UNDP, PDRF, QBO UNVEIL TOP 20 STARTUPS QUALIFIED FOR ASEAN-WIDE PITCH AT STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE

Twenty startups compete at Slingshot ASEAN 2017 for best innovation solutions on disaster resilience for a chance to win USD10,000

Last October 11, 2017 ,at the DTI International Innovation Bldg Makati City,  QBO announced and launched the top 20 startups companies  that would compete at the 1st Startups TO THE RESQUE  , which will be held in MANILA at October 20, 2017 – Twenty startups are set to compete at the first STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE, an ASEAN-wide startup competition that challenges startups to develop the best innovation solution related to disaster resilience and recovery. 

The 20 startups will showcase their products or services in an international pitching competition to be held during the Department of Trade and Industry’s (DTI) annual Slingshot event on October 20, 2017 at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).  

This competition is organized by QBO Innovation Hub (QBO) – the Philippines’ first public-private initiative for startups formed by IdeaSpace, J. P. Morgan, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and DTI – in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), The Philippine Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and Slingshot. 

The ASEAN region is home to some of the world’s most disaster-prone countries, not just in terms of natural calamities but also long-running conflicts. The STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE challenge empowers startups from across the region to come up with ways to use their existing products, services, and business models to form creative solutions to pressing global issues, including environmental disasters, outbreaks/pandemics, or violence and conflict. 

The final 20 startups were selected from more than 100 innovation solutions submitted by companies across ASEAN during a run-up call for proposals held from 13 September to 6 October, in the lead-up to the International Disaster Risk Reduction Day on 13 October. The startups were selected based on the creativity, scalability, and feasibility of their ideas. 

Here are the qualified companies:

ChatbotPH

After Effect

Skyeye Analytics, Inc.

Gavagives

LifeMesh

Ascendant Technologies, Inc.

Senti

Tralulu

StyleGenie PH

Cropital

Timba

BillionBricks

           ServeHappy Jobs

Pushkart.ph

UPROOT Aquaponics

Blogapalooza

           Haraya

Frontlearners, Inc.

Go Gridless Philippines Corp

Unomap

All twenty companies will showcase their ideas at Slingshot ASEAN 2017, from which the top six finalists will be invited to pitch on stage. The top three startups with the best pitches will be selected as winners. 

“We are proud of what we have seen so far. The participants have great ideas that we can definitely use to solve some of today’s global threats,” said Butch Meily, QBO President. “We are glad that in its first year ‘STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE’ has attracted great minds. We hope that it continues to be a platform where startup companies can deliver meaningful impact to relevant communities.”

“Climate and disaster risks are real threats to people and development – and we have seen this repeatedly in the last decade not just in the Philippines but across ASEAN. Risk and climate-informed development planning is now taking center stage and rightly so. With this competition, we hope to see ideas that can be explored and developed into solutions that will reduce risks and increase resilience of communities,” said Titon Mitra, UNDP Philippines Country Director.

The first prize winner will receive $10,000 as well as an opportunity to work with the UNDP and deploy their solutions with PDRF, one of the world’s leading private sector disaster resilience consortia comprised of the Philippines’ top corporations; the second and third prize winners will receive $4,000 and $2,000 respectively.

More than just a competition, STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE promotes awareness on the different crises faced by ASEAN countries – like the devastating Typhoon Haiyan that ravaged Eastern Visayas particularly Tacloban, and even Vietnam, or the current armed conflict happening in Marawi – and inspires startups to play a more proactive role in preventing and mitigating these disasters. Together, the startup ecosystems across ASEAN can innovate and collaborate with each other with the shared goal of promoting preparedness and resilient recovery. 

About QBO  

QBO (‘ku-bo’) is an innovation hub, or a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talent, and grow. It provides startups with support and resources through events and capacity building programs as well as focused interventions designed to improve access to markets, knowledge, capital, and talent. QBO is the country’s first public-private initiative for startups, created through a partnership between IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, DOST, and DTI. Spurred on by the vision of Filipinos startups changing the world, QBO’s mission is to create a globally competitive startup ecosystem in the Philippines. 

Contact us: http://qbo.com.ph/ ; hello@qbo.com.ph Social Media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/LinkedIn): /QBOphilippines or @QBOphilippines