Why I don’t regret running my startup from Cambodia

Photo credit: Aleksandr Frolov

The startup scene in Cambodia has begun to flourish. Internet and mobile penetration are high and the country is becoming an increasingly attractive destination for startup entrepreneurs, remote workers, and digital nomads.

I moved to Cambodia four years ago to run Aniwaa, a startup focusing on emerging tech comparisons, and I haven’t looked back since. Here’s why.

Cambodia offers a great quality of life

When I first came to Cambodia, I realized that I could run my startup from Phnom Penh and that the city offers an attractive quality of life and cost of living.

Phnom Penh is a charming capital: art deco and colonial buildings are scattered throughout the city, along with markets that will keep anyone entertained (and perhaps, at times, scratching their heads!). Foodies and coffee lovers will also find their fix in Phnom Penh. The city offers an abundance of tasty and cheap street food as well as many fairly priced Western restaurants (for those days when you miss home).

Cambodia is a very welcoming country, and the widespread adoption of the English language makes it easy for foreigners to feel at home. This is often one of the reasons expats give for settling down here.

Finally, there is no lack of affordable housing, from modern apartments to old wooden houses. If you’d rather go for something a little fancier, you’ll certainly be able to find the condo of your dreams among the dozens of new buildings popping up throughout central neighborhoods such as BKK1, Tonle Bassac, or the burgeoning Russian Market area.

The best part? No matter where you go in Cambodia, you’ll have access to fast internet. Most connections are fiber optic, and the country’s 4G network is fast, cheap, and reliable. In other words, you’ll be able to run your startup without ever feeling marooned.

There are plenty of affordable options for workplaces

Surrounding yourself with like-minded professionals is key anywhere in the world, which is why I chose to set up shop in an incubator. Phnom Penh is full of co-working spaces, which are becoming the gravitational centers of the startup community. Co-working spaces are ideal for finding an office space, networking, taking part in events, and getting inspired.

Some of these co-working spaces double as incubators such as Confluences (where Aniwaa is based) or SmallWorld. I chose Confluences because of its strong ties with French entrepreneurs (I’m French!), the central location, and the space which allowed us to set up our test lab for 3D printers, VR headsets, and other devices.

Incubators and co-working spaces are great places to establish your startup because they allow you to meet locals and expats with helpful experiences and insider knowledge. The community is helpful when it comes to familiarizing yourself with the country and navigating the local administration and laws.

For more flexible and diverse options, there are tons of cafes suitable for work throughout the city. If you are looking for something more permanent, Phnom Penh also offers a wide range of office rentals, from rooms in renovated villas to modern buildings in the heart of the city.

It’s easy to register a company in Cambodia

There are two important advantages of setting up shop in Cambodia: a fairly simple tax system and the possibility to claim 100 percent business ownership as a foreigner (which isn’t the case in many Asian countries).

When I decided to settle down in Asia in 2014, I decided to incorporate Aniwaa as a private limited company in Singapore, the regional startup hub. Then, I moved to Cambodia, so the next step was to open a local branch there. I found out that doing everything by myself would be quite complicated but, fortunately, our incubator offered me assistance.

Fundraising is on the rise

The startup ecosystem is growing