Entrepreneur of the Month – December 2017

Suong Sovathana

Co-owner, E House App

Alumni, SHE Incubator 2016

Suong Sovathana started E House App, a service that assists provincial students and workers who have migrated to Phnom Penh to find accommodation, after facing difficulty finding a safe and affordable place to rent while she was studying in university. E House App acts as a middleman, sourcing safe and affordable rooms and apartments for rent, creating agreements with the landlords and then referring them to students and workers. Sovathana graduated from SHE Incubator Program in 2016, and has been working on further developing her business. She is in middle of launching a mobile application to make this service more accessible to students and workers in need of accommodation in Phnom Penh. The following interview will give you a glimpse of her journey to accomplishing her goals.

How long has your business been operating?

We started doing our market research in 2015, and have been fully operational since January of 2017.

How did you hear about SHE?

I attended the SHE Conference and heard about SHE’s Business Training programs.

Why did you decide to join?

I decided to join because I was interested in business development and because SHE offered a scholarship to be part of the program, which allowed me to participate.

What has been the greatest challenge you have faced since deciding to run your own business?

My team and I worked on our market research but we lacked capital to make our idea come to life. The support and encouragement that I received during SHE’s Incubator Program boosted my confidence. My team and I were able to present our idea in a competition and won the prize that allowed us to make our business operational. Currently, we are getting ready to launch our mobile application that will make it even easier for young people to find safe and affordable housing in Phnom Penh.

What would be your advise to women who want to start their own businesses?

I would advise them to find a good partner, whether it’s a friend or family member, build a good team, and fully commit yourself to your businesses.

In three words, what did the SHE’s program bring you?

Support, inspiration, and commitment.

In 1 sentence, how did the program change your life or business?

I have more confidence in myself now. I have understood how important networking is and I am using the skills I learned during SHE’s program to build my network.

Would you recommend SHE’s program to others? Why?

Yes, everyone who is interested in developing their personal skills and improving their business, I highly encourage them to join the program!

Thank you,Sovathana for sharing your story with us today. We are proud to support women like you to scale your business and create a positive impact in your community. 

 Would you like to be the next amazing woman to graduate from our program? If yes, apply now for our Incubator program