The EiR programme, part of the Strengthen Entrepreneurship and Innovation Pillar under the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) initiative, connects regional and international practitioners with local ecosystem actors to deepen technical expertise and strengthen entrepreneurial capacity across Cambodia.
Mr. Mike Ducker has more than 20 years of experience researching, designing, leading, and advising entrepreneurship programmes. He has led, advised, and coached 45 ESOs on programme design, business models, marketing, operations, management, partnerships, fundraising, and outreach. He has also designed 20 entrepreneurship programmes for seven international donors and managed programmes that supported more than 4,500 ventures, contributing to USD 50 million in capital. His experience also covers product development, market engagement, fundraising, team growth, business model development, investor support, and climate technology entrepreneurship.
His mission commenced on 29 June with the workshop “Level Up Your ESO: Strategy, Growth, Impact & Mentor Management,” organized by Swisscontact and Khmer Enterprise. The session focused on helping ESOs clarify their programme purpose, strengthen programme design, improve marketing and community outreach, manage mentors more effectively, and explore funding sources. Participants also reflected on how stronger networks, founder accountability, and appropriate mentor matching can improve the support provided to entrepreneurs. The workshop was attended by 18 organisations.
On 30 June 2026, Mr. Mike Ducker facilitated a half-day workshop on “From Idea to Traction: Developing Product Market-Fit Through Proactive Validation” at Smart Startup Space, in collaboration with Smart Axiata. The session introduced practical approaches to opportunity selection, customer discovery, customer interviewing, market analysis, and the use of artificial intelligence tools for customer and market research. The workshop was attended by 20 startups and SMEs, who also explored how to validate assumptions, identify a clearly defined beachhead market, measure traction, and adjust their product or market strategy when needed. Participant feedback highlighted customer discovery, customer interviews, market segmentation, product-market fit, and survey tools as key areas of learning.
On 1 July 2026, Mr. Mike Ducker contributed to the 34th Give a Day under the theme “Diversifying Funding: Aligning Vision, Strategy, and Resources for Sustainable Impact” at Khmer Enterprise. The session supported ESOs in examining different funding sources and their implications for organizational mission, control, and inclusion. The event was attended by 32 organisations, who used the ESO Funder Matrix and group discussions to consider how funding diversification could be aligned with strategic priorities. Participant feedback highlighted the value of expert input, peer exchange, breakout discussions, and networking, while identifying practical funding strategies, resource mobilization, real cases, and connections between ESOs and financial actors as areas for further exploration.
On 2 July 2026, Mr. Mike Ducker facilitated a half-day workshop on “Founder Growth Journey: Navigating the 3 Stages of Startup Growth” at Techo Startup Center (TSC), in collaboration with Techo Startup Center (TSC). The session helped founders understand the distinctions between Problem-Solution Fit, Product-Market Fit, and Scaling. The workshop was attended by 35 startups and SMEs, who used startup pitches and practical discussions on market segmentation, customer discovery, go-to-market planning, and operations to assess their current stage and identify priorities for progression. Participant feedback highlighted product-market fit, customer discovery, core business capabilities, market segmentation, co-founder selection, and investment readiness as key takeaways, while identifying digital marketing, financial management, sales, investment proposals, leadership, and business growth as areas for further support.
On 3 July 2026, Mr. Mike Ducker facilitated a half-day workshop on “Master Mentor Training” at AUPP Technology Center, in collaboration with AUPP Technology Center (ATC) under the Entrepreneurship Mentor Development Programme. The session examined mentors’ roles and responsibilities, mentor-mentee relationship management, approaches for supporting entrepreneurs at different development stages, and peer learning among mentors. The workshop was attended by 17 startups and mentors, who observed a live mentoring demonstration and reflected on common mentoring challenges. Participant feedback highlighted trust building, relationship management, adaptability, questioning, accountability, and the importance of helping rather than directing mentees, with practical examples, peer exchange, and role-play identified as particularly valuable components.
Alongside the workshops, Mike Ducker conducted one-on-one mentoring with 7 startups and SMEs during his mission. His reflection emphasized that intensive mentoring, customer discovery, and access to experienced private-sector practitioners are critical for helping founders address product-market fit and growth challenges. He also recommended placing greater emphasis on strengthening ESO capacity so that improved programme design and mentoring practices can benefit a wider group of entrepreneurs over time.
Mike Ducker’s mission brought together support at multiple levels of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, from ESO programme development and funding strategy to founder validation, startup growth, and mentor capacity. Across the engagements, the central message was consistent: stronger entrepreneurial support requires practical experience, close engagement with founders, disciplined customer discovery, effective mentoring, and networks that connect entrepreneurs to the people and resources they need.
The Entrepreneur-in-Residence (EiR) Programme is part of the Strengthen Entrepreneurship and Innovation initiative under the Enhancing Entrepreneurial Ecosystem and Investments (3Ei) Project. It is funded by Khmer Enterprise (KE), the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), and the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), and co-implemented by Khmer Enterprise (KE) and Swisscontact.