Some of the country’s noteworthy startups were honored at the recent ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program Cohort 3.

Launched in 2021 and now in its third cohort, the ARISE startup accelerator is a 14-week program aimed at providing internationalization support to youth-led startups. The accelerator program is funded by the European Union (EU) and led by the International Trade Centre (ITC), in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Competitiveness Innovation Group (DTI-CIG) and QBO Innovation.

The program’s Demo Day, which was held at the Blue Leaf Pavilion, Taguig City, was attended by key partners, investors, and stakeholders. It marked the culmination of the program for 12 business startups from various verticals.

The Top Three Startups

Mylo Speech Buddy, the developer of a speech development app for children with autism and speech delays, bagged first place, securing a pitch prize of $2,500, or around PHP 146,000.

“Our experience joining the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program has been great. The support provided by QBO Innovation and the insights from ITC have been invaluable. I believe our win underscores the importance of the service we provide to the market. Our winnings will play a crucial role in our efforts to further grow the company and help more Filipino families,” Mylo Speech Buddy founder Vincent Rocha said.

BCRemit, a London-based fintech company founded by Pinoys empowering Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) with efficient money transfers, was awarded second place and received a $1,500 grant, or around PHP 87,000.

“Our focus has been on penetrating more markets geographically to reach more migrant workers. The grant we won will fund our expansion plans to the United States,” BCRemit co-founder and director Gio Calma shared.

Fashion brand PAMMÉ, which crafts sustainable accessories from recycled plastic made by women deprived of liberty, secured third place with a $1,000 pitch prize, or about PHP 58,000.

“The ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program has been remarkable. With its main focus on internationalization, I’m grateful that they have opened doors for us to explore global markets. At PAMMÉ, a fashion social enterprise, we take pride in this win,” PAMMÉ founder Pamela Meija remarked.

In addition to the cash prizes, the program, under the strategic partnerships facilitated by QBO Innovation, ITC, and DTI-CIG, will provide the top three winners with opportunities to build stronger networks with EU partners and investors to support their global market expansion.

Other Startup Accelerator Participants

Other participating startups in the ARISE startup accelerator included: Capilli, a social enterprise creating eco-friendly products from upcycled human hair waste; Hibla Philippines, a social enterprise preserving Philippine weaving traditions; IndieCo, an SEO company blending human creativity with AI for business content; Nama Urban Farms, an urban agriculture startup cultivating nutritious produce; Nutricoach Inc., a platform aiding dietitians in building and scaling nutrition clinics; Prezenter, a company that simplifies presentations in under 10 seconds, helping teachers put their lessons on Smart TVs; Reelist8, a proptech x Shoppertainment marketplace for real estate transactions; REPAMANA, a circular fashion brand repurposing hotel textiles into new garments; and TERPCAP Inc., an accessibility solutions provider for inclusive workplaces.

The judging panel for the startup accelerator program, who evaluated the pitches and shared valuable insights, included Assistant Secretary Althea Karen Antonio, DTI Foreign Trade Service Corps (FTSC); Miguel Lopez, Youth Entrepreneurship National Expert, ITC; Shoraliah Macalbe, Head of Startup Development, Ideaspace | QBO Innovation; Dara Ever Juan, Head of PLDT Innovations Laboratory and Ecosystem Partnerships (INNOLAB), PLDT; and Rodrigo Alarcon, Studio Director, ThinkPlace.