CEBU CITY— Eleven finalists from the Visayas pitched their respective startup projects before a panel of judges for the Filipinnovation Awrds 2025 Visayas Sub-National Competition, July 17 at Marco Polo Plaza Cebu City.
The Filipinnovation Awards is an annual competition that aims to showcase Filipino innovators who are prepared for early-stage commercialization, encourage stakeholders to actively participate in innovation, not only to demonstrate their capabilities and achievements but also to make significant contributions to the national agenda of fostering a culture of innovation, Innovation Staff, DEPDev, Dianne Gail Maharjan said in her briefing at the event.
The selection process includes a national call for applications, eligibility checks, and pitching sessions. From 568 registrations, 11 semi-finalists were selected from the Visayas. The finalists will undergo coaching and mentoring in Metro Manila, with the final award ceremony scheduled for October 2025.
The finalists will undergo coaching and mentoring in Metro Manila, with the final award ceremony scheduled for October 2025.
The awards cover three categories that include food security, learning poverty, and health and well-being and it aim to showcase Filipino capabilities and provide a platform for collaboration among innovation ecosystem players, Majarjan added.
The awards are open to all private enterprises or individuals who are Filipino citizens or 100% Filipino-owned enterprises and participants must be DTI or SEC registered and in the early stage of commercialization.
The awards support innovators who need financial and market support to mass produce and enter the market. The call for applications was announced in January and closed on March 20, 2024. Each cluster, including NCR, Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, conducted their own eligibility checks.
The sub-national finalists pitch their innovations, and three wildcards will be selected by the executive steering committee. The 15 finalists will undergo coaching and mentoring in Metro Manila, leading to the final awarding ceremony in October 2025.
The award for the Filipino Innovator includes a cash prize of around P3.5 million, technical assistance, and exposure to international events, while the remaining finalists will also receive a consolation prize of P250K each, also subject to tax, and support from mentors and experts as a significant part of the prize package. (Photos: MBCNewman)
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