Expanding Cross-Border Access Through Smart Logistics
Espass is a Cambodia-based social enterprise that simplifies cross-border shopping and logistics, enabling individuals and small businesses to access products from across the region more easily and affordably. By expanding consumer access to products sold overseas to , the platform contributes to digital inclusion, equitable market access, and sustainable livelihood opportunities in Cambodia.
Founder Putheary Sem shares her journey and reflects on how the #ImpactLink Programme strengthened her confidence, strategic clarity, and readiness to engage with partners and investors.
Putheary Sem was interviewed during the Business Showcase at the 8th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum (AIBF) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (11–14 September 2024), held in conjunction with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship 2025.
➤ What key challenges did you have in scaling your social enterprise?
Before joining ImpactLink, I often felt that I was navigating the journey of building and growing Espass largely on my own. While the business was already creating meaningful social value—improving access to cross-border products and logistics for people across Cambodia—I lacked the structured mentorship, strategic guidance, and strong networks needed to accelerate sustainable growth.
This made it difficult to position Espass for partnerships and investment that could support long-term expansion. I realised that passion and determination alone were not enough. To create deeper, more scalable impact, I needed knowledge, ecosystem support, and regional connections.
ImpactLink became a turning point. Beyond a training programme, it offered a collaborative community of mentoring, learning, and regional exchange, shifting my mindset from working in isolation toward building within a supportive ecosystem. Through this experience, I gained renewed confidence and now believe Espass can operate more strategically to create greater social and economic opportunities across Cambodia.
➤ How has your approach to communicating impact evolved?
One of the most meaningful insights I gained from ImpactLink was learning how to translate our everyday work into a clear and compelling impact narrative. Before the programme, I was only focused on operations and service delivery—ensuring the platform functioned smoothly, customers received their products, and logistics ran efficiently. While these elements were essential, I was not
fully articulate how Espass could contribute to economic inclusion and cross-border opportunity.
I struggled to communicate that value in a way that resonated beyond immediate users—one that would help partners, investors, and stakeholders clearly understand the social significance, scalability, and long-term relevance of what we are building.
“ImpactLink helped me explain our impact in a simple and meaningful way, connecting what we do today with the long-term opportunities we want to create for customers and businesses in Cambodia.”
— Putheary Sem, Founder of Espass
Through ImpactLink, I came to understand the power of structured impact storytelling. Communicating impact is not only about describing activities; it is about connecting our work to the lives we touch, the barriers we remove, and the future we aim to create. This shift has fundamentally shaped how I present Espass’s mission, the tangible benefits for our customers, and our long-term vision for growth. Today, I communicate Espass’s mission and value with greater confidence, clarity, and strategic focus, strengthening conversations with partners who may join us in advancing this work.
➤ How did the one-on-one coaching influence your thinking around impact, fundraising, or growth strategy?
The one-on-one coaching provided practical and personalised guidance that helped me reflect more deeply on Espass’s long-term direction. Through these discussions, I learned how to organise key business information, clarify our pathways to impact, and prepare materials that communicate both commercial value and social contribution in ways that resonate with diverse audiences.
This process strengthened my strategic thinking around partnerships, fundraising readiness, and sustainable growth. Instead of focusing only on day-to-day operations, I now consider how Espass can scale responsibly, expand regional collaboration, and deliver lasting value for customers and communities. The coaching made the learning highly practical and directly relevant to the real challenges we face as a growing social enterprise.
➤ How has #ImpactLink supported your readiness to receive funding or grants?
ImpactLink provided structured and practical preparation for engaging in regional platforms such as the 8th ASEAN Inclusive Business Forum. I learned to organise business information, refine presentation materials, and communicate both impact and commercial value clearly to investors and partners. Compared with preparing independently, the programme ensured that my preparation included strategic messaging, impact clarity, and professional presentation standards. This significantly strengthened my confidence when engaging with stakeholders and allowed me to represent Espass more effectively in regional discussions. As a result, I now feel better equipped to participate in future investment and partnership opportunities with greater readiness, credibility, and strategic focus.
➤ How prepared do you feel to pursue funding or grant opportunities after completing ImpactLink?
After completing ImpactLink, I feel genuinely more confident and better prepared to pursue funding and grant opportunities. The transformation isn’t just about having more knowledge—it’s about understanding what funders are truly looking for and how to present our impact, plans, and potential in a structured and compelling way that speaks their language.
Beyond the technical knowledge, the programme provided something equally valuable: practical guidance and genuine encouragement that increased my confidence to take the next steps. I no longer feel uncertain about approaching potential partners or funders. Instead, I feel ready equipped with the tools, clarity, and conviction to make a strong case for why Espass deserves their support.
This readiness will enable Espass to continue expanding accessible cross-border trade and inclusive digital opportunity in Cambodia. More than seeking funding alone, we are building long-term partnerships that can help us reach more people, generate deeper social impact, and contribute to a more connected and equitable regional economy. As Espass continues to grow, it reflects what becomes possible when determination meets opportunity—and when one entrepreneur’s vision helps create a more accessible and inclusive future for communities across the region.
Learn more about Espass at: https://www.espasskh.com/
Disclaimers:
This article is published for informational purposes only and does not constitute the promotion or endorsement of the featured business. Interview content has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
#ImpactLink is an initiative of the ASEAN-Japan Centre, launched in FY2025, to systematically strengthen the funding and investment readiness and professional capabilities of women-led social enterprises across ASEAN and Japan. The programme convenes entrepreneurs from both regions to enhance financial literacy, digital competencies, and investment readiness, while enabling the effective translation of knowledge into practical, investment-relevant action.
The Centre works as an Enabler, collaborating with ecosystem partners to support inclusive entrepreneurship through capacity-building programmes, mentorship, and cross-border collaboration.
Be a part of the #Iqamapct and send us an email at info_rpa@asean.or.jp
