The Arise Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program, funded by the European Union and led by the International Trade Centre (ITC), has recognized three startups from the third cohort of its 14-week program.
The startups – Mylo Speech Buddy, BCRemit, and PAMME – were picked from 12 firms that participated in the 14-week program aimed at providing internationalization support to youth-led tech enterprises.
Mylo Speech Buddy provides a speech development app for children with autism and speech delays while BCRemit is a Filipino-founded, London-based money transfer company.
PAMME is a fashion brand that crafts sustainable accessories from recycled plastic made by women deprived of liberty.
QBO Innovation, a division of Ideaspace, provided support and guidance to the participating startups through the program via workshops and mentorship sessions.
Mylo Speech Buddy clinched first place and received a pitch prize of $2,500 while BCRemit was awarded $1,500 for securing second place. PAMME secured a $1,000 pitch prize, according to the announcement.
“The support provided by QBO Innovation and the insights from ITC have been invaluable. I believe our win underscores the importance of the service we provide to the market,” said Mylo Speech Buddy founder Vincent Rocha.
BCRemit co-founder and director Gio Calma said the grant will fund the startup’s expansion plans to the US.
“Our focus has been on penetrating markets geographically to reach more migrant workers,” he added.
In addition to the cash prizes, the program, under the strategic partnerships facilitated by QBO Innovation, ITC, and DTI-CIG, will provide the top three winners the chance to build stronger networks with EU partners and investors to support their global market expansion.
“Europe is an often-untapped market for us. Through the ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program, we hope that Filipino startups can gain access to this crucial market and establish a foothold for exports,” said Rene “Butch” Meily, president of Ideaspace | QBO Innovation
ARISE Plus Ye! Boost Accelerator Program was launched in 2021 in partnership with the Department of Trade and Industry – Competitiveness Innovation Group.
Cohort 3 was participated by 12 business startups from various verticals, including social enterprise Capili; weaving firm Hibla Philippines; SEO company IndieCo; agritech firm Nama Urban Farms; healthech startup Nutricoach Inc; edtech startup Prezenter; proptech company Reelist8; circular fashion brand REPAMANA; and accessibility solutions provider TERPCAP Inc.