Young entrepreneurs shine at major startup tilt

MANILA, Philippines — An intellectual property bank, an agritech solutions company and a mobile app for children with communication disabilities topped a recent pitching competition organized by the government for youth-led business startups.

In the second stage of the ARISE Plus Philippines Young Entrepreneurs (Ye)! Boost Accelerator, QBO Innovation Hub, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the International Trade Center (ITC) joined forces to successfully complete the program.

The event brought together 88 young participants from 12 business startups, providing them with the support needed to expand internationally.

“This event presents a valuable opportunity to network and underscore the unwavering commitment of both the public and private sectors to foster youth-led entrepreneurship. The ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator plays a vital role in shaping the future of entrepreneurship and innovation,” said DTI Undersecretary Rafaelita Aldaba.

Poised to storm the global market with their bold and groundbreaking ideas, the winners include Synthillate Co. Ltd., Sakahon and Pic-A-Talk.

Winning first place was Synthillate, Asia’s first “intellectual property bank” that allows users to convert their intellectual properties into financial assets.

Coming in second was Sakahon, an agritech solutions company that aims to simplify supply chain in agriculture and create inclusive producer-market business relationship, including by enabling farmers to know what the market needs three to six months ahead of time using data management.

Pic-A-Talk, finishing third, is an assistive mobile application for children with speech and language disabilities providing a picture exchange communication system to help them communicate their needs.

“With the mentorship and guidance of various mentors, experts, and knowledge resources in the program, Synthillate was able to identify, navigate and prepare the business for international expansion. Since our acceptance to the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator, Synthillate got a coveted spot in one of the top fintech accelerators in the world – the Seoul Fintech Lab,” said Synthillate co-founder Joseph Christopher Doroja.

“The ARISE Plus Philippines project stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in nurturing innovation, fostering job creation, and contributing to the overall economic growth of the country,” said Noreen Bautista of Panublix, the grand winner of the first stage and now exporting to the EU.

The ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator, a flagship initiative under the ARISE Plus Philippines project funded by the European Union (EU), provides comprehensive support to early-stage startups. The program aims to equip entrepreneurs with the necessary skills, resources, and networks to scale their ventures and compete globally. Through a series of workshops, mentoring sessions, and networking opportunities, the accelerator enables startups to refine their business models, validate their products or services, and establish a solid foundation for growth.