MyLekha's All-In-One Solution for the Modern Merchant
Founded during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, local startup MyLekha has grown from near collapse into a $5-a-month, one-fit-for-all POS platform now used by more than 200 businesses nationwide — proving that affordable, localised tech can drive digital transformation for Cambodia's SMEs.
The Problem MyLekha Set Out to Solve
In a market flooded with expensive, complex software, MyLekha is winning by doing the opposite. By offering a comprehensive suite of inventory, sales, and employee management tools for just $5 a month, the startup is proving that high-end digital transformation doesn't have to come with a costly price tag for Cambodia's small and medium enterprises.
Ke Chankrisna, CEO and Founder of MyLekha Tech Solutions, explains:
"The MyLekha app is a point of sale (POS) system that enables users to manage their business, inventory, sales and customer data from anywhere, regardless of their location. Business owners can manage their business on all devices, including smartphones, computers, tablets, iPads and so on."
Born Out of Real Struggles
MyLekha was created in late 2019, just as the Covid-19 pandemic was intensifying. Chankrisna was motivated by three defining experiences:
- A failing café — His godfather ran a café but struggled to manage his income and expenses effectively. Without proper tools, the business eventually failed.
- A mismatched foreign system — His friend Heng adopted a foreign software solution that simply didn't fit the Cambodian context. When support or updates were needed, there was no local help to be found.
- An unmet internal need — Chankrisna's initial business partner ran a tech company but had no system to manage his own operations, highlighting the urgent demand for a localised, effective management solution.
These experiences shaped MyLekha's core mission: one fit for all.
Surviving the Early Years
The road to where MyLekha stands today was anything but easy. Chankrisna launched the business with around $15,000, but when Covid-19 disrupted operations, he was left with only $1,000–$2,000 to keep going.
Early challenges included:
- Technology education — Getting businesses to adopt new software was difficult when many lacked the digital literacy to do so.
- Cloud costs — With a tiny budget and significant cloud hosting expenses, the team repeatedly teetered on the edge of failure.
- Teamwork and financial management — Managing a small team through financial uncertainty required constant discipline.
For the first few years, MyLekha provided its services completely free of charge. When the team eventually introduced a $5/month subscription, they lost a significant portion of their client base — a painful but clarifying turning point.
"After five years of offering services for free, we started charging just $5 a month, but we lost clients. That was a hard time for us, but we kept exploring pain points and the key clients that really fit with the service and can pay to use it."
Winning Recognition
In 2024, Chankrisna and MyLekha entered the Reverse Innovation Program Cohort 4, organised by Techo Startup Center with support from Wing Bank. Despite failing to even advance past the first round in a previous attempt, this time MyLekha secured first place — and the top prize of 40 million Riel (approximately $10,000) at the Demo Day.
"That was our second time to join the competition. For our first try, we didn't even get selected to continue to the next round. However, in Cohort 4, we ranked in first place among others."
Wing Bank played a key role throughout this journey, providing business expertise, personalised mentorship, and valuable feedback that helped the team sharpen their business model and product offering.
Where MyLekha Stands Today
More than 200 businesses across Cambodia now use MyLekha. The platform's primary clients are cafes, restaurants, and marts, with a strong presence in:
- Siem Reap
- Phnom Penh
- Preah Sihanouk
- Kampot
- Battambang
- Banteay Meachey
Beyond these core markets, MyLekha has organically expanded into Koh Kong, Stung Treng, Mondolkiri, Ratanakiri, and other provinces — bringing its total reach to more than 10 provinces nationwide.
The Vision Ahead
Chankrisna's ambitions extend well beyond Cambodia's borders. He envisions MyLekha becoming a trusted name across Asian markets that share similar SME business models and challenges.
"Whether you run a small retail store or a large restaurant chain, MyLekha can be tailored to meet your specific needs and improve your overall efficiency. We are more than just software; we are your technology partner for growth."
His message to young Cambodian entrepreneurs is direct: pursue your passion, but invest in knowledge first. Learn from those who have experienced failure before success — those stories carry the most valuable lessons.
MyLekha is also creating opportunities for Cambodia's young tech talent:
"I have offered job opportunities for the young generation who love this sector, to explore and build their capabilities and passion into reality."
Sreang Lyhour, a Full Stack Developer Intern at MyLekha, shared what drew her to the company:
"I decided to join MyLekha because it's one of the well-known tech companies in Siem Reap, and I really liked its goal of using technology to support local businesses. The work environment is open and flexible, which allows both staff and students to take responsibility for their own work and learn through real experience."
Source: Wing Bank News