We started in 2011 as a co-working space — the first of its kind in Phnom Penh — creating a home for scattered entrepreneurs. In 2016, we reorganized as SmallWorld Ventures to focus on building companies directly.
Cambodia needs its own technology infrastructure. Most software and hardware used here is made somewhere else. That's fine for many things, but it means the tools aren't always designed for how people here actually live and work. We believe Cambodians can build excellent technology — that local problems require local builders with global tools.
SmallWorld works at the intersection of technology, education, and sovereignty, championing homegrown digital capacity. We're not importing Silicon Valley playbooks wholesale — we're building something that fits Cambodia's context.
Different markets call for different strategies. There's room for both high-growth venture models and patient, infrastructure-first building. We don't see these as opposing philosophies — they're different tools for different contexts, and both are valid. Our approach is infrastructure-first: build the foundation, then grow.
Focus Areas
Hardware
Affordable computers and physical tools designed for Cambodian students and engineers.
Open Source
Software that anyone can use, modify, and improve — from operating systems to cloud platforms.
Education
Digital school platforms and 63 computer labs training the next generation of builders.
Fintech
Payment APIs and financial tools that work with local banks and serve Cambodian businesses.
AI
Intelligent automation tools bridging AI capability with human judgment for the future of work.
Blockchain
Decentralized infrastructure for land registration, loyalty programs, and supply chain transparency.
Cambodia's tech future isn't about becoming the next Singapore or Vietnam. It's about becoming the first Cambodia — leveraging our unique strengths while building lasting digital infrastructure. A farmer in Battambang and a shop owner in Siem Reap have different needs than someone in San Francisco. We try to understand those needs and build for them.
It's slow work. We've made plenty of mistakes. Some projects didn't work out. But fifteen years in, we keep learning and keep building — one company at a time.
We're not building the next unicorn. We're building the soil that unicorns grow from.
We're not the only ones doing this. There are other good teams in Cambodia working on similar problems. That's great. The more people building here, the better.
If you're building something useful in Cambodia, we'd like to hear from you.