StartupBlink launches global map of innovations around Covid-19

Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo
“One of the things we need more than ever is to stay well-informed and to be aware of not only the bad but the good that is happening in the world.”

First Shoshin, DA5 partner to pilot ‘contactless, tellerless, cashless’ Western Union branch

Team SparkUp
The WU branch will adopt a contactless, tellerless, and cashless model for an expedited remittance service. Their goal is to enable an end-to-end solution that allows anyone in the world to send or receive money in any currency in real time.

Angkas launches food delivery service to support bikers, quarantined users

Team SparkUp
“Guys legit to, gumawa kami ng food delivery service oha,” the company’s Twitter announcement reads. “Para to sa mga bikers at sa inyo. We will not take any commission in this initiative. Sa kanila lahat to.”

First Shoshin Holdings unveils plan for $5M “fintech hub”

Team SparkUp
FSHI shares plans to develop a FinTech Hub in the next twelve months which aims to create an integrated financial services space to serve as a one-stop shop where Filipinos can perform financial transactions on-the-go.

Church-goers find new ways to gather on live-streaming platform KUMU

Team SparkUp
This March, the Favor Church community is streaming all five of its scheduled Sunday services live via KUMU. Users can now attend the services online and send virtual gifts which will all go to the church.

Google launches MSME Caravan to digitize small businesses nationwide

Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo
The project aims to educate MSMEs on digital marketing skills and tools, bringing out their edge amidst the competitive business landscape.

Digital bank Tonik to launch in PH following $6-M funding round

Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo
The Singapore-based company aims to capitalize on the country’s huge underbanked population.

Livestreaming platform Kumu expands into live audio with new podcasting feature

Team SparkUp
The new audio streaming feature should see their community grow with aspiring Filipino podcasters all over the world.

Insurtech firm Saphron launches new “heartbreak insurance” product

Santiago J. Arnaiz
MONA, or “Move On NA” only costs P300 and assures one that, in case life gets in the way of love, the insured has a staycation waiting for them at any one of Saphron’s partner hotels.

DLTAP, FPH, government partners announce upcoming Philippine Fintech Festival 2020

Santiago J. Arnaiz
“Now, the Philippines is primed to move on to the next level and transition into a world-class digital economy through the Philippine Fintech Festival -- an international gathering of experts and leaders in innovation.”

Facebook has big plans for APAC, and digital businesses need to be ready

Santiago J. Arnaiz
In the company’s first ever APAC press day, Facebook shared insights on the future of social commerce, why they’re honing in on Asia-Pacific to find their next billion users, and what that means for the small businesses that call their platforms home.

Talino Venture Labs launches three new inclusion tech startups

Mariel Alison L. Aguinaldo
On face value, targeting the poorest as your main market may seem like bad business. But Talino Venture Labs’ new startups prove that there’s profits to be made-- and all while doing society a lot of good.