The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Competitiveness and Innovation Group (DTI-CIG) DTI-CIG and startup accelerator Launchgarage celebrated the winners of the IDEA and ADVanCE for Creatives Programs during their Demo Day on April 15, 2024 in Whitespace Manila.
The Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) and Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) for Creatives Programs for Creatives programs are DTI-CIG’s initiatives launched in 2023 to foster innovative startups as per the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA).
MVRK Simulations, a startup that uses gamified training simulations to revolutionize workforce development, was declared the winner of the IDEA program. They secured a pitch prize of PHP 75,000.
“Being part of the IDEA program has been incredibly valuable. It’s provided me with essential insights into starting a company, from necessary research to overcoming early-stage challenges. Access to this program feels like having a cheat code or a manual that helps me to transform our inventive business concept into a successful enterprise,” said MVRK Simulations Co-founder and CEO James Lo.
On the other hand, ROC.PH Digital Marketing Services won the top prize in the ADVanCE program, earning PHP 100,000 for its Marketing-as-a-Service (MaaS) platform designed for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs).
“From the mentorships to engaging with my fellow startups, the program has been invaluable, providing insights that I hadn’t encountered before, which can be applied to our future planning. It is very informative and helpful, especially for startup businesses like mine,” shared Ron Oliver Clarin, CEO and Founder of ROC PH.
Other participating startups in these two programs include:
IDEA program:
- Produkto PH (multi-vendor marketplace for Filipino entrepreneurs)
- Transcend Studios Inc. (media production agency)
- Carisle Media Corporation (marketing firm)
- Kwentoon (kid-friendly creative content platform)
- 7X7 Development Corp (sports and fitness-focused Palaro app creators)
- Wika Media (tech startup that helps people with hearing/visual disabilities access educational videos and entertainment)
- Brave Story, Pamitisan Shoe Shop, and Denim & Denim (Sustainable fashion startups)
ADVanCE program:
- KikoMonster Creative Studio (Zamboanga-based creative solutions provider)
- Bihasa (digital learning video production company)
- AniMattify (print ad-to-video animation conversion service)
- Bentamo (Filipino brand-focused marketplace)
Startup creators who joined the event were praised by DTI-CIG Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut. She also acknowledged the positive impact of the creative industry in the Philippines.
“Through our unwavering dedication, we aim to showcase the ingenuity and innovation of Filipinos, to not only drive our nation’s economic growth but also elevate our global competitiveness to unprecedented levels,” said Baluyut.
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