Two innovative projects from Silliman University have made it to the top 25 shortlist of best startup ideas in Region VII with one landing in the top 10 during the Philippine Startup Challenge 9 – Regional Pitching Competition held on October 14, 2024, at One Central Hotel, Cebu City.
SU’s “SpeakOut” project by the College of Computer Studies “Shrec” team composed of Sheika A. Encabo, Cloyd C. Abad, and Earlan Josh Q. Sabillano landed 8th place while “Tupperware” project by the College of Business Administration “Malusog PH” team composed of Yuan Ceagaor K. Raquel, Josh Magdiel K. Villaluz, and James Gerard U. Domen, made it in the top 25.
The event, organized by the Department of Information and Communications Technology Region VII, through its ICT Industry Development Bureau Region VII, received 146 entries from 23 schools across the provinces of Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental, and Siquijor. A panel of judges selected the top 25 teams based on their creativity and potential impact.
CCS’s “SpeakOut” project, under the mentorship of Asst. Prof. Joy M. Dy, CCS dean, is a “one-stop platform that aims to ease the process of handling feedback for local government units, concerned citizens and private organizations. It makes the feedback process even simpler by harnessing large language models to sort and organize through all complaints/feedback and make the results just plain and easy to understand.
Dy explained that the project boasts key features, including a quick and easy way to lodge complaints/feedback as it has an efficient [user interface] UI and uses geolocation data to ease the process of filing complaints; an AI-powered sorting system that could sort complaints/feedback by categories, departments and priority; and an interactive heatmap that allows user to know the state of the community where the complaints/feedback are coming from at a glance.
Meanwhile, CBA’s “Tupperware” project, guided by Dr. Wilma Tejero-Libarios, aimed “to combat hunger among elementary and high school learners in the country and attract working individuals and companies whose personal missions and corporate social responsibility commitments align with Sustainable Development Goal (2) of combating hunger, achieving food security, and improving nutrition.” They presented their proposal online.
Competing teams delivered a 3 to 5-minute pitch followed by a 5-minute Q&A session. Timekeepers ensured that all presentations adhered strictly to the allotted time.
Only three projects from Negros Oriental made it to the top 25, with two from SU and another from Negros Oriental State University, while the winning team from Cebu Institute of Technology-University will represent Central Visayas in the National Semi-Final and Final rounds of the PSC 9.
Other schools that qualified in the regional round were Bohol Island State University – Balilihan Campus, Bohol Island State University – Calape Campus, Bohol Island State University – Main Campus, Cristal e-College, Holy Name University, Trinidad Municipal College, University of Bohol, Cebu Technological University – Main Campus, Philippine Science High School – Central Visayas Campus, University of Cebu – Main Campus, University of San Carlos, University of San Jose – Recoletos, University of the Philippines Cebu, and Siquijor Provincial Science High School.
Philippine Startup Challenge is DICT’s flagship annual startup pitching competition among Senior High School and College students. It aims to encourage and support the Filipino Youth in creating innovative and relevant ICT products and services that may potentially develop into viable business ventures as well as solve social problems.
The Regional Pitching Competition is a platform for emerging technopreneurs in Region VII to showcase their innovative ideas and promising startups. The winner of the competition will represent Central Visayas in the National Semi-Final and Final rounds of the PSC 9. (SU OIP)
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Photo Caption: Cloyd C. Abad (BSCS-III), Sheikha A. Encabo (BSCS-III), Asst. Prof. Joy M. Dy (College of Computer Studies dean), and Earlan Josh Q. Sabillano (BSCS-III) huddle for a quick photo at the Philippine Startup Challenge 9 – Regional Pitching Competition in Cebu City.
