PHILIPPINE STARTUP CHALLENGE (PSC) 7: REGIONAL PITCHING COMPETITION

By: Evelyn Rose Hernandez

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), as one of the lead agencies in the implementation of RA 11337 otherwise known as the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) is mandated to provide benefits and programs to strengthen, promote, and develop the Philippine Startup Ecosystem. In order to fulfill its role, the DICT is implementing the Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program (DSDAP) with the overall goal of establishing a strong Philippine Startup Ecosystem to support and strengthen the competitive advantage of Filipino startups.

One initiative under the DSDAP is the Philippine Startup Challenge (PSC). PSC is a startup competition that aims to encourage and support Filipinos in creating innovative and relevant ICT products and services that may potentially develop into viable business ventures as well as solve social problems. This initiative is geared towards promoting the spirit of entrepreneurship in ICT among Filipinos and ensuring the continuous creation of investible ideas and startup founders that will expand the Philippine Startup ecosystem.

Last October 24, 2022, the DICT Region IV-A CALABARZON in partnership with the Innovation Consortium South Luzon (ICONS) conducted the Regional Pitching Competition joined by aspiring students and young innovators whose startups were between the stages of Ideation to Minimum Viable Product from Region IV-A (Team Coffeecoders from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation, Team CCS Pirates from Lyceum of the Philippines University (LPU) - Batangas, Team Red Algo from the Batangas State University - The National Engineering University (BatStateU-NEU) Malvar Campus, Team Elev8 Team also from the BatStateU-NEU Arasof-Nasugbu Campus, Team Plan Protect Co. and Team All Tech and Construction from LPU - Cavite) and National Capital Region (NCR) (Team Bright from the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TUP) - Quezon City, Team AgriCropsMD from Adamson University, Team FERA from the Technological Institute of the Philippines (TIP) and Team ANI also from the TIP - Quezon City). The winners of each region were evaluated and determined by our distinguished panel of judges namely Engr. Aisa Mijeno of NEXUS Fab Lab, De La Salle Lipa, Mr. Marrione Pol Camacho of Embiggen Group and Dir. Cheryl C. Ortegal from DICT Regions IV-A and IV-B. The team All Tech and Construction “Build My House App” from LPU-Cavite was awarded as the 1st place winner followed by Team CCS Pirates “Balarila PH” from LPU-Batangas as the 2nd place winner and Team Coffee Coders “WELP” from Manuel S. Enverga University Foundation as the 3rd place winner from Region IV-A. While for the NCR, the awarded 1st place winner was Team ANI “Tanim Co.” from TIP - Quezon City, 2nd place winner was Team Bright “Bright” from TUP - Quezon City, and the 3rd place winner was Team AgriCropsMD “Agri Crops MD” from Adamson University. Each winner received a token and a plaque.