Proudly Filipino 
It has been a cliche that it takes a community to raise a child and For Cebu’s startup scene, the adage came true after IdeaSpace National Competition announced that five out of the 20 finalist for this years top tech business ideas is from the “Queen of the South”.
From Cebu, these are the ‘interesting business ideas’ :
Lost Meets Found is an online solution for lost and found objects. The team is composed of Mr. Robert Bryan Mandin, Mr. Leonid Salas and Mr. Jan Cabalhug.
Micab is a smartphone solution for getting a cab with or without mobile Internet. The team is composed of Mr. Eddie Ybanez, Mr., Alvin Luther Lim and Mr. Kenneth Joseph Von Baylosis.
Nambal.com has been a familiar project to me eversince one of its co-founder introduced it to me months ago. This social media powered online healthcare system with portable features is developed by Mr. Edison Quiñones, Ms. Ma. Janessa Rhodora Velez and Mr. Belleo Ylaya Maraon.
SafeCab addresses the common “rude” taxicabs. If my information serves me right, this app provides feedback for commuters riding cabs. Cebu WordPress Group’s Mr. Keith Levi Lumanog, Mr. Esci Morales and Mr. Jessiel Estrobo are the proponents of this idea.
Tudlo is the Visayan word for ‘teach”. For this project, it is a software solution that can teach, guide and points a user specially on disaster and emergency situation. I am expecting more ideas on this promising venture from Mr. Kristoffer Vincent Loremia, Mr. Eman Daryl and Mr. Raaffy Englis.
Most of these Cebu-based startup teams is more or less a product of the local TechTalks community started by Tina Amper in 2010. In 2012, this non-profit community organized the first and second run of Startup Weekend in Cebu. These activities had provided an initial jump-off point for these groups to blend and grow as a team.
Other IdeaSpace National Competition Finalist according to TechCrunch.com, to complete the 20 winners, are the following:
- AgriCultureTechnology – monitors growth of aquatic livestock
- Armtech – affordable water purification machine for households
- CornerData – simplified data gathering for agriculture and disaster preparedness using electronic sensors
- DateCola – natural date enriched beverages
- DepEd Smart Cloud – enterprise solution for public school system
- FindmyDok – a solution for searching doctors
- Mirand – Lower cost and high quality total joint implants for the Asian market
- PGRS – produces electricity via rumble strips on high traffic roads
- PinoyTravel – provincial bus seat reservation using mobile technologies
- PortfolioMNL – online marketplace for creative professionals
- Prodigo – a solution for targeted promotions and analytics
- SafeCab – a solution that providing feedback for commuters riding cabs
- Summarize and Notify – allows web searches, summarizes information and notifies users
- Tech4Health – solution for health monitoring of chronic conditions including diabetes
- TimeFree – SMS-based automated queuing system
- WeGen – new design of wind turbine that is more efficient than current technology
The IdeasSpace National Competition Search
Among the more than 700 entries received nationwide, eight are from Metro Manila, six from Visayas (of which 4 are from Cebu alone), three from Mindanao and Two from Central Luzon, and one from Bicol.
Most of those who submitted entries this year are mobile-based and software solutions on ‘idea to prototype stage’ and is expected that can address issues for specific industries like energy, agriculture, transportation and health care.
IdeasSpace National Competition: Leveling the Space for Ideas in the Philippine Startup Scene
The growing numbers of “world-class” Filipinos returning to the Philippines in the next big idea has given enormous resources and avenue for to the local startup and technopreneurs to flourish.
One of them is 40 Under 40 International Development Leaders 2012 Awardee Earl Martin Valencia. Known to many as the ‘cool late 20-something guy’ who co-founded IdeasSpace Foundation in 2011.
Formally launched in March 2012, the campaign goes national with road shows specifically targeting developer communities. Submission closed in January 2013.
IdeaSpace National Competition Top 10 Finalists Prize
Out of the IdeaSpace National Competition Top 20 finalist 10 will have the chance of getting funding of up to Php 5 million pesos (approximately USD 120 K) each.
Aside from this the winning teams will have a chance of receiving exclusive mentoring, support, services and grants from IdeasSpace partners.
And for those teams outside of Metro Manila, they will be given housing support (which is the one and only of its kind in the Philippines Startup Scene.
IdeasSpace National Competition Final Judging
IdeaSpace national competition finals will be tomorrow (April 5, 2013) at the First Pacific Leadership Academy in Antipolo City, Rizal.
The board of Judges are no less than Manny V. Pangilinan, Mr. Doy Vea, Mr. Joey Lim and other well known top executives of the MVP group.
Tomorrow, I, along with a select few bloggers, will witness live as history unfolds for the winners of the first ‘IdeasSpace Top 10 National Search for Top 10 Business Ideas.’ I was also invited to attend its Press and Cyberpress national launch.
IdeasSpace National Competition finals according to the Co-Founder
IdeasSpace.ph President Earl Valencia has this to say about the first run, “The diversity of both the ideas and geographic locations prove to us that there are a great number of innovations in the Philippines. Through our national competition, we hope that we are indeed helping level the startup playing field for these very early stage technology business ideas.”
Indeed, the first real national startup contest searches for the best ideas and levels off the playing field. With the inputs of the Philippines’ top business innovators as well as technopreneurs the most ‘promising’ will earn the slot to move forward. And for the other half who won’t make it to the cut, they have insights to digest to improve more their idea for the next IdeaSpace National Competition.
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