Largest tech startup confab kicks off in Manila

Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo.  INQUIRER.net PHOTO/ARIES JOSEPH HEGINA

THE largest gathering of technology and innovation startups in the country was launched on Monday.

More than 100 startup companies based in the country converged at the Philippine International Convention Center (PICC) to establish ties with potential investors and government officials, all in the name of forwarding the agenda of micro, small and medium entrepreneurs (MSMEs).

Dubbed as SlingshotMNL 2015, the conference seeks to nurture the Philippine startup industry in launching ideas and products, which will have global impact.

In his speech, Trade Undersecretary Ponciano Manalo Jr. highlighted the crucial role of SMEs, saying that these businesses account to 97 percent of the total industries in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) member-economies and 99.6 percent of registered businesses in the Philippines.

“Indeed, SMEs have a big impact when it comes to inclusive growth,” Manalo said.

The trade official underscored the three-pronged approach, which the APEC will implement in aiding SMEs in its member-economies: build management capability and entrepreneurship innovation; improve SMEs’ access to financing; and create a healthy business environment for entrepreneurs.

The two-day Slingshot MNL 2015 is dubbed as the official startup event of APEC Philippines 2015.

It will feature talks, workshops and breakout sessions from startup executives, government officials and industry leaders that will highlight the importance of the growing startup industry in the Asia-Pacific region.