14 May 2024, Makati City – The Plug and Play Horizon Program Roadshow took place at the Cervantes Room, Discovery Primea, Ayala Avenue, gathering key players in the digital transformation and startup ecosystem in the Philippines. The event was graced by distinguished guests and speakers, including Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Undersecretary Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, who delivered a compelling keynote address.

The Horizon Program of the Philippines, facilitated by Plug and Play, is an innovative initiative designed to accelerate the growth and development of the country’s startup ecosystem. Leveraging Plug and Play’s global expertise, the program provides startups with mentorship, resources, and strategic guidance to scale their businesses. It connects startups with industry experts, investors, and corporate partners, facilitates access to funding, and assists in market expansion both locally and internationally. By fostering a collaborative ecosystem that includes government agencies, industry partners, and academic institutions, the program promotes innovation and entrepreneurship. Additionally, it offers access to cutting-edge technologies and technical expertise while advocating for supportive policies. The Horizon Program aims to position the Philippines as a hub for digital innovation, providing comprehensive support to startups and fostering a culture of growth and development.

In her speech, Undersecretary Batapa-Sigue warmly acknowledged the presence of DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, DICT colleagues Undersecretary Heherson Asiddao and Director Emmy Lou Delfin, Jojo Flores and his dedicated team at Plug and Play, and the industry partners and digital transformation trailblazers who attended the event.

Batapa-Sigue emphasized the critical timing of Horizon Philippines, given the nation’s growing need for revolutionary solutions. “With the country currently having a high volume of innovative ideas, the growing need to support ICT-enabled industries remains at an all-time high,” she stated. She highlighted the significant demand for programs that offer support and opportunities to elevate startups to greater heights.

Government Support for ICT-Enabled Industries

The Undersecretary underscored the government’s role in ensuring key initiatives are in place to support ICT-enabled industries. Through the Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program (DSDAP) of the ICT Industry Development Bureau, the DICT has been proactive, particularly in the countryside, in supporting emerging and established startups towards global competitiveness.

Importance of Private Sector Collaboration

Secretary Ivan John Uy, through his message as delivered by Batapa-Sigue acknowledged that the DICT and the government sector alone cannot achieve these goals. She emphasized the importance of collaboration with industry partners in the private sector to cater to homegrown startups.

She stated, “The DICT remains ever-proactive, especially in the countryside, in supporting emerging and established startups towards global competitiveness. We are constantly working with our industry partners in the private sector to achieve our collective goals for the Philippine startup ecosystem. Without our allies in the private sphere, catering to our homegrown heroes would be a challenging task.”

Horizon Philippines: Expanding Networks and Fostering Strategic Partnerships

Jojo Flores, co-founder of Plug and Play, shared valuable insights into the potential of the Horizon Philippines Program, highlighting its vast potential to stimulate growth and innovation. He emphasized the importance of leveraging the program to foster a dynamic and competitive ecosystem. His vision included upscaling technological capabilities, expanding market reach, and developing local talents, all aimed at propelling the Philippines’ IT-BPM and startup landscape to new heights.

The launch of Horizon Philippines is seen as a crucial step in expanding networks and fostering strategic partnerships to spearhead innovation. Batapa-Sigue highlighted the need for appropriate and adequate support for the startup ecosystem, now made possible with Horizon Philippines. “This is a great opportunity to gather aspiring visionaries and renowned players in key ICT-enabled industries to solve pressing issues in various tech verticals,” she added.

Promoting Filipino Ingenuity

The Undersecretary praised the inter-sector collaboration among key enablers, which has paved the way for success, promoting Filipino ingenuity and unleashing the limitless potential of various stakeholders in the local startup scene. She expressed excitement for the future, stating, “With all these in mind, the DICT and Plug and Play are more than excited to witness how this platform can bring about greater strides in digital innovation.”

This event showcased the Plug and Play, DICT and other agencies’ initiatives to drive innovation and create networking opportunities through knowledge exchange, emphasizing the vital role of collaboration in fostering local startup growth.

The Plug and Play Horizon Program Roadshow marked a significant milestone in the journey towards a digitally transformed Philippines, showcasing the power of collaboration between the government and the private sector in driving innovation and growth in the ICT industry.