UNDP, QBO, PDRF, and DTI Launch Disaster Resilience and Recovery ASEAN Startup Competition; $10,000 Top Prize
An effort to encourage collaboration among ASEAN
startups and promote multi-sector innovation approaches to resilient recovery
QBO Innovation Hub (QBO), the Philippines’
public-private initiative for startups, in partnership with the United Nations
Development Programme (UNDP), the Philippine
UNDP, QBO, PDRF, and DTI Launch
Disaster Resilience Foundation (PDRF), and the
Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has announced STARTUPS TO THE RESQUE, an ASEAN-wide startup competition to
develop the best innovation solutions related to disaster resilience and
recovery to be held during DTI’s annual Slingshot event on October 20, 2017 at
the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC).
This challenge empowers startups from across
the region to come up with ways to use their existing products, services, and
business models to form creative solutions to pressing global issues, including
environmental disasters, outbreaks/pandemics, or violence and conflict. The
Slingshot ASEAN event also provides a platform for startups to network, build
regional market access, and gain international exposure.
The first prize winner will receive $10,000;
second prize winner will receive $4,000; and third prize winner will receive
$2,000. Scores are based on both the innovativeness and feasibility of a
startup’s idea, and those with the most promising solutions will have the
opportunity to work with the UNDP and deploy their solutions with PDRF, one of
the world’s leading private sector disaster resilience consortia comprised of
the Philippines’ top corporations.
“We want to create more success stories for
startups,” says Rene “Butch” Meily, President of both QBO and IdeaSpace. “By
creating a platform for startups to pitch and potentially activate their ideas,
we’re giving them the opportunity to grow, deliver meaningful impact to
relevant communities, and make the world a better place.”
More than just a competition, STARTUPS TO THE
RESQUE promotes awareness on the different crises faced by ASEAN countries –
like the devastating typhoon Haiyan that ravaged Tacloban or the current armed
conflict happening in Marawi – and inspires startups to play a more proactive
role in preventing and mitigating these disasters. Together, the startup
ecosystems across ASEAN can innovate and collaborate with each other with the
shared goal of promoting preparedness and resilient recovery.
Criteria
·
Must
be an existing startup with an existing model
·
Startup
may apply from any ASEAN country
·
Startup
can be of any funding stage or vertical (not necessarily disaster-focused)
· Startup
must integrate their model with the theme of disaster preparedness or resilient recovery .
·
Disaster
preparedness and resilient recovery integration/ solution can be just an idea
Mechanics
To apply, startups need to:
·
Submit
their application to: https://bit.do/RESQUE
·
Fill
out the form and complete the necessary information
· Upload
their startup deck, which must include their existing model and its integration
to the theme of ‘disaster preparedness’ or 'resilient recovery'. The solution can just be an idea! No MVP
required
From the applications, 20
startups will be selected to participate and showcase their ideas at the
SLINGSHOT ASEAN event, from which the top 6 finalists will be invited to pitch
on stage. The top 3 startups with the best pitches will be selected as winners.
Deadline of submissions is on Sept. 30, 2017.
About QBO
QBO (‘ku-bo’) is
an innovation hub, or a platform for the startup community to collaborate,
develop talent, and grow. It provide startups with support and resources
through events and capacity building programs as well as focused interventions
designed to improve access to markets, knowledge, capital, and talent.
QBO is the country’s first public-private initiative for startups,
created through a partnership between IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, DOST, and
DTI. Spurred on by the vision of Filipinos startups changing the world, QBO’s
mission is to create a globally competitive startup ecosystem in the
Philippines.
About UNDP
The
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) works in about 170 countries,
helping to achieve the eradication of poverty, and the reduction of
inequalities and exclusion. It helps countries to develop policies, leadership
skills, partnering abilities, institutional capabilities and build resilience
in order to sustain development results.
Social Media (Facebook/Twitter/Instagram/LinkedIn):
/QBOphilippines or @QBOphilippines
/QBOphilippines or @QBOphilippines
Comments
Post a Comment