The 2023 Alibaba Netpreneur Masterclass, a global initiative that aims to help entrepreneurs build capacity and promote both private and public sector participation in the digital economy, kicked off in the Philippines with an opening ceremony at KMC SM North EDSA on July 27, 2023.
The Alibaba Netpreneur Masterclass is organized by official partners Alibaba Cloud, Gobi Partners, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, and JCI Manila. KMC, one of the largest flexible space and talent-as-a-service providers in the Philippines, is the venue partner.
Started in 2019, Alibaba’s program has produced more than 2,000 certified alumni across 60+ countries primarily from the ecommerce, fintech, and logistics sectors. According to Netpreneur data, the Philippines is the program’s top source of participants where around 40% are from outside Metro Manila. Its alumni has raised around US$53.2M in capital to grow numerous enterprises.
All certified program participants will be admitted into Alibaba Global Initiatives (AGI) alumni community for learners to interact, share ideas, find solutions, and follow discussions. The community also provides opportunities for members to network, collaborate, and seek opportunities to help each other with business challenges and innovation.
This year, the Philippines has signed up 236 participants from 69 different cities and municipalities for the Masterclass. These participants will get the chance to engage and learn from Alibaba executives and industry leaders, understand the latest trends shaping China’s digital economy, benchmark other businesses that have undergone digital transformation, and leverage Alibaba’s global network of Netpreneur alumni.
In the Masterclass, participants will expect to go through a series of lectures, assignments, quizzes, breakout sessions, and business webinars in a hybrid set-up of online and onsite courses. Its program approach includes an offline course in Alibaba headquarters in Hangzhou, China where Philippine representatives get to interact with Alibaba executives and other entrepreneurs participating from the region.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund Partner and Head of ESG at Gobi Partners Carlo Chen-Delantar emphasized the need for entrepreneurs to understand the nature and importance of tech in the region.
“In the Philippines, our goal is to create the next generation of Filipino entrepreneurs and look for the fastest way to generate impact for Filipinos, from Filipinos,” said Chen-Delantar. “Ecommerce, fintech, and logistics comprise the bulk of industries represented in the Masterclass, but if you think about it, – we are one of the most expensive last-mile logistics in the region,” he added.
Chen -Delantar also took the opportunity to present GUIDE (Gobi University Innovation Development Ecosystem), an entrepreneurship support and development knowledge network for startup founders to help empower and activate venture ecosystems.
GUIDE programs are intertwined with those of partners ranging from Alibaba Global Initiatives, UN Women, to university-based incubation and innovation centers with the goal of filling major gaps in the venture support ecosystem.
““It’s encouraging to see increased and diversified participation this year versus last year,” said Chen-Delantar. “We look forward to increasing these numbers year on year, so that more of the exceptional talent we’re already seeing at Gobi-Core is connected with the networks and knowledge necessary to scale their businesses and reach the potential we see them as capable of reaching.”
The 2023 Alibaba Netpreneur Masterclass, which will run from July 27 to August 24, is one of Alibaba’s flagship training initiatives. AGI’s mission is to share the positive impact of the new business paradigm in promoting inclusive development and to inspire and empower entrepreneurs, youth, and women.