Keo Sar: Empowering Women in Business Through Mentorship and Skills Development

Keo Sar, COO and Partner at Matter Product Studio and an active mentor with the Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO, emphasizes the importance of empowering women entrepreneurs to overcome systemic challenges. With over 15 years of experience in business development, strategy, and operations, Sar is committed to closing the gender gap in venture funding, where women founders receive only 2% of funding despite consistently outperforming male counterparts.

Sar highlights key strengths women bring to entrepreneurship, including multitasking, holistic thinking, and empathy—traits that drive innovation and resilience. However, women entrepreneurs face significant barriers, such as limited access to financing, mentorship, and networking opportunities. Sar’s personalized mentorship approach identifies these challenges and creates actionable strategies to address them, from finding the right investors to building effective networks.

To succeed, Sar advises women to develop essential skills like storytelling, sales, and financial literacy. He encourages mentees to pitch their stories as both entrepreneurs and investors, learn by doing, and embrace finance as the language of business.

“My advice to women entrepreneurs is simple: Just go for it,” Sar says. “Whether it works or not, the experience gained is invaluable, and success can leave a legacy for others to follow.”