The Final Pitch holds a tech season to target start-ups

CNN Philippines’ ‘The Final Pitch (TFP)’ will focus on an all-tech season to reach out to startups and entrepreneurs in its incoming “tech” 8^th season.

It comes at a time when the local startup ecosystem is experiencing a boom with a 179% increase in raised funding in 2021 to as much as $1 billion, generating interest from local and international investors.

Returning investor-judges include John Janusczcak, president and CEO of UBX, recognized as the Fastest Growing Fintech Company in South East Asia in 2020; former TFP mentor turned-investor-judge Amor Maclang of Geiser-Maclang, the convenor of Digital Pilipinas and World Fintech Festival – Philippines; Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon Depot.

Also joining as new investor judges are Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph, the largest crypto wallet in the Philippines; Francis Plaza, co-founder and CEO of PayMongo, one of the leading fintechs in the country; and Avin Ong, founder and CEO of Fredley Group of Companies who has under his belt a consortium of over 250 restaurants and café branches in the Philippines.     

The show is now accepting applications for entrepreneurs to pitch their ideas. "This will be our biggest season yet," TFP creator and host John Aguilar said. "The 8th season of the show is a very deliberate slant towards tech and we are looking forward to backing startups that will help our economy transition back to pre-pandemic growth levels.” 

Wei Zhou cited how technology solves problems. "We are seeing a whole new set of issues arise. Still, new technologies like blockchain, guarantees authenticity, immutable data, etc. These are the types of things that technology addresses. We're looking for startups that have creative solutions for real problems. We want to work with a founding team with a strong vision, clear goals, and the drive to get things done."

Januszczak said they want to drive inclusive prosperity. "We genuinely believe that technology is the great equalizer. What we're looking for is a ruthless product that fits the market. These are blockchain-powered, cryptocurrency, and DeFi (decentralized finance) -focused ideas. We are looking for people who are willing to do the hard work."

Plaza said that the internet has become more and more invisible. “Because of technology, people can start a business in their garage. We are looking for founders who share the same grit as we do and work together to make changes in the community. Technology, at the end of the day, should help make people's lives easier.”

Maclang added, "Digital Pilipinas, the largest private sector-led movement to tech up the Philippines, leads and starts movements in industries that are high risk, high value, highly misunderstood, and also highly regulated. As early as 2016, we championed Web 3 and all of these nascent technologies – blockchain, crypto, fintech -- with some of the leading organizations and governments in ASEAN. However, all of these which is technologies without mass uptake are virtually for naught. And that has been our mission:  #massuptake."

Rosemarie Ong said: "I got excited when I learned that it was a tech edition. Before the pandemic, Wilcon was already beefing up our digital footprint. It  was a startup 45 years ago and we are looking for startups that can help us accelerate."

Avin Ong revealed, "We are thinking of expanding across Asia, and it is important to utilize technology. We were one of the first players to shift to e-payment during the pandemic immediately, and we are looking forward to automating and digitizing our internal and external processes."

Streamlined Campaigns Philippines managing director Kaiser Estrada will serve as one of the mentors for the season. He will show them how to maximize the benefits of online strategies and social media platforms for their businesses.

Filming of TFP will be held from July 5-6, 2022 in Okada Manila, the show’s exclusive hotel and venue partner. Okada Manila SVP for Hotel Operations Ivaylo S. Ivanov, who will come in as a guest judge, said “Being one of the technologically advanced resorts in the country, it’s the perfect match for us. Looking forward to some fantastic creative idea and talents out there.”

Aguilar said that Season 8 would serve as a prelude and a run-up to The Final Pitch: ASEAN, which will involve Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam by 2023 and filmed and broadcast across Asia.    “We are aiming for the show to be the regional   platform that will enable cross border investment and cooperation across Southeast Asia. Proudly Filipino produced, for a global audience.”