Three rising Philippine startups win support at Accelerate PH. (From left) Talino Board of Advisors Will Charnock; Cocotel CEO Rafael Jouwena; Britana Managing Director Ana Calubad; On Demand Deals CEO and COO Fernando Ramos and Gabriel De los Reyes; DEVCON and Talino Founder Winston Damarillo
MANILA, Philippines — Three Philippine rising startups—Britana, Cocotel, and On Demand Deals—were declared winners at Accelerate PH: The Philippines’ First Live Funding Demo Day, which was held as part of Philippine Startup Week at SMX Convention Center Aura last November 18.
Over a thousand attendees tuned in online and went to the venue to witness the live pitch competition, which was organized by DEVCON Philippines, Stonks, Talino Venture Labs, QBO Innovation Hub, and USAID to give participants the opportunity to offer pre-IPO equity to investors on Stonks.
Stonks is an equity crowdfunding platform that makes startup investing accessible and approachable for millions. On its platform, early-stage startups can host live funding demos with a global reach, exposing them to individual angels who are interested in supporting innovation.
This is the first time its online platform has been opened to startups in the Philippines, which is a momentous step to bolster international support for the local startup ecosystem, according to organizers.
Accelerate PH’s Top 8 Startups: Forent, Uproot Urban Farms, Cocotel, Smile API, Britana, On Demand Deals, TrashCash, and Stanible along with the judging panel and executives from Talino Venture Labs
Democratizing Capital At Accelerate PH
From a diverse pool of applicants, only eight startups were chosen to pitch their business ideas during the live event. They received questions and feedback from a panel of esteemed business leaders, venture capitalists, and representatives from international agencies—namely Will Charnock, Board of Advisors at Talino; Katrina Chan, Executive Director at QBO; Darren Eng, Executive Director at LA Ventures Association; Jacob Cue, Associate at Foxmont Capital Partners; Vice Catudio, Chief of Party at USAID Philippines; and Michael McClune, Senior Director of International Trade at World Trade Center Los Angeles.
Participants were evaluated on criteria which include their proposed solution and business model, social impact, management team, and potential to scale.
“There are many great ideas here, but the success of any great idea falls on its execution.” Catudio said. “ The winners we will name today show great promise for social impact and business viability. If they are able to take the right steps, move quickly, and forge collaborations with other companies, they will surely make their mark on the country’s startup ecosystem.”
Three startups came out on top of the competition: Britana Global Solutions, which offers a no-code business management software for small and medium enterprises; On Demand Deals, a platform that allows users to turn empty spaces in their homes into cloud convenience stores; and Cocotel International, a hotel and property management aggregator aiming to empower tourism in the Philippines.
The winning startups were awarded investment capability on Stonks, as well as capital and fundraising support services from Talino Venture Labs.
“The business landscape is changing and it’s difficult to raise funds, especially now that markets are so saturated. That’s why this exposure to crowdfunding is so exciting,” said Ana Calubad, Co-Founder and Managing Director at Britana. The startup is raising $1M to scale operations and reach a valuation of $10M.
Meanwhile, On Demand Deals is raising $650K to recruit a technology team, invest in franchise marketing, and launch their private label service—all towards the goal of reaching a $2M annual revenue run rate. “Accelerate PH gave us not only exposure to investors around the world but also to potential partnerships with other local startups. We are excited about the possibilities that lie ahead,” its Co-Founder and COO Gabriel De los Reyes said.
Finally, Cocotel is raising $3M to support business expansion, marketing, and technology development, according to Rafael Jouwena, its Co-Founder and CEO. “Hopefully, with the support of DEVCON, Talino Ventures, and Stonks, we can achieve the funding we need to connect with more hotels in the Philippines and worldwide.”
Accelerating Investment Opportunities To The Philippines
Winston Damarillo, who completed a successful equity crowdfunding campaign for LA-based Talino last year, believes that a lot of good can come from opening doors to international angels—especially for young startups.
“The Philippine startup ecosystem is vibrant, inspiring, and healthier than ever,” the CEO said. “But as the number of local startups multiplies, it could use a larger infusion of capital; something that global equity crowdfunding could provide.”
Damarillo says that by bringing this fundraising capability into the country, DEVCON and Stonks are moving to democratize capital. “We are giving people around the world a chance to support our homegrown startups, fueling innovation and accelerating solutions that will genuinely help the country.”
About The Organizers
Talino Venture Labs
Talino Venture Labs is a global venture studio for inclusive fintech. Born in the intersection of Silicon Valley and Southeast Asia, Talino Venture Labs is on a mission to bridge financial inclusion for over 1.7 billion people around the world. It uses the successful venture studio model to build repeatable, scalable, and profitable fintech startups that empower underserved, underrepresented groups around the world with financial access and mobility. Learn more at www.talinolabs.com
DEVCON Summit
DEVCON Summit is the biggest software developer conference in the Philippines. It features subject matter experts whose expertise, technologies, practices, and advocacies have made a significant impact on our industry, economy, and society. This event is organized annually by DEVCON Philippines, a volunteer organization that reaches over 30,000 online community members to promote the growth and competence of Filipino software developers. Learn more at devcon.ph
Philippine Startup Week
Philippine Startup Week is the country’s largest 5-day startup conference, held annually since 2019. It features various opportunities for attendees to discover the latest advancements in tech and innovation, network with key players in the ecosystem, and engage with the most promising startups in the country. Learn more at phstartupweek.com
QBO Innovation Hub
QBO is the Philippines’ first public-private partnership platform for Filipino startups created through the collaboration of IdeaSpace Foundation, J.P. Morgan, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It is an “innovation hub,” or a venue to facilitate connections among relevant stakeholders in the Filipino startup ecosystem. Learn more at www.qbo.com.ph
USAID
USAID is the world's premier international development agency and a catalytic actor driving development results, working to help lift lives, build communities, and advance democracy. USAID carries out U.S. foreign policy by promoting broad-scale human progress at the same time it expands stable, free societies, creates markets and trade partners for the United States and fosters goodwill abroad. Learn more at usaid.gov
About the Winners
Britana Global Solutions
Britana is a SAAS company building enterprise-grade business applications for small and medium businesses. Its core product, Britana ERP, is a no-code, full-suite, cloud-based ERP software made for rapid deployment. Learn more at britanaerp.com
Cocotel International
CocoteI is growing to be Asia’s favorite provider of cost-effective, quality, value-for-money, lodgings in beach destinations across the Asian Archipelago. COCOTEL is a chain of 1-3-star hotels, resorts, and beachfront properties that provides quality rooms at a fraction of the cost. Learn more at cocotel.com.ph
On Demand Deals
On Demand Deals (ODD) is a social commerce company that transforms anyone's unused space into a quick business with cloud convenience stores that deliver in minutes. Learn more at ondemand.deals
