MVRK Simulations, ROC PH Named as Winners of DTI’s IDEA and ADVanCE for Creatives Programs

22 April 2024, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry, through the Competitiveness and Innovation Group (DTI-CIG), in collaboration with startup accelerator Launchgarage, celebrated the innovation and drive of local creative startups as they awarded the winners of its Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) and Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) for Creatives Programs during their Demo Day on April 15, 2024, at Whitespace Manila, Makati City.

Launched in 2023, the IDEA and ADVanCE for Creatives programs are among DTI-CIG's flagship initiatives, aimed at fostering innovative startups in accordance with the visions outlined in the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA).

The Demo Day, attended by a diverse audience of industry professionals, investors, and stakeholders, marked the culmination of an intensive eight-week series of learning sessions and mentorship for 15 creative startups. The esteemed judging panel includes DTI-CIG Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut, Launchgarage Innovation Hub Co-founder Jojo Flores, and Philippine Art Events, Inc. Co-founder Geraldine “Dindin” Araneta, who evaluated the startups' pitches and shared valuable insights.

MVRK Simulations, a startup revolutionizing workforce development through gamified training simulations, emerged as the winner of the IDEA program, securing 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.

Aside from MVRK Simulations, the participating startups for the IDEA program included multi-vendor marketplace for Filipino entrepreneurs Produkto PH, media production agency Transcend Studios Inc., marketing firm Carisle Media Corporation, kid-friendly creative content platform Kwentoon, sports and fitness-focused Palaro app creators 7X7 Development Corp, and Wika Media, a tech startup that helps people with hearing/visual disabilities access educational videos and entertainment. Sustainable fashion startups Brave Story, Pamitisan Shoe Shop, and Denim & Denim were also part of the program.

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.

The ADVanCE program also featured Zamboanga-based creative solutions provider KikoMonster Creative Studio, digital learning video production company Bihasa, print ad-to-video animation conversion service AniMattify, and Filipino brand-focused marketplace Bentamo.

DTI-CIG Assistant Secretary Leonila Baluyut commended the participating startups and recognized the impact of the Philippine creative landscape.

"I would like to congratulate all the startups that have been part of the latest cohorts of the IDEA and ADVanCE for Creatives programs. Moving forward, DTI remains steadfast in its commitment to championing these programs, serving as a catalyst for the advancement of the Philippine creative industry. 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."

In addition to awarding cash prizes to two program winners, DTI is committed to supporting all graduates by integrating them into our network of mentors and investors, facilitating connections with potential opportunities, providing ongoing mentorship, engaging with local ecosystem stakeholders, and offering immersion trips to enhance their application of learned skills.

DTI Unveils Top 5 Startup Finalists of ADVanCE for Creatives Program

03 April 2024, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has officially announced the top five startup finalists for the Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) for Creatives Program on March 21, 2024, at the Launchgarage Innovation Hub in Quezon City.

Selected from an initial pool of eight growth-stage startups, the top five finalists underwent assessments focused on organizational capacity, business maturity, and readiness levels. In these sessions, DTI and Launchgarage evaluated each startup based on its product status, team dynamics, future objectives, and challenges, concentrating on how the program could support its growth. This ensured that the chosen finalists were not only well-prepared to navigate forthcoming challenges but were also positioned to make a significant impact on the creative sector through their innovative and scalable solutions.

The top five finalists are AniMattify, a startup transforming print ads into animations; KikoMonster Creative Studio, providing creative solutions from Zamboanga; Bihasa, merging instructional design with production for learning videos; ROC.PH Digital Marketing Services, assisting businesses and professionals through website management, digital marketing consultation, creative design, and strategy implementation; and Bentamo, a tech startup showcasing creative Filipino brands. The finalists will undergo intensive training based on the specific interventions identified during the needs assessment.

The ADVanCE for Creatives program, launched on December 5, 2023, aligns with the visions outlined in the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA). This initiative underscores DTI's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Philippines.

DTI Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Group Rafaelita M. Aldaba commended the selected startups, emphasizing DTI's dedication to supporting their growth. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the top five startup finalists of the ADVanCE for Creatives program,” said Usec. Aldaba. “DTI is proud to support the development of these promising startups as they contribute to the advancement of the Philippine Creative Industries.”

The finalists will benefit from comprehensive training through a series of learning workshops, mentorship from industry experts, and customized business matching and acceleration programs. The program will culminate in a demo day in April, providing an opportunity for the startups to showcase their progress and attract potential partners and investors.

In addition to ADVanCE, DTI previously unveiled ten select creative startups and enterprises for the Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) program, further bolstering the Philippine Creative Industries.The selected startups for IDEA are Wika, 7x7 Development Corporation, MVRK Simulations, Pamitisan Shoe Shop, Transcend Studios Inc., Kwentoon, Carisle Media Corporation, Produkto PH, DND Denim N’ Denim, and Brave Story.