In the wake of its recent official launch, the Marikina Creative and Innovation Hub orchestrated its inaugural Pitch Competition on December 14, 2023, at LaunchGarage in Quezon City.
About the Marikina Creative and Innovation Hub Pitch Competition
Spearheaded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and fueled by Launchgarage, Inc., the event marks a cornerstone in the Hub's mission to cultivate entrepreneurship and innovation in creative sectors.
Lilian Salonga, Director of the DTI Competitiveness Bureau, underscored the significance of the competition as a gateway to the Hub's myriad programs and services. "This pitch competition will serve as an inspiring showcase of groundbreaking ideas, motivating participants to actively engage in DTI programs," Director Salonga highlighted.
Ten startups, spanning nine creative domains as outlined in the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA), presented their innovative solutions to a distinguished panel of judges, including Lucky Lopez from the Design Center of the Philippines, Mony Romana from Believe.com, and Abe Lozada from Launchgarage.
Startups were evaluated on criteria such as Innovativeness and Creativity, Sustainability and Viability, Relevance, Impact, and Team Composition.
Ultimately, WIKA claimed victory with its groundbreaking solution democratizing accessibility for individuals with hearing/visual impairments. WIKA impressed with its assistive AR technology delivering sign language or captions for the deaf or audio descriptions.
Podcast Network Asia secured second place with its platform empowering diverse storytellers to share creative narratives in various Filipino languages.
Completing the winners' circle, ITOOH Homestyle pitched its tech-enabled online marketplace offering locally-made furniture, décor, art, and interior design.
Likhaan nevertheless gained recognition among game-changing startups, showing its commitment to innovation and creativity in Filipino craftsmanship and artistry.
The top three startups were offered spots in the Hub's incubation and acceleration programs, including the Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) program and the Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) Program.
