linear-1

917Ventures in the News

FINSI, 917Ventures Partner to Deploy Gogoro Battery-Swapping Network in PH

Fiber Infrastructure and Network Services Inc. (FINSI), a subsidiary of the Asticom Group of Companies, was tapped by 917Ventures to deploy and maintain the first-ever Gogoro® battery-swapping platform for its Smartscooters® in the Philippines. corp-gogoro-social-media-thumbnail.jpg FINSI's expertise in engineering and technology solutions made it the perfect partner to handle site hunting, acquisition, and engineering for the first batch of seven GoStations in the National Capital Region. The first GoStation was unveiled at the Globe Tower, Globe’s headquarters at the Bonifacio Global City on April 24. "I am delighted to announce our partnership with 917Ventures to bring Gogoro to the Philippines. As a company committed to delivering leading-edge solutions that drive progress and success for local businesses and communities in today's digital world, we are honored to have the opportunity to contribute to the country's drive towards a sustainable transportation system," said Marc Kerveillant, General Manager of FINSI. 917Ventures, Ayala Corporation, and Gogoro recently launched the Gogoro Smartscooters® and GoStation ecosystem in the Philippines as a better transportation alternative. The EVs are powered by Gogoro's battery-swapping platform, where users can quickly swap depleted batteries for fully-charged ones in seconds. Gogoro has revolutionized two-wheel mobility in Taiwan with over 12,000 battery-swapping stations at more than 2,260 locations, serving over 540,000 riders who perform more than 400,000 battery swaps daily. Bernie Llamzon, Director of Globe Capital Venture Holdings Inc., said: "We're thrilled to bring the Gogoro ecosystem to the Philippines and offer our riders a convenient and eco-friendly alternative to traditional transportation. Our partnership with FINSI ensures the successful deployment and management of the Gogoro battery-swapping stations, and we’re confident that together, we can build a sustainable future for all Filipinos.” As part of the partnership with 917Ventures, FINSI provides project management and implementation, network and infrastructure management, quality and safety management, and facilities, asset, and materials management services to ensure the success of the Gogoro deployment. "FINSI is a provider as committed to innovation and sustainability as 917Ventures. With our shared vision and FINSI's expertise, we couldn't have chosen a more suitable partner for ensuring the successful deployment of Gogoro in the Philippines," said Vince Yamat, Managing Director of 917Ventures. "We are thrilled to work with 917Ventures in delivering innovative solutions that improve the lives of Filipinos. Our partnership with 917Ventures and Gogoro underscores our commitment to improving the lives of our fellow Filipinos by building a sustainable future for all,” said Mharicar Castillo-Reyes, President and CEO of Asticom Group of Companies....

KonsultaMD Wins Fearless Social Media Account at Nylon's Big, Bold, Brave Awards 2023

Leading telehealth service KonsultaMD was recognized with the Fearless Social Media Account Award at Nylon's Big, Bold, Brave Awards 2023, showcasing its dedication to impacting millions of Filipinos through all its advocacies on overall health. KonsultaMD-wins-Fearless-Social-Media-Account-at-Nylons-Big-Bold-Brave-Awards-2023-social-media-thumbnail.jpg The star-studded Nylon event celebrated the best of Filipino pop culture and the online community, with KonsultaMD standing out in the Brave category for its strong commitment to overall health, especially mental health awareness and accessibility. "We are grateful for this award, which validates our efforts to create a safe space for our audience and users while making mental health care more accessible to everyone, especially the younger generation," said KonsultaMD CEO Cholo Tagaysay. With over 73 million views on TikTok, KonsultaMD has reached and positively influenced millions of lives by providing educational content about health and wellness. Its recent focus on mental health advocacy challenges the status quo, fights against stigma, and promotes the importance of mental well-being. In 2021, KonsultaMD successfully held a mental health concert, "Be Kind To Your Mind," featuring top artists Nadine Lustre, Ben&Ben, and Curtismith. Continuing its strong commitment to mental health, the platform launched the mental health anthem "I Want To Be Here" in January 2023, collaborating with prominent artists such as Kiana Valenciano, Curtismith, and Nix Damn P. "We remain steadfast in our commitment to promoting mental health and well-being through innovative projects and collaborations. Our fearless approach to raising mental health awareness will continue, with more exciting events and updates on the horizon," Tagaysay added. As KonsultaMD continues to make waves in the industry, its award-winning social media presence guarantees a relevant, responsible, and bold approach to health and wellness. By fervently advocating for mental health in the Philippines, KonsultaMD is set to revolutionize the way Filipinos perceive and access mental health care....

KROMA Entertainment Calls for Stronger Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, Seeks Legislated Site Blocking

Kroma Entertainment Inc. (KROMA) has taken a stand against piracy, pushing for passage of a bill that seeks to strengthen intellectual property protection in the country by boosting enforcement through more stringent measures such as site-blocking. This aligns with Globe's #PlayItRight anti-piracy campaign, which supports filmmakers and other creatives whose livelihood depends on the industry. Piracy is detrimental to companies such as KROMA, whose “tradigital” business covers the spectrum of content creation, from film, television and podcasts to music and publishing. The creative industry is a vital contributor to the country's Gross Domestic Product (GDP), accounting for approximately 7.3 percent or ?1.6 trillion of the gross value-added in 2022, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority. However, this figure was already lower than the 7.5 percent reported in 2018, primarily due to piracy. Piracy not only leads to unemployment but also increases the probability of malware infection on personal computers and devices, thereby placing consumers at risk. Pirated content is usually streamed or downloaded from illegal sites, illicit streaming devices (ISDs), and apps such as social media and messaging platforms. To address this problem, the Globe Group and KROMA are supporting the revision of the country's 26-year-old Intellectual Property (IP) Code through House Bill No. 7600 authored by Albay 2nd District Rep. Joey Salceda. Its proposed amendments seek to address loopholes that have enabled online piracy to persist and empower regulators to take action against offenders. Globe and KROMA are members of the Video Coalition of the Philippines, formed in September last year along with key industry players in the Philippines and the Asia Video Industry Association’s (AVIA) to push for stronger intellectual property protection in the Philippines. Currently, the IP code's definition of pirated goods does not cover electronic or online content. It also lacks a provision that would allow the efficient and effective blocking of pirate sites. “We are committed to protecting the creative industry and ensuring that the hard work of content creators and filmmakers is duly recognized and rewarded. Our advocacy for site blocking is a crucial step in curbing the negative effects of piracy and promoting a culture of respect for intellectual property rights. We call on all stakeholders to support our efforts in this endeavor,” said KROMA CEO Ian Monsod. Under the 2022 piracy landscape surveys conducted by the Coalition Against Piracy (CAP), consistent site blocking not only prevents consumers from accessing pirated content but also encourages them to turn to legitimate sources. Additionally, the surveys reveal enormous untapped potential, with over 60% of consumers in the region stating that they would subscribe to legitimate services if pirated content were unavailable. “The evidence continues to show that site blocking, when implemented in an efficient and effective way, is an incredibly powerful tool to both stop online piracy, and direct consumers towards legitimate content,” said CAP General Manager Matt Cheetham. KROMA’s stance against piracy and support for site-blocking is also in line with the administration's eight-point economic agenda, which prioritizes creating high-quality jobs, fostering research and development, encouraging innovation, and promoting the growth of the digital economy....

RUSH Launches eStore Charge, the Ultimate Affordable Solution for Efficient Social Selling

RUSH Technologies Inc. (RUSH) introduces eStore Charge, their most affordable eCommerce package that empowers busy entrepreneurs to accept orders and payments from all social pages and messaging apps through one user-friendly platform. It elevates social selling to make order management and fulfillment as efficient as possible. The solution is tailor-made for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in the early stages of digital commerce which rely on Facebook or Instagram shops and similar online platforms. These entrepreneurs often lack the time or resources to maintain their own sales channels. With eStore Charge, merchants can create checkout links that they can send to their clients to simplify the checkout process. From this link, customers can review, modify, and complete their orders on one web page. Although conversational commerce helps social media sellers without any cost, the limited features of these free tools still present various challenges, including extensive message exchanges, prolonged checkout processes, and laborious manual order monitoring, among others. Through eStore Charge, businesses can offer an easy shopping experience to their customers and grow with RUSH without moving out of their free platforms- until they are ready to launch their own digital storefront. "We understand the struggles of micro and smaller enterprises. Social media sellers in particular are keen on growing their online business, but maintaining their own sales channel, even a sales website, is intimidating for them. We are so excited to introduce the cart-linking capability of eStore Charge to address these pain points and help these budding entrepreneurs scale their social media selling without breaking the bank," said Jeferson Cruz, RUSH Chief Commercial Officer. Julianne Fernandez, RUSH Chief Product Officer, added: “Making digitalization easier for entrepreneurs is at the core of what we do, and we want to make every feature as intuitive as it can be. We developed eStore Charge with starting entrepreneurs in mind, making sure that they can operationalize a seamless checkout and order fulfillment process across their existing sales platforms,” RUSH eStore Charge also grants access to a content management system, where sellers can upload unlimited products, activate secure payment options, build their customer base, and keep track of transaction history. Additionally, the RUSH Merchant app enables inventory updates, order management, and instant delivery rider booking. David Tse, Rakuten Viber SVP in Asia Pacific, noted in a 2022 statement that conversational commerce will continue to rise in the coming years. RUSH eStore Charge is designed to help entrepreneurs capitalize on this trend. RUSH, a portfolio company of 917 Ventures, Globe’s corporate venture builder, powers more than 1,000 brands and serves over six million customers across various industries in the Philippines. RUSH aims to help businesses of all sizes thrive in the competitive eCommerce space without the need for additional platforms and software solutions....

917Ventures Launches New Revolutionary Real Estate Marketplace Housify

917Ventures has launched Housify, a revolutionary real estate marketplace that instantly matches property buyers with trusted listings through verified sellers, a seamless inquiry process, and an easy-to-use website. housify-in-article.png "We aim to make the property buying experience hassle-free for Filipinos and provide an avenue where buyers can conveniently search for properties that match their preferences and budget. We offer both brokers and buyers a high level of service, and those looking to invest in property will have peace of mind as we are the only Philippine marketplace with a roster of vetted sellers,” said Ina Gervacio, Housify Entrepreneur-in-Residence, who shared her thoughts about the platform's mission. Housify caters to various segments of property buyers, including working millennials looking for condos in central business districts, families searching for their dream homes, and investors exploring vacant lots in nearby provinces. What sets the company apart from other real estate marketplaces is its no-duplicate policy, which ensures that listings are served on a first-come, first-served basis. Within a short span of two months, Housify has successfully partnered with 95 brokerage firms and sellers, adding more than 2,000 verified listings to its database. Ayala Land, Alveo Land, Property Plus, Sui Realty, Presello, and Ledesma Properties are some renowned brokerage firms that have already joined forces with Housify. Housify is committed to expanding its reach and is actively seeking to partner with more brokerage firms in the coming months to further scale its operations. To find the perfect property on Housify, users may browse the platform's listings and use the filter function to streamline preferences. Once the property is selected, users can fill out their basic information such as name, email address and contact number, and wait for the in-house specialist to contact them within 24-48 hours. Housify also provides a cost-effective solution for brokers and property sellers as they can list their properties for free without any upfront cost. They will only be charged once they avail of marketing services and generate a minimum of three leads per month. For inquiries about partnerships with the platform, interested parties may email partnerships@housify.ph. For more information on Housify and its services, visit the website, send a message on Facebook, or email info@housify.ph....

PetPal Revolutionizes Pet Care in PH with Innovative All-In-One Digital Solution

In yet another innovative offering, 917Ventures has launched a new service set to revolutionize pet care in the Philippines. globe-petpal.png PetPal, the newest tech start-up from 917Ventures, is a digital service that provides fast, easy and convenient access to healthcare from licensed and accredited veterinarians. It aims to ensure that pets live their healthiest and happiest lives, with a complete and convenient healthcare journey and a digital pet booklet in one easy-to-access platform. "At 917Ventures, we are committed to identifying and addressing the evolving needs of consumers. More than two-thirds of households in the country have a pet, the highest in Asia. Majority of them have more than one. Pets are members of the family and with PetPal we are bringing together all the providers and pet owners under one platform. Your pet's health is our reason for being - a healthy pet, a better world," said Glenn Estrella, Head of Ideation and Acceleration at 917Ventures. PetPal offers a variety of services, including online consultations from anywhere in the country. It also provides home vet visits, home vaccinations and offline booking with partner vets for customers in Metro Manila. The PetPal website is easy to navigate, accessible, and provides full flexibility, with daily services from Monday to Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. "We believe pet care should be stress-free for both pets and their owners. As pet owners ourselves, we understand the need for a more convenient and accessible way to take care of our pets' health," added Natasha Bautista, 917Ventures’ Head of Growth and Programs. PetPal has partnered with dozens of licensed veterinarians across the country to ensure pets receive the best possible care. In addition, the company will be launching a mobile app this year, available on both Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. The app will include a comprehensive online pet profile, allowing users to document their pet's healthcare journey, record medicine intake, and track vaccinations. "The upcoming PetPal mobile app will further enhance the user experience by providing a one-stop-shop for all pet healthcare needs. With our innovative platform and strong network of veterinarians, we're confident that PetPal will become the go-to solution for pet owners in the Philippines,” said Carlo Flordeliza, Venture Builder and 917Ventures Head of Growth. With PetPal, pet owners can now spend more time enjoying treats, cuddles, and walks with their beloved companions, and less time worrying about their health....