Homegrown virtual platform helps keep indie brands afloat amid the pandemic

Learn how to jumpstart your digital media strategies with tips on how to deal with post-COVID-19 scenarios in the next IMMAP Web Wednesdays webinar.

PwC Philippines, DTI, QBO, and IdeaSpace shared the 2020 Philippine Startup Survey: COVID Edition

First Shoshin launched its health tech app, JoJoCare, last April 6 as a response to the limited mobility imposed by the nationwide enhanced community quarantine.

"If our employees are in a role and situation that enables them to work from home and they want to continue to do so forever, we will make that happen. If not, our offices will be their warm and welcoming selves, with some additional precautions, when we feel it’s safe to return."

At their recent Think Digital conference, IBM unveiled its list of Women Leaders in AI, recognizing 35 exceptional female business leaders who are using artificial intelligence to drive transformation, growth, and innovation across industries.

Communities rely on news outfits to stay safe and informed. Facebook is helping these organizations stay afloat during the pandemic through a $2 million investment.

As the program's first global virtual hackathon, Space Apps will be putting open data to work in developing solutions to issues related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

With each purchase, participants are able to help provide income for some of the country’s marginalized communities.

The Covid-19 pandemic is an unprecedented crisis - with tragic consequences for a lot. But it’s also been an opportunity to develop new solutions and new ways of working to thrive in this brave new world.

The program offers loans and terms that will help ease Filipino MSMEs' struggles through the quarantine’s negative effects.

MAD Travel has always been in the business of creating meaningful experiences. But as global travel grinds to a stop, how has the tourism startup adapted to the times?

For firms finding themselves at similar crossroads, it can serve as an example of how a leader that truly values their workforce navigates these difficult conversations.

Project ARK, a massive rapid testing initiative by GoNegosyo and other private sector partners, has officially started its pilot run in the City of Manila.

From handling resources to projecting for the future, industry experts share how startups and SMEs can survive during the pandemic.

The Covid-19 outbreak is having a significant impact on cybersecurity. Cybercriminals are taking advantage of the pandemic to lure businesses and individuals through spam campaigns, phishing emails, and the like.

The Final Pitch, a local business reality TV show, identifies the best Covid-19 response solutions with its Heroes Edition season.

Digital bayanihan, in the time of COVID-19, is being manifested in all forms on Facebook.

Stuck at home? That doesn’t mean your skills have to be stuck as well. Reskill and upskill with TESDA’s free online courses.

Stay connected with the latest updates about COVID-19 straight from relevant health organizations while on Facebook’s family of apps.

Project ARK is a private sector-led initiative that aims to make massive testing possible through the use of Antibody Rapid test Kits. Its two-pronged approach includes the widespread screening of company workforces, as well as the testing of nearby barangay residents where these companies operate.

Four social enterprises culminate six months of training with pitching and business-matching opportunities.

The series will provide a localized perspective on marketing to-do's during the pandemic.

According to the MyKuya’s most recent findings, what users ask for most during the quarantine is, unsurprisingly: Food. Here’s how that breaks down:

SeedWorks PH extends full support to Department of Agriculture’s “Plant, Plant, Plant” program, as well as GMA Kapuso Foundation’s COVID-19 relief efforts.

Over the month of March, MyKuya has created job opportunities for nearly 10,000 people. Their recent job fair alone saw about 1,000 jobseekers on the platform in under 45 minutes.

Built to streamline movement for essential workers and goods, the RapidPassPH was, this week, handed over to government agencies for full implementation.

Foreign domestic workers living in Hong Kong are currently facing pressing issues such as new regulations, compromises, travel bans, and contract terminations. Not a few have been turning to digitalization as a solution to some of these concerns.

The current scenario in the hospitality and tourism sectors is bleak, but stakeholders and the government are already enacting measures to support these badly hit industries.

With COVID-19 forcing firms and workers to reevaluate their skill sets and competencies, these courses can help you keep productive during and beyond the current quarantine.

The dual ranking highlights locations which have been most innovative in creating timely solutions to the pandemic situation.

As the world shifts to the new normal of remote work, many professionals are struggling to carve out pockets of productivity in their homes. Manolo Guanzon, architect and founder of people-centered design studio HADO, shares five simple tips.

Lemuel Segui discusses monitoring and evaluation (M&E)

The 54-hour online event is designed to provide superior experiential education for technical and non-technical entrepreneurs.

Anyone in the world with computer and an internet connection can help in the fight against Covid-19 through the OpenPandemics - Covid-19 project.

Data from eToro shows that Google, Facebook, and Netflix—companies seeing record usage during the lockdown—are among the most popular investments for Filipinos in March.

President Duterte gives the go signal for the immediate approval of the order and procurement of Covid-19 rapid test kits.

ZEN Rooms partners with the Philippine General Hospital to offer free lodging to the latter’s medical frontliners this month.

Investors include Kickstart Ventures, ABS-CBN, Gobi-Core Philippine Fund, Summit Media, and Foxmont Capital Partners. “Kumu [is] a compelling addition to the media landscape, and [they] have created a unique network which we think will dominate the media landscape in the country in the coming years.”

Regtech startup UNAWA is offering a free webinar, leveraging legal and business expertise to help SMEs identify ways to move forward beyond the lockdown.

CloudEats aims to "change the way the urban emerging class eats by providing high-quality, affordable and quick meals on-demand."

WhatsApp is attempting to stem the tide of misinformation around COVID-19 coursing through its platform by implementing a new limit on the number of users a message can be forwarded to.

Nearly 200 new partner schools have signed up to the Edukasyon.ph platform in the last four weeks alone, including University of the Visayas campuses, University of Mindanao campuses and the AMA Education System—joining existing partners like Ateneo de Manila University, Mapua University and Silliman University.

These two sample business plans were written specifically with the coronavirus pandemic in mind. They include relevant strategies that allow businesses to become more resilient in the coming months.

The partnership provides options to those who may want to extend help during the pandemic from their homes.

QBO shares how to select startups for your incubation program - Part 2

To avoid a possible relapse and ensure a flattening of the curve, GoNegosyo Founder Joey Concepcion says that more than 90% of entrepreneurs, business owners, and conglomerate executives support a two-week lockdown extension of Luzon.

The limited offer provides consumers with options in purchasing essential goods during the pandemic.

The DOST partners with DCTx to launch RapidPassPH, a quick verification system that aims to remove congestion, speed up vital deliveries, and protect frontliners via contact-free verification through Metro Manila’s 56 COVID-19 checkpoints.

QBO shares how to select startups for your incubation program - Part 1

Some are able to provide health assessment, keep important information, and even provide a platform to request for financial assistance.

Opensignal provides details on the average amount of smartphone users’ time spent connected to Wifi across regions and countries amid the coronavirus lockdown.

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a major impact on physical activity levels for over 30 million active Fitbit users around the globe. Data gathered from Fitbit users around the world reveals a decline in physical activity due to the coronavirus crisis.

Two institutions have teamed up to design and produce PPE substitutes for frontliners.

After seeing a 300% spike in requests for their on-demand services, MyKuya is looking to partner with businesses struggling during the lockdown to help meet demand, as well as improving their partners’ cashflow, create jobs, and help their communities.

With AMA OEd’s “Learn Online Now, Pay Later” scheme, students and professionals get access to a variety of programs and short courses offered by AMA OEd without having to pay any tuition fee until April 15, 2020.

Filipino women lead the way for female investors globally as eToro releases data, showing the Philippines has the greatest percentage of women traders world-wide.

As more and more businesses flock to live-streaming to connect their communities amidst uncertainty and social distancing, platforms like KUMU have kicked into overdrive to help bridge the gaps. KUMU head of content KC Montero shares his insights.

As more and more businesses flock to live-streaming to connect their communities amidst uncertainty and social distancing, platforms like KUMU have kicked into overdrive to help bridge the gaps. KUMU head of Kumunity James Rumohr shares his insights.

IBM, in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Energy and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, brings supercomputers into the global fight against the coronavirus pandemic with the COVID-19 High Performance Computing Consortium.

Eskwelabs is currently offering free data science courses for Filipinos who might benefit from upskilling from home.

Patrick Parone and Hannah Ramos of University of the Philippines bested five other teams in the recent Go Green Philippine Finals. They will move on to represent the country in the APAC Regional Finals on April 16, 2020.

As worries around Covid-19 rise, more firms are investing in better means to ensure business continuity. Eastern Communications explains how the solutions many businesses are looking for may be in the cloud.

The app, designed by a Cebu-based tech expert, can monitor location and even other people that a user might have been in contact with.

Charitable organization HelpThru is gathering medical supplies to donate to local healthcare frontliners through their ONE for ONE Project.

UP CAP is staging an online job and internship fair for university students and fresh graduates next week.

How can Filipino students cope with the disruption of the school calendar until April 12, and how can edtech companies help students in distance learning?

Amidst the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, businesses and individuals are stepping up and showing their solidarity by offering their services and products to those badly affected by the crisis.

Local sunscreen Magwai propels for protection of corals

The team’s solution aims to connect local farmers to financial opportunities.

“Community leaders in the Philippines often tell us that some of the biggest challenges they face are a lack of access, training, and funding. We are excited to continue to invest in and support them through the Community Accelerator.”

“It’s all too often that we see ambitious, idealistic startups with compelling visions sadly ruined by an inability to keep up with rising costs of doing business. Companies like Penbrothers can save the day, and programs like the 500 Startups Global Launch make connecting with them easier than ever.”

“We started the Opportunity Fund...to widen our net and to find dynamic, investment-worthy startups within and beyond the IdeaSpace ecosystem and to earn additional revenues to support IdeaSpace in the future,” shares Meily.

“As a live streaming platform, Kumu realizes its responsibility in that and opens our doors to collaborate with anyone who are still unsure on how to proceed in the coming days.”

QBO Innovation Hub will be closing their headquarters in the interest of the health and safety of their community, but will proceed with most programs virtually.