By Edward Descalsota and Jason Occidental
Ateneo de Davao University School of Engineering and Architecture (SEA) organized its first technopreneurship business pitching competition last 2 February 2018 at the 7/F Finster Hall, Finster Auditorium.
The event served as the culminating activity of the Ateneo de Davao Method of Innovation and Technopreneurship (ADMIT) bootcamp for faculty members. The bootcamp covered four full days of trainings and workshops, along with the pitching competition on the fifth and final day.
The boot camp aims to develop the technopreneurial mindsets of the faculty. Collaboration between various disciplines was also promoted wherein the participants of the bootcamp came from the School of Engineering and Architecture, the School of Business and Governance, the School of Arts and Sciences, and the Grade School Unit.
The thirty-eight faculty members were able to form eight different teams, each having their unique and innovative business idea. Each team was given five minutes to present their pitches and another five minutes for the question and answer.
The judges were composed of Engr. Ma. Theresa Espino of SEA-Industrial Engineering, Engr. John Rey Naranjo of Ingenuity, and Roberto ‘Dr. Bo’ Puentespina, Jr. of Davao Thermo Biotech Corporation.
The Happy Pig Team, which offers to make a bacon-alternative with the use of seaweed, bagged the first place. The team envisions this product as a viable solution not only to heavy meat-based health problems most people encountered nowadays but also to environmental and economic problems as well. The team is composed of Engr. Maria Leah Flor A. De Castro, Engr. Ryutaro P. Yamamoto, and Engr. Josef Rene L. Villanueva.
Ranking second was Umbra SMS by Ms. Christine M. Valencia, the lone proponent from Grade School. Her solution tackles the parents’ involvement as an integral part of the foundation for student success. Umbra SMS provides a platform for teachers to communicate and coordinate with the parents.
Intellibin, a smart garbage bin that aims to promote waste reduction and segregation education, got the third place. The team is composed of Dr. Doris B. Montecastro, Engr. Decien Dee F. De Cagalitan, Engr. Eva Marie C. Mendoza, Engr. Mark Anthony R. Rotor, and Mr. Bernie M. Jereza with Dr. Cleofe A. Arib as their financial consultant.
A crowd favorite was also selected which was based on the team that received the highest amount of investment, represented by fictitious money. It was no other than the GreenMarket.ph team who got the People’s Choice Award for having a total of Php 1,460,000.00 of investment from the crowd. GreenMarket.ph is an e-commerce hub for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in the Philippines offering natural and organic products. The team is comprised of Ms. Donna M. Abrina, Mr. Roger James P. Plasabas, and Dr. Jovelyn A. Castro.
Other presenters which are nip-and-tuck with each other were Genie, SolaRF, Real-Deal Builders, and Ato Ni Bai.
With the event being a big success, the school plans to conduct more of these bootcamps and pitching competitions for other members of the university community and outside institutions. This is in line with the establishment of Ateneo de Davao University as the Technopreneurship Hub of Southern Mindanao through a grant by the Commission on Higher Education and the Philippine Development Foundation (PhilDev).