Nine start-ups are gearing up to compete for a 40 million riel ($10,000) top prize on May 26 in “Forward Pitch Day”, the final round of the Reverse Innovation programme, according to a press release.

The programme is organised by the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the state-run Techo Startup Center (TSC), with the help of the Association of Banks in Cambodia (ABC) and Khmer Enterprise (KE).

The event will be held virtually, where the teams of contestants will be required to pitch their products to a five-man panel of judges and give a quick rundown of the specific issues that they address, while providing a video demonstration.

The first place team will take home 40 million riel, and the next two runners up will receive 30 and 20 million riel.

Organised by the TSC, the “Forward Pitch Day” will be presided over by ministry undersecretary of state and TSC chairman Kong Marry, TSC executive director Dr Taing Nguonly, KE CEO Chhieng Vanmunin and ABC chairman Dr In Channy.

The nine start-ups vying for the top prize are ARSAR, 3S, FaSeKYC, NAPT, Safe Phone Service, JAYA, MicroPort, SaveUp and Derm Luy.

On the panel of judges are the TSC’s Nguonly, Phnom Penh Commercial Bank Plc (PPCBank) executive adviser Shin Chang-moo, Credit Bureau (Cambodia) Co Ltd (CBC) CEO Oeur Sothearoath, ACLEDA Bank Plc product and development senior vice-president Char Sopheap, and Cambodia Association of Finance and Technology secretary-general Tomas Pokorny.

TSC will broadcast the event live on May 26 at 8am (0100 GMT), at bit.ly/Forward_Pitch_Day