In collaboration with NTT Startup Challenge, the premier platform nurturing the start-up ecosystem in Southeast Asia and NTT Docomo Ventures, a corporate venture capital of NTT Group, PLDT Enterprise and PLDT Innolab announce the Start-Up Innovation Challenge 2024, a dynamic platform, launched in 2021, designed to empower and support local start-ups in the Philippines.
This initiative, now in its third year, is aligned with the PLDT Group’s broad and deep commitment to fostering meaningful innovation. This year, the group invites promising start-ups once again to showcase their groundbreaking solutions and compete for significant opportunities to scale their innovations.
A Commitment to Supporting Start-Ups
Building on the success of previous years, including various initiatives and the continued support to start-ups, PLDT Enterprise nurtures the tech ecosystem through this competition, providing start-ups the opportunity to communicate their solutions to a panel of judges, investors, potential clients, and partners.
“Supporting start-ups is a key part of our mission to drive innovation and digital transformation,” said John Gonzales, First Vice President and Head of Enterprise Consulting Services and Technology Management at PLDT Enterprise. “Through initiatives like the Start-Up Innovation Challenge, we aim to identify top performers, promising innovators, and empower entrepreneurs to develop and scale their innovative solutions, contributing to the growth of the Philippine tech landscape.”
For the first time, this year’s Start-Up Innovation Challenge also offers participants a unique opportunity to network with global partners and potential clients, providing invaluable connections that can propel their innovations to new heights.
Nurturing Innovators at the Start-Up Innovation Challenge
The Start-Up Innovation Challenge offers a comprehensive platform for start-ups to gain visibility and access to critical resources. The challenge focuses on key areas including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Internet of Things (IoT), Smart City, Sustainability, and Mixed Reality (MR)/Extended Reality (XR)/Digital Twin.
“We are thrilled to launch the Start-Up Innovation Challenge 2024 and continue our support for the community,” said Kristine Dara Ever Juan, Head of Innovations Lab and Ecosystem Partnerships (Innolab) at PLDT Enterprise. “This year, we are offering even greater opportunities for start-ups to showcase their innovations and connect with industry leaders and potential investors.”
The competition is open to legally registered startups with proprietary tech solution in the Philippines, be operational for more than a year, and have at least one paying client. Interested participants should email their start-up name to innolab@pldt.com.ph until October 7, 2024.
This year’s innovation challenge presents an exciting opportunity for start-ups to accelerate their growth and achieve greater success. The winning team will receive prizes that can help them further develop their innovation. This includes an opportunity to represent the Philippines in a regional start-up competition and one year of free co-working space at Innolab, PLDT’s Innovation Laboratory, providing a vibrant environment to foster innovation and collaboration.
PLDT Enterprise is also proud to announce that this year’s Start-Up Innovation Challenge will be held in collaboration with NTT Startup Challenge and NTT Docomo Ventures, this further enhancing the support and resources available to participating start-ups.
This initiative to empower start-ups and their technology aligns with the PLDT group’s commitment to innovation, aiming to enhance customer experience, transform the community, and support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UNSDG), particularly SDG No. 9 – Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure.
For more information about the Start-Up Innovation Challenge 2024 and to stay updated, visit https://pldtenterprise.com/ or follow PLDT Enterprise on Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and LinkedIn.
