelming number of entries that displayed creativity, passion and viable business ideas, which ultimately bodes well for the future development and growth of Cambodia’s business and entrepreneur landscape.”