Look back Tech Talk at BarCamp ASEAN 2017

We reported what happened BarCamp ASEAN 2017 which was held in Phnom Penh last month in the past article below.

Taking A Glance Through BarCamp ASEAN 2017

As we reported in the article, BarCamp ASEAN 2017 was the complex of conferences, meetups, and exhibitions. The biggest conference at BarCamp ASEAN 2017 was “Tech Talk” supported by BarCamp ASEAN 2017’s main sponsor, Smart Axiata.

At Tech Talk, professionals in Tech and Startup industries shared their knowledge, experiences, and opinions.

In this article, we share the summary of Tech Talk. Let’s get reviewed Tech Talk with us!

From Incubation to Sustainability: Case of Two Startups

The Story of Morakot

Morakot Technology provides banking system software for bank and microfinance. We have started the company in the mid of 2014; and so far, the business has had 25 clients. Morakot has offered the cheaper price, local technical support, shorter installment time, and convenient local content if compare to other banking software providers which mostly are foreign company. Morakot has entered Myanmar market; and in the future, we plan to enter Philippines and Laos market.

Sophorth Khuon, CEO and Co-Founder of Morakot Technology

Message to participants: For startups, we have to care about cash flow. At least, we have a fund to secure the business for the first 3 years. We also have to care about the price option which can attract clients as well as payroll which can affect company expense.

The Story of Joonaak

Leakhena Long, co-founder and COO of Joonaak Delivery

Joonaak Delivery has been operating for 2 years and 7 months. There are problems and solutions along the way. The key to sustainability is “Believe in yourself”. Back in 2014, the start of Joonaak was very struggling. It was started with four people’s discussion; we thought that the missing piece of the market was the “delivery service”. Time flew for 1 month and a half but we still hadn’t figure out what type of delivery service we should do; we got lost in the ideas. Accidentally, Startup Weekend Cambodia was around the corner; we signed up for the program. The mentor kept challenging our team ideas and finally the team had shaped the idea to a specific type of delivery; and we have focused on the partner delivery of the SME such as deliver goods for online shop or deliver document for corporate, etc. We got the second place prize for Startup Weekend Cambodia, and we tried to figure out the problems. We improved our idea and launched it in the next 4 months. We started with 2 motorbikes for the delivery; we started from using paper for the process management, but we kept upgrading our platform. We have recruited more staff; we have developed the management application; we have created a website to access to customers, and we also have upgraded from manual to machine packaging. Our next move is to develop the mobile application which the customer can track down our delivery through looking at the map on their mobile application.

Message to participants: When you are in the business, you may not know everything. But along the way, you will learn. Keep yourself learning; keep yourself ahead of the time, and keep yourself in the market. Otherwise, you will be kicked off.

Piece of Pie: How Local Startups Survive

Channa Ly, CTO of BookMeBus

BookMeBus has started in September 2015 as a bus ticketing platform. The idea was started when one of our friend from China want to buy a bus ticket during the night time; we told her that the local counter was already closed. Therefore, we have developed this idea into the business in 2015. During the first 3 months, the transaction was good; and then the team has kept developed the business; we have developed a very simple mobile application. As customers keep increasing, some of them want to book the ferry; and then we add the ferry ticketing into the platform. In 2018, we plan to extend our market to Myanmar. If we talk about our starting point, it was a very simple tech platform; and then other transportation companies have come to us for the corporation because we have the application platform. We have learned from those companies to extend our platform in the local and regional market.

Message to participants: Each of us has different skill. For instance, I am good at software engineering; and my friend is good at business; but it is not enough for startup, we need to go to join events and get some mentors to guide you along the way as they have skills and experiences in the field. And remember that commitment and execution is the driving force for the success.

Investing in Startups: The Potential of Cambodia

Bora Kem, Investment Manager at Mekong Strategic Partners

Firstly, business should focus on being local; it is an opportunity because international companies which want to enter the market may find it hard to understand the local market. Secondly, there are many web development agencies, which experienced in building products for customers, start to develop their own startup, which could be both challenge or opportunity for them. Thirdly, there are few main players in the market which give more opportunity for startups. Last but not least, startups think of regional for their business extension, which is good for their future. If we can answer how people use technology in their next phasing of life, we will learn what the world will be developed and understand what the business model we should develop.

Message to participants: We are coming into a global age, which is the opportunity for young people to build something. Old people can’t tell you how to build app, but you are the one who tells them how to use app.