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917Ventures in the News

EdVenture: Improving Lives Through High-Quality and Personalized Education

Exciting milestones are happening at EdVenture, our newest edutech startup. The company ended 2022 with over 1,100 tutors, helping uplift the lives of Filipino educators and providing high-quality, affordable, and personalized online tutorials for students from Preschool to Grade 10. Edventure-Branding-Logo-Colored-1024x1024.jpg Since its launch in May 2021, EdVenture has logged over 10,000 learning hours, with more than 10,000 parents having placed their trust in the platform. EdVenture’s vision is to enable every student to reach their full potential by accompanying them on their education journey with engaging one-on-one learning experiences. For Filipino tutors, working with EdVenture provides them an opportunity to not only earn additional income but also make a positive impact on the lives of students. As Teacher Jiem Mangussad-Cruz, an EdVenture Resident Tutor, explained: “Being able to see each student’s progress is heartwarming. Whenever the students tell me about their achievements, I feel so proud of helping them achieve their goals.” Teacher Jiem has already engaged with over 100 students with whom she was able to cultivate a bond of respect and collaboration. At the same time, watching and guiding students in their academic journey has made her realize the importance of perseverance and hard work. EdVenture boasts of well-vetted tutors who have gone through a rigorous selection process and can handle all subjects aligned with the Department of Education curriculum such as Reading, Math, Science, English, Filipino, and Araling Panlipunan. In addition to expanding its team of tutors, EdVenture is constantly evolving to meet the needs of its customers. This includes the introduction of new products such as Singapore Math, an improved customer experience through updates to the website, and a rebranding campaign with a new logo, brand colors, and mascots. Ina Gervasio, EdVenture Entrepreneur-in-Residence, said: “Improving our customer’s experience on the platform has always been a high priority here at EdVenture. We’ve revamped our website with various enhancements to improve user experience. Aside from updating our branding, parents can expect a more intuitive experience from registration, searching for their favorite tutors, booking sessions for their kids as well as visual improvements.”...

Promising Startups to Accelerate Growth with 917Ventures and 500 Global’s Silicon Valley-Inspired Program

Ten promising startups are all set to unlock the next stage of growth and scale after completing a 10-week accelerator program conducted by 917Ventures in partnership with global venture capital firm and startup accelerator 500 Global. inarticle-01x.jpg The 10 participants are Capitan, Carsada, EdVenture, FundSpace, Housify, KodeGo, MemoApp, PIE, Rappit, and RUSH. The program aimed to replicate the successful accelerator experience of Silicon Valley startups by tapping into 500 Global’s expertise, resources, and capacity to support high-potential businesses and expand their opportunities beyond the Philippines. Through the partnership, 917Ventures was able to offer its startups access to 500 Global’s extensive network of mentors, corporate partners, alumni, and proprietary accelerator curriculum and resources. The participants underwent over 10,000 learning hours, tapping into the expertise and experience of global startup founders via exclusive sharing sessions. They also got the chance to have one-on-one sessions with mentors to get personalized feedback and guidance on their specific business challenges. “The 500 Global Accelerator Program has been a huge success, providing our startups with valuable feedback, new partnerships, and a wealth of knowledge to take their businesses to the next level. We are confident that they will continue to grow and thrive in the future, and we cannot wait to see what they will accomplish next,” said Vince Yamat, Managing Director of 917Ventures. Ee Ling Lim, Executive Director of Market Launch at 500 Global, also shared her excitement about the program results. "Our partnership with 917Ventures has been a fantastic opportunity to support and guide these startups on their journey to success. We are proud to have been a part of their growth and look forward to seeing the impact they will have in the years to come.” Through the program, Capitan received valuable client feedback and testimonials and gained a new partnership idea to be rolled out soon. One-stop used car shop Carsada conducted weekly customer discovery sessions, which provided the basis for its sales strategies, while online tutorial services EdVenture gained insights about customer discovery, identifying pain points, and measuring the right metrics. Business loan provider FundSpace received information on product-market fit and applied frameworks on customer profile and customer journey. Housify conducted weekly customer discovery sessions, which provided the basis for sales and supply acquisition strategies, and gained two sale offers by applying customer insights. Coding boot camp KodeGo was able to pivot and find product market fit for 2023 and streamline sound and effective tactical projects. Template-based memo system MemoApp received essential frameworks on customer discovery, product development, and sales to monetize this quarter and develop its freemium model. New revolutionary TV and digital channel PIE, short for Pinoy Interactive Entertainment, gained valuable learnings that helped it focus and simplify its overall approach and mindset to the business. Online grocery store Rappit identified key points for customer conversion, retention, and churn; reviewed current communications design; and restructured scheduling, creatives, and overall messaging. End-to-end e-commerce platform provider RUSH found the program to be a great refresh and reminder of the importance of fundamentals they tend to overlook in the day-to-day activities, and released product enhancement that increased order success rate and fulfillment speed. Having a total of 12 portfolio companies since 2019 and with more ventures in the pipeline, 917Ventures remains the country’s largest corporate venture builder that generates startups from concept and development to growth and expansion. Its accelerator program was aligned with the company’s plans for this year to explore new areas in climate technology and focus on digital transformation to help small and medium-sized businesses recover and grow. 917Ventures is set to produce more ideas in the areas of finance, media and entertainment, e-commerce, digital health, and education. It also plans to work with other companies to create new ventures....

KonsultaMD Sheds Light on Mental Health with 'I Want To Be Here'

Leading telehealth service provider KonsultaMD recently hosted a memorable celebration to launch the highly-anticipated mental health song “I Want To Be Here.” Performed by Kiana V. with Curtismith and Nix Damn P, the song aims to bring attention to the importance of mental health and encourage the younger generation to speak up and seek help. corp-kmd-social-media-thumbnail.jpg The exclusive listening party held at The Island in BGC on January 26 was a significant moment for both KonsultaMD and mental health advocacy in the country. It was attended by representatives from mental health organizations such as Juan for Mental Health and Silakbo, radio partners Wish 107.5, Magic 89.9, and 99.5, representatives from 917Ventures and the Ayala group, and other celebrities. The night kicked off with a Q&A featuring the artists, KonsultaMD CEO Cholo Tagaysay, KonsultaMD Chief Business and Medical Affairs Officer Chelsea Elizabeth Samson, and the music video team led by Miko Reyes and Gian Fausto. They provided insights into the creative process behind the powerful song and their mission to normalize mental health conversations. “I wrote the song with my friend named Nieman, and we had a few hours of just catching up and making the song. That’s why it really felt authentic to us because a lot of what’s in the song is what we talked about,” said Kiana V. The song’s journey took about a month from writing to production, and the team faced challenges because of the different time zones between the artists. Tagaysay shared the inspiration behind the collaboration, saying: "Mental health should be as normal as going to the gym or the spa. Everyone talks about wellness, but mental health is part of wellness; it’s part of your overall health. ‘I Want To Be Here’ moves the conversation about mental health forward, and we are thrilled to be collaborating with such creative forces." Nude Floor, the dance crew featured in the official music video, opened the live performances at the launch with a stunning interpretative freestyle. Kiana V. then took the stage to sing her hit song "Safe Space." The crowd was on the edge of their seats, eagerly awaiting the unveiling of the new mental health anthem. When the time finally arrived, Kiana V., Curtismith, Nix Damn P, and Nude Floor lit up the stage. The audience was immediately hooked by the tight opening section of the song and her soulful vocals. "I Want To Be Here" is a seamless fusion of personal lyrics from Kiana, tight mixing from Nix Damn P, and fluid rapping from Curtismith. Its structure is tailored towards younger audiences, making it an accessible and relatable message for mental health. Quotable lines from the song, such as Kiana V's "Catch my breath and then release" and Curtismith's "I dial up when it gets too much" were repeated throughout the performance and are meditative reminders on mental health. "I Want To Be Here" is now available on Spotify and YouTube. KonsultaMD invites everyone to join them in their mission to raise mental health awareness....

Kidapawan City LGU Partners With KonsultaMD To Enhance Healthcare Access For Employees And Community

The City Government of Kidapawan has tapped leading telemedicine provider KonsultaMD to make healthcare more accessible and convenient for its employees and residents. kidapawan-city-lgu-konsultamd-to-enhance-healthcare-access-social-media-thumbnail.jpg The free KonsultaMD services will be initially available to city government employees but will eventually be expanded to include the city's 40 barangays. The health plan offers voice and video consults, e-prescriptions, e-laboratory requests, e-medical certificates and access to partner benefits. Kidapawan City Mayor Jose Paolo Evangelista, who initiated the partnership, cited the importance of accessibility for all in providing health services– one that KonsultaMD is able to deliver. “For healthcare to be quality, it is not enough that it's free, it should also be accessible to everyone. It is ironic that sometimes we give the public healthcare but forget our employees. That is why we prioritized healthcare for our employees. So that when employees fall ill, they no longer need to go physically to the city hospital or barangay health center, they can just avail of free healthcare at the tip of their fingers by accessing their mobile phones," Evangelista said. KonsultaMD CEO Cholo Tagaysay, meanwhile, stressed: “At the end of the day, our goal is for every City Hall employee to have access to medical consultation which is readily available 24/7 whenever, wherever.” “We look forward to replicating the same execution in the 40 barangays in the coming days so that more and more Kidapaweño will no longer need to travel back and forth from the sitio to the barangay to the city center to see a doctor but will only need his/her mobile phone in accessing the KonsultaMD app,” he added. KonsultaMD offers a wide range of features that cater to healthcare needs, including 24/7 telemedicine consults, primary medical advice, general health information and/or diagnostic interpretation, access to e-medical documents, immediate access to doctors, and mental health support. With KonsultaMD, there is no need for an appointment, and users can consult a doctor via chat, voice, or video call from the comfort of their own homes....

E-Grocery App Rappit Sweetens Valentine’s With Lovely Deals!

Rappit is showering its customers with a practical kind of love this February, from discounts on your favorite products to special offers, there's definitely something for everyone. Whether you're looking for a gift for your special someone or want to treat yourself, Rappit has got you covered! Here’s what’s in store. Rappit curated special collections, including the Somebunny To Love collection of chocolates from Toblerone, Kisses, Cadbury, and KitKat; the All Things Blush collection of beauty products from Olay, St. Ives, Vaseline, and Aveeno; and the Singles collection with treats from Heineken, M&Ms, Rio Strong, TimTam, San Miguel, Snickers, and Suntory. If you’re planning a romantic evening, the Date Night Collection is perfect, with premium meats from Mrs. Garcia's and Meltique, fine wines from Carlo Rossi, Novellino, Yellow Tail, Arbor Mist, and Beringer, and chocolates from Hershey's, Ferrero Rocher, and Cadbury. Rappit's Love Yourself collection is perfect for those looking to care for their health, with healthy picks from UnMeat, Quaker Oats, Nestle Yogurt, Kellogg’s Cereals, Kirkland Organic Almond Milk, Del Monte Juices, and Century Tuna. In addition, Rappit also lined up a special offer for all chocolate lovers out there! Pick your favorite chocolates from the Valentine's Mix and Match of Toblerone and Cadbury and have a P60 off voucher when you spend P300 on participating items. And since we love you at Rappit, you get to enjoy free delivery with just a minimum spend of P3,000 on your groceries! "This Valentine's Month, we at Rappit want to show our love and appreciation to our customers by offering sweet deals and collections - from treats to health and beauty products, we've got something for everyone. Whether you're celebrating with your significant other or just looking for ways to pamper yourself, we're here to make this Love Month extra special,” said Cindy Toh, CEO of Rappit. So, what are you waiting for? Get ready to shower your loved ones (and yourself) with lots of love this Valentine's Day with Rappit. Visit rappitph.page.link/BF2023PR to learn more and start shopping today!...

GMEA@10 Introduces I-GCashMo Award

The Globe Media Excellence Awards (GMEA) announces the addition of the I-GCashMo Award to its list of categories for 2023. This special award recognizes stories demonstrating how GCash, the country’s leading mobile wallet, impacts everyday life, aids in livelihood, and opens up previously unavailable opportunities for Filipinos. gmea.jpg With its mission to provide finance for all, GCash continuously expands its services to offer GInvest, GLoans, GSave and more to the largely unbanked population. “As Globe continues to go beyond telco, we are also expanding the scope of storytelling we would like to honor at the Globe Media Excellence Awards (GMEA). On its 10th year, the GCash award will be introduced in GMEA to recognize excellence in reporting on the impact of our fintech business. Since the pandemic, GCash has been a lifeline and life enabler to many Filipinos,” said Globe Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto. "We are excited to introduce the I-GCashMo Award as it shines a spotlight on the transformative power of digital financial inclusion. GCash has been a vital lifeline for many Filipinos during the pandemic. We want to acknowledge and celebrate the media practitioners who have captured these stories and brought them to the forefront," said GCash Chief Customer Officer and New Businesses Head Winsley Bangit. The award is open to all forms of media, including print, television, radio, and digital. To qualify, entries must have been published from January 15, 2022 onwards and meet the following requirements: For Digital: Formatted article in PDF or DOC, screen capture and URL of the article on the website, and supplementary photos/graphics in JPEG For Print: Formatted article in PDF or DOC and high-resolution copy of the published story in PDF or JPEG For TV: Report in MP4 format with transcript in PDF or DOC and certificate of airing For Radio: Report in MP3 format with transcript in PDF or DOC and certificate of airing Proof of social impact Actions by stakeholders in response to the story (in-screen captures, links, and/or with documents to support, if applicable) Link and screen capture of social media posts with proof of engagement (reactions, likes, comments, etc.) Privacy setting of posts must be set to PUBLIC Entries will be evaluated based on two criteria: Content (50%) and Impact (50%). The Content criteria assess the quality of the piece in terms of its ability to accurately depict digital financial inclusion and effectively showcase the positive impact of GCash and its features on the lives of Filipinos. The Impact criteria evaluate the significance of the story to the target audience, its ability to inspire discourse and engagement, generate positive feedback and sentiments, and encourage the audience to adopt and utilize GCash services. Submission of entries is until February 15, 2023. Winners will be announced at the awards night in Cebu in the first half of the year. GMEA@10 I-GCashMo Awardees in Visayas and Mindanao will receive ?25,000 each. GMEA has served as a significant platform for thousands of stories in the past nine years, recognizing authentic and outstanding works of media and social media practitioners from different parts of Visayas and Mindanao. As it turns 10, the country’s longest-running media awards in Visayas and Mindanao mark this important milestone by celebrating innovations that uplift lives with compassion, care, and kindness under one digital nation....