To prepare the participants for the upcoming iDea PLUS Reverse Pitching event on April 10-11, the DOST ISU Smart City Technology Business Incubator (DISC-TBI) conducted the Pitching Pre-Hack Event held via Zoom, April 6.
Dr. Betchie Aguinaldo, DISC-TBI Project Lead, highlighted in her welcome message DISC-TBI’s commitment to fostering a collaborative startup environment not just in the Cagayan Valley region but across the Philippines. This collaborative spirit is achieved through co-incubation and partnership initiatives in strengthening the start-up ecosystem among academe, local government unit, industry partners and DOST. As a pre-workshop event of International Smart Cities & Communities Exposition & Networking Engagement (iSCENE 2024), this aims to simulate the value of tripartite partnership of DOST, LGU and academe in realizing the SMART progam of DOST in attaining the smart and sustainable cities and communities.
Mr. Matt Matias, DISC-TBI Project Development Officer, presented an overview of the iDea PLUS Reverse Pitching program, outlining its background, goals, vision, and history. He also explained the format of the upcoming reverse pitching event, which will be held on April 10-11, 2024, at the Maximillan Hotel and Isabela Convention Center in Cauayan City, Isabela, respectively.
Mr. Dayther Manubag, Program Associate of New Energy Nexus – Philippines , an international non-profit organization that supports startups through accelerators and funding, presented the iDea PLUS design challenges. His presentation included defining the challenges, providing context, showcasing sample solutions, and exploring existing business models.
Following Mr. Manubag’s presentation, Mr. Abad Enriquez, Training and Innovation Consultant, led a session on problem framing. This session aimed to guide participants in transforming the presented design challenges into well-defined problem statements and fostering empathy for the communities they are designing solutions for.
Mr. Richard Day, President of Upgrade Innolab Inc., TBI mentor of DISC-TBI, provided valuable insights on crafting a compelling startup presentation and preparing a successful pitch. He expressed his admiration for the iDea PLUS program, stating, “I’m very happy to see how you are fulfilling your mandate with DOST to stimulate innovation and collaborate with various intermediaries to develop the startup ecosystem.”
The pre-hack event concluded with essential reminders and updates regarding the reverse pitching competition. Participants included smart city technical experts from various Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) across the North Luzon cluster, including Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU), University of Saint Louis (USL), Cagayan State University (CSU), Ilocos Sur Polytechnic State College (ISPSC), Isabela State University (ISU), Pangasinan State University (PSU), Kalinga State University (KSU), University of the Cordilleras (UC), and Bataan Peninsula State University(BPSU).
Additionally, representatives from participating Local Government Units (LGUs) and the Department of Science and Technology Regional Office were present at the event.
This event demonstrates DISC-TBI’s dedication to empowering the next generation of innovators and fostering a thriving startup ecosystem in the Philippines.
