Cambodian Startup Wins Silicon Valley Backing, Marking Global Innovation Breakthrough

PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (Dec. 8, 2025) — Cambodia stepped onto the global innovation stage Monday as Plug and Play Tech Center, one of Silicon Valley’s most influential startup accelerators, selected Bamnang Academy as the first Cambodian company to receive investment and international growth support.

Plug and Play — credited with helping launch more than 30 unicorns and supporting early stage giants like Google — chose Bamnang Academy for its potential to scale internationally. The decision marks a milestone for Cambodia’s fast growing digital ecosystem and signals rising global confidence in the country’s tech talent.

The announcement coincided with the Cambodia Digital Awards 2025, where Bamnang Academy also won the Minister of Post and Telecommunications Award, emerging from a pool of 86 startups and digital businesses. The ceremony drew senior government officials, ASEAN innovators, and international guests from 27 countries.

Minister Chea Vandeth said Plug and Play’s decision reflects Cambodia’s progress in building an enabling environment for young entrepreneurs. “This investment demonstrates the results of our collective efforts to create opportunities both at home and abroad,” he said.

The momentum continued as Philippine Undersecretary David L. Almirol awarded $10,000 each to Cambodian startups Jobify and Bamnang.

Founded by three former students of the American University of Phnom Penh and U.S. institutions, Bamnang Academy now stands as a symbol of Cambodia’s rising presence in global innovation.