Five Social Enterprise Ideas Win Big At BPI Sinag U

BPI Foundation, in partnership with the Ateneo Center for Social Entrepreneurship, awarded five social enterprise ideas as part of the BPI Sinag U Business Challenge at the Ayala Museum. BPI Sinag U is a nationwide competition which aims to empower, inspire, and capacitate university students interested in becoming social entrepreneurs.  The program engaged 31 universities across the country to encourage and select students with the best social enterprise ideas to submit their business plans.

The top five groups will gain continued mentorship support and incubation for one year and seed funding to make their social enterprise a reality after graduating from university this year.

“BPI Foundation believes in harnessing the imagination and passion of the youth to develop more relevant and innovative business models. Through the guidance, tools and network BPI Sinag U provides, young entrepreneurs can now transform their ideas into viable and sustainable social enterprises,” said Faye Corcuera, Executive Director of BPI Foundation.

The top five awardees were:

1. BMB Solutions is a manufacturing company of modular pedal-powered machines with a bicycle base that provides better access to electricity and water filtration.
2. Recycled E-nnovative Diaper Brick (RED Brick) makes an all new alternative brick for construction and gardening. RED brick is cheaper, eco-friendly, and stronger compared to bricks currently used in the market.
3. Bambulig produces charcoal dehumidifier and deodorizers with the foremost goal to improve the lives of the women of Alimodian, Iloilo and the out-of-school-youth of Jaro, Iloilo City. Their products absorb excess moisture, indoor pollution, and regulation of humidity, preventing molds, mildew, fungus, and allergens from forming.
4. Blue Link is a communal online portal that matches technical experts (blue collar workers) directly to service seekers.
5. Knapp is an online crowd-sourcing logistics service where people can order their food online that will eventually be delivered by local habal-habal drivers, eventually growing their income and improve their way of living in peri-urban areas.

During the Awarding Ceremony, a panel discussion entitled YOU(th) Can Make A Difference took place. The discussion underlined the role of young social entrepreneurs in nation building and fostering an inclusive ecosystem for youth social change agents. The panelists included Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya of the Department of Trade and Industry,  Jim Ayala of Solar Energy Foundation, Dean Rudy Ang of the Ateneo Graduate School of Business, and Ifore Yu of Charlie Chicken. The panel was moderated by Paul Basil of Villgro.

BPI Sinag U is a category of the BPI Sinag Challenge 2016, BPI Foundation’s iconic program that supports social enterprises or businesses with a social mission. In addition to BPI Sinag U, BPI Foundation also runs BPI Sinag Accelerate, a competition for social enterprises ready to scale-up, in partnership with the Peace and Equity Foundation.

For more information on BPI Sinag, please visit sinag.bpifoundation.org .