Yesterday, October 27, Philippine startup accelerator Ideaspace Foundation held what’s perhaps the most anticipated event of its annual incubation program: the demo day or D-day.
For those who have no idea what it means, D-day marks the culmination of a months-long program where a group of startups – handpicked from a pool of hundreds – undergo rigorous training to build, tear down, and rebuild their products.
“This is their graduation day,” Ideaspace executive director Diane Eustaquio says.
But D-day is more than that. By mere definition, it is the day when incubated startups demo or pitch their ideas to angel investors who may (or may not) provide them wings so their business can fly to the next stage.
A total of 10 startups funded and nurtured by Ideaspace demoed their products on this year’s D-day. While these startups offer products that are vastly different – from mobile apps to foldable bicycles and lamps powered by salt water – they certainly have things in common: they are all innovative, determined, and promising.
Here are Ideaspace’s 2014 graduates:
BluLemons Gaming Studio
No doubt, this startup is proud to be Pinoy. It develops mobile games that are all Filipino-themed, allowing users to learn more about the Philippine culture. Its most successful one – the OPM (Original Pinoy Music) Jam – makes players guess songs from popular Filipino artists such as Ogie Alcasid, Gary Valenciano, and Martin Nivera, to name a few. This is particularly appealing to Filipinos working and living overseas because it reminds them of home.
FlipTrip Travels
If you’re looking to go on vacation in the Philippines, but don’t really know where to start, FlipTrip’s site is made just for you. FlipTrip provides users access to detailed information on a number of top and off-the-beaten-path destinations, as well the ability to directly book all components of their travel – from transportation and accommodation to activities and tours. Users are free to plan their trips according to their schedules, budgets, and preferences.
MyChild
MyChild targets parents who are busy with work, but want to be hands-on in raising their children. Its app acts both as a messaging tool – it allows parents to interact with family members and “fellow parents” in school – and a scheduler – it keeps parents updated on school events, requirements and other details.
Nyfti Bicycles
Nyfti co-founder Carl presents during the October 27 demo day of Ideaspace Foundation
To cycling enthusiasts out there, this may be the product you’ve been waiting for. Nyfti sells three-fold bicycles that have the geometry of full-size bicycles. It boasts of having the smallest fold volume in its category, making its bikes easy to carry and store. Nyfti bicycles have another cool feature: rollers that allow users to push them like carts when folded.
R-Tap
R-Tap developed an advanced pressure management tool that helps water utilities achieve optimum operation of pumps. The R-Tap technology features self-learning algorithm that understands the behavior of water networks real-time, and allows pumps to continuously adjust water pressure, cutting utilities’ water loss and power consumption.
SmartFleet
SmartFleet is a software-as-a-service solution that enables transport companies to do two main things: automate their operations and monitor their fleet. In monitoring, SmartFleet offers a GPS device, which allows transport companies to track the movement of their vehicles at any given time.
SALt
This is a startup with a social twist. SALt developed a lamp especially targeting the millions of Filipinos with no access to electricity. No, the lamp doesn’t work using batteries. It is powered by – surprise! – table salt dissolved in water. SALt has been chosen to represent the country at the Young Entrepreneurs Society competition in South Korea. With its sustainable and ecologically designed product, it comes as no surprise that it’s already attracting global attention.
Tactiles
Tactiles is the startup behind iQube, a kit of cubes or blocks that shows kids how a particular thing works. Take for instance, electricity. Kids can mix and match the blocks to arrive at different results – be it light or a buzzing sound. The blocks are equipped with easy-snap magnetic connectors for firm attachment and minimal resistance when interchanging. It’s definitely a cool way to help students flesh out scientific concepts into real projects. As Tactiles founders say, science is a main pillar of today’s economy. It may be best to get your child started on it as early as possible.
Tambio
Tambio is your all-in-one raffle solution. It allows you to check out and join a raffle near you, know when the raffle is about to be drawn, and be informed when winners are announced. For the company conducting the raffle, Tambio takes off the burden of post-raffle encoding that can take up to three months depending on size and coverage.
WattSmart
Do you always wonder why your electricity bill is high? WattSmart offers the technology that allows you to monitor your energy consumption. When we say monitor, it doesn’t just tell you how much total you’ve consumed in a month’s time, it tells you how much electricity each of your appliance at home is using real time. WattSmart also offers recommendations on how to lower your bill. Is there an outlet in your home that needs to be repaired? Which of your appliances are using “vampire” power? WattSmart will surely let you know.
10 new Philippine startups to watch out for
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