Have you ever wondered how businesses can spend so much on online ads but don’t get the results they expect? In Cambodia, companies put more than $170 million each year on digital advertising, yet the outcome is not as expected. For three young entrepreneurs, this wasn’t just a number, but it was a real problem they wanted to fix.
Mettlink was founded on a clear and powerful mission—to help empower businesses to embrace digital transformation quickly, connect with customers meaningfully, and achieve sustainable growth. In early 2025, this vision brought together three passionate co-founders: Vitak Cheav (Chief Executive Officer), Bill Soky Chea (Chief Strategy Officer), and Chhayheng Lov (Chief Product Officer). 'We realized that businesses were investing heavily but easily converting their customers,' Vitak said. 'That’s when we decided to create Mettlink—a tool that helps businesses not just advertise but exponentially engage and retain their customers.’"
Mettlink is all about connection—it’s in the name. ‘Mett’ means friend, ‘Link’ means connect. In today’s fast-moving digital world, Mettlink cuts through the clutter to help Cambodian entrepreneurs thrive in the digital economy.
Mettlink makes going digital easy. In just 30 minutes, a business can launch a storefront, automate sales, broadcast promotions, and retarget customers—without spending heavily on ads and replying to repeated messages manually. Owners can reconnect with past clients directly, saving time, cutting costs, and reaching the right audience more efficiently. Vitak added, “Our goal is to let business owners focus on their passion, while our platform helps them grow faster and smarter.”
Innovation rarely comes without challenges. The biggest hurdle in the market right now is that most businesses don’t know how to use AI or understand how it can help them, so Mettlink focuses on market education to raise awareness about the technology they provide. Many businesses also struggle to understand automation and new technology, which makes adoption difficult. Mettlink’s motivation is simple: to break down those barriers and help business owners use technology to transform their operations and build effective connections with their customers.
So far, the impact is already visible. 50 early adopters have joined the platform, connecting with more than 30,000 customers. The results are clear: time saved, easier engagement, and better customer satisfaction. And for Mettlink, this is only the beginning. By 2027, the team plans to expand across Southeast Asia and evolve into a full-fledged CRM (customer relationship management) system, becoming an innovation tool that allows businesses to go digital in under 15 minutes. She also mentioned, “We want Mettlink to be the first choice for businesses that aspire to innovate and digitalize quickly. Our aim is to make transformation fast, simple, and effective."
For Vitak, entrepreneurship is also a journey of personal growth. “I’m learning to build a company culture and system that can thrive without me. Leadership isn’t about being the smartest in the room—it’s about trust, empowering your team, and creating processes that purpose-driven growth.” Inspired by mentors and grandparents, Vitak embraces uncertainty as part of the journey. “The easy decisions are rarely the right ones. True innovation comes from facing challenges that feel strange, uncomfortable, or unfamiliar.”
Smart Startup Space is Smart Axiata’s initiative to propel the entrepreneurial landscape of Cambodia. It’s a dynamic, purpose-driven space designed to nurture the next generation of digital innovators in Cambodia.
We believe in startups, innovators, and entrepreneurs at all levels across Cambodia. Their ideas, beliefs, and bold actions inspire us.
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