Philippines startups inspire climate action at SF Tech Week ‘24

SAN FRANCISCO, California — Filipino American-founded startups Talino Venture Studios and BayaniPay hosted an event titled “Climate Resilience by Design: Opportunities in Deep Technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Mitigate Climate Risk” during SF Tech Week 2024.

Winston Damarillo, CEO and founder of Talino Venture Studios and BayaniPay, said that this event was an important milestone for the Philippines as the country took center stage at this year’s San Francisco (SF) Tech Week, where cutting-edge solutions aimed at mitigating climate risks were unveiled.

“The Philippines is uniquely positioned to lead in climate resilience innovations, having experienced the impacts of climate change firsthand. Developing solutions to anticipate future challenges is crucial, and by integrating technology, education and government initiatives, we are creating scalable solutions that can benefit both the Philippines and the world,” Damarillo said.

The SF Tech Week event brought together a diverse group of policymakers, climate tech entrepreneurs, impact investors and sustainability experts to discuss how deep tech and AI can mitigate climate risks — particularly in the Philippines, one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries.

Two fireside chats were featured, focusing on strategies and actionable steps for climate risk management and technology commercialization.

The first discussion, “Macro Strategies for Climate Resilience: Effective Approaches and Solutions,” explored the intersection of innovation, policy and community engagement to drive climate risk mitigation.

Moderated by climate advocate Kristy Drutman, the panel included Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Undersecretary Sancho Mabborang; De La Salle University (DLSU) president Br. Bernie Oca; Chemonics International senior vice president for Impact Saeed Uri; Kiana Kazemi, co-founder and CEO of Beaker, a climate-tech startup; and ABS-CBN Foundation US managing director Lisa Cabahug, who discussed policy frameworks and capacity building for resilient communities.

“We must prioritize climate resilience across all regions in the Philippines, not just urban centers. By focusing on vulnerable communities nationwide, we can ensure that our climate adaptation strategies are inclusive and far-reaching, safeguarding both rural and urban areas from the increasing impacts of climate change,” said Mabborang.

The second panel, “Productizing Innovations: Turning Ideas into Marketable Solutions,” centered on turning climate tech ideas into scalable, market-ready solutions.

The discussion featured Damarillo, Chemonics board member Gunjan Bhow, DOST assistant secretary Napoleon Juanillo Jr. and DLSU Animo Labs executive director Mike David, who provided insights into commercialization and the role of interdisciplinary partnerships in climate tech development.

Jamey Butcher, president and CEO of Chemonics delivered a keynote address underscoring the critical role of global collaboration in combating climate change.

“The climate crisis is one that all of humanity faces,” Butcher said.

“And to address it, we have to bring the brightest minds and substantial resources together to find and implement solutions that have sustainable global impact,” he added.

The event also showcased the recently announced pioneering partnership between DOST, DLSU and DEVCON Philippines.

This collaboration, which aims to develop the Climate Resilience Technology platform, is designed to accelerate climate tech innovations through scientific research, advanced technology and commercialization efforts.

Building on the momentum of SF Tech Week, the Climate Resilience Innovation Summit is scheduled for Feb. 27 to 28, 2025, in the Philippines, with events at DLSU Manila and Verde Island, a marine biodiversity hotspot in Batangas. This summit will convene innovators, policymakers and investors to further drive climate action.

Damarillo extended an invitation, saying, “We are at the cusp of groundbreaking climate solutions, and the upcoming summit will be a platform for the world to come together and turn ideas into impactful actions. We invite innovators, entrepreneurs and policymakers to join us in the Philippines in 2025 to be part of this global movement toward climate resilience.”

Talino Venture Studios is an award-winning global venture studio for inclusive fintech. BayaniPay, on the other hand, aims to use technology to break down the borders in banking and level the playing field for all global professionals.