RCBC’s DiskarTech app has formally announced and introduced the Top 20 finalists for the first-ever edition of its DiskarTechPreneur Bootcamp and Competition.
The finalists comprise groups with up to five members from public and private senior high schools across the National Capital Region and CALABARZON. The Grade 11 and 12 students were also accompanied and guided by their coaches or advisers.
Before the shortlist, more than 70 teams were asked to each submit a brief explaining their ‘big idea,’ a proposed business with identified target customers, business viability, and social media marketing strategy. Each participating school was allowed to field a maximum of three teams in the competition.
“This program is special for our partnership with the government in terms of promoting inclusive digital finance by way of financial education and digital literacy,” said RCBC Executive VP and Chief Innovation and Inclusion Officer Lito Villanueva. “This partnership started when we launched Madiskarteng Pananalapi modules that were made available to senior high school students in public and private schools.”
“We thought it should not be all about theories but should also include practice. That’s why we came up with DiskarTechPreneur Bootcamp and Competition. We first announced it during the Philippine Youth convergence in June in Palawan, where student leaders from across 18 regions of DepEd (Department of Education) were present,” he further explained.
Villanuena added that the program aims to make senior high school students use their freedom and creativity to come up and innovate as to how they could actually promote financial inclusion or financial education especially in helping uplift the lives of fellow Filipinos in their respective communities.
The projects of the finalists are (in no particular order):
- Fiesta Kutsinta, colorful kutsinta in a variety of flavors that hopes to bring out the Pinoy Fiesta spirit, from Malabon City TechVoc and Entrepreneurship Senior High School
- Empanada ni Pepe, empanada with a twist, from Calamba Bayside Integrated High School
- Fav Cha, mulberry juice drink, Batasan Hills National High School
- FIOU! Pain Reliever, an environment-friendly essential oil product that aims to help provide pain relief, from Cabuyao Institute of Technology
- Spotless, an online cleaning service, from Panghulo National High School
- Tamissnakita, a locally owned sweet delicacy shop, by Francisco E. Barzaga Integrated High School
- Pitaca de Papel, a synthetic paper wallet that promotes financial literacy, from Las Pinas National High School
- Salelors Enterprise, a company that will sell reversible waterproof tote bags, from Tabangao Integrated High School
- Docer, an online tutoring service, from Mapua University Senior High School
- One Bite, a sushi-roll inspired fruit salad product, from Francisco E. Barzaga Integrated High School
- Sintaks, an online Filipino-language writing assistant, from Mapua University Senior High School
- The Tala Student Planner, a multi-purpose notes vault meant to aid students with their school tasks, from Santiago Integrated National High School
- Backet, a jacket that converts into a bag, from Nazareth School
- C5 Multifunction Safety Kit, a keychain with built-in safety functions such as a personal alarm, from Ramon Avanceña High School
- Beezy, eco-friendly beeswax pouches, from Antipolo City Senior High School
- Cementipots, plant pots made from environmentally friendly and sustainable materials, from Luis Y. Ferrer Jr. Senior High School
- Kinaiya, curated boxes with emotions as themes, from Malabon National High School
- Nova Champ, veggie burger patty, from Novaliches High School
- Fried Sushi-Plant, eggplant-based sushi rolls, from STI College Batangas
- Wisteria, affordable perfume, by Cittadini School
The finalists will proceed to the bootcamp round, where they will be given seed money from DiskarTech to jumpstart their business. They will also receive guidance and expert advice from their DiskarTechPreneur mentor to help improve their business case.
In the competition’s final round, the finalists will participate in the DiskarTechPreneur Virtual Bazaar where they will be given one month to execute their business plans via online live selling. They will also collaborate with kumu live streamers and influencers to sell their products.
The 1st DiskarTechPreneur Bootcamp and Competition has tapped the following mentors: ABS-CBN News Channel anchor Salve Duplito, Hapinoy President Mark Ruiz, RestartMe Inc. Independent Consultant Chairman Tess Espenilla, Securities and Exchange Commissioner Kelvin Lester Lee, and Department of Trade and Industry Assistant Secretary Jean Pacheco.
Catch a special livestream of the launching of the bootcamp and competition in ‘Goal Getters’ by Sydney Crespo on entertainment app kumu on March 31, 2023.
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