DOST-NCR Fulfills an OFW’s Lifelong Dream through DOST’s iFWD PH Program

 By: Halyn Lunel Gamboa and Rochelle Cruz

Under the program entitled, “DOST’s Strategy to Accelerate & Revitalize Technology Transfer (StARTT) in CALABARZON Region”, DOST-CALABARZON collaborates with DOST-PCIEERD and the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) by conducting a one day workshop on Investment Pitching, and a Mock Pitching session last 17 March and 24 March, respectively. The said initiatives aim to scale up efforts in technology transfer and commercialization for potential startup founders in CALABARZON.

DOST-CALABARZON OIC-Regional Director, Ms. Emelita P. Bagsit, welcomed the participants and gave a message hoping that the researchers will become more confident and ready for the mock and actual technology pitching after the coaching and workshop. She also looked forward that they will learn more about the technicalities and strategies on technology pitching as well as

to be inspired from the success stories of the invited speakers. Lastly, she added “As you go along on this journey, we wish that you’ll see that one result of this activity is the established partnerships and linkages with experts that would be very essential as this may lead to further coaching and mentoring in the next stages.”

These back-to-back events were attended by various Research and Development Institutes (RDIs) and State Universities and Colleges (SUCs) in the region namely, the DOST-Industrial Technology Development Institute, Southern Laguna State University, Laguna Polytechnic University, Cavite State University, Batangas State University, and University of the Philippines Manila.

Workshop on Investment Pitching

Following the “Webinar on the Assessment of Technology and Investment Readiness Level of RDIs/SUCs’ Technologies” conducted by DOST-CALABARZON, DOST-PCIEERD, and DOST-TAPI last 19 February, the “One-day Workshop on Investment Pitching for Potential Startup Founders” was organized by the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO) last 17 March. 

Featuring some of Ateneo de Manila University’s (ADMU) notable experts on business and management, the said workshop consisted of a series of talks and presentations as well as the drafting of pitch decks to prepare the participants in their technology commercialization journey. The resource speakers for the workshop were Mr. Benjamin Mirasol on “Can You Be An Entrepreneur?”; Mr. JJ Ingco III on “Describing Your Product”; Mr. Antonio Jr. P. Feria on “Strategizing for Market Adoption”; and Mr. George S. Quitoriano on “Convincing the Investors”. 

The lectures helped the participants first to be inspired that they can become successful entrepreneurs and developed their skills on pitching by describing their own technology in a way they think that will capture their market’s interest. They were also equipped with concepts and strategies on market adoption and lean model canvas for prospective technology business. In the afternoon, the participants drafted their own pitch decks and presented it to the judges for critiquing.

Mock Pitching Event

The third part of the StARTT program is the Mock Pitching event where 12 technologies from the chosen RDIs and SUCs will present their recorded pitching videos to the panelists, followed by the open forum. 

Ms. Russell Pili, Chief Science Research Specialist and Chief Technology Transfer Officer of the Research Information and Technology Transfer Division (RITTD) of DOST-PCIEERD, gave the opening remarks.

“I know that this is not exhaustive enough but this is enough to give you at least a glimpse of what it’s like [to pitch],” admitted Ms. Pili, “The purpose of the pitch naman is to start a conversation.” She assured the participants—especially the new ones—in the form of a joke, saying that while they should be nervous, they should also envision the mock pitching event as the “real” pitching session. 

The program proper involved the video presentations from the chosen RDIs and SUCs in the first session of StARTT last month. After each product pitch, the panelists offered their critiques and suggested ways on how to better “market” these technologies. Mr. Edward Paul Apigo of DOST-PCIEERD, together with the speakers from the previous StARTT workshop on investment pitching namely, Mr. Benjie Mirasol, Mr. Jon Fernandez, and Mr. George Quitoriano of ADMU, served as the panelists. 

As part of the banner program, StARTT, the previous workshops are to prepare the participants for the Regional Technology Transfer Day where potential investors and adopters will be invited, and the actual pitching will take place.