KMC Solutions, a premier business services company specializing in Employer of Record (EOR) services and the largest provider of flexible office space in the Philippines, celebrated the country’s top startups at the 2nd KMC Startup Awards gala night on November 15, 2024.
The KMC Startup Awards spotlight pioneering ideas and forward-thinking entrepreneurs shaping the Philippine economy. In collaboration with the Philippine Startup Week, QBO Innovation Hub, Kaya Founders, WEB3 PH, PowerMac Center, and Uniquecorn Strategies, the event also provides a platform to foster connection, mentorship, and inspiration within the startup community. Esteemed media outlets BusinessWorld, Manila Bulletin, The Manila Times, Manila Standard, and WhenInManila.com served as the event’s media partners.
This year’s competition received a record-breaking 300+ entries from over 100 startups nationwide, culminating in 30 finalists awarded gold, silver, and bronze distinctions across 10 categories.
Topping this year’s honors is GoTyme Bank, which claimed the Startup of the Year Gold Award, along with two additional golds for Innovation in Marketing and Growth Champion. Meanwhile, Packworks earned two gold distinctions, winning the Tech Innovator Award and Emerging Leader of the Year for Co-founder and CEO Bing Tan. Other gold winners include Sprout Solutions for Customer Excellence Award, Xeleqt for Innovative Product of the Year, Mylo Speech Buddy for Social Impact Award, Mober Technology, Inc. for Sustainability Award, and OneLot for Best Newcomer Award.
The silver winners are UNO Digital Bank (Startup of the Year), Cocotel International CEO Rafael Jouwena (Emerging Leader of the Year), Mylo Speech Buddy (Best Newcomer Award and Innovative Product of the Year), Qonnec Software Solutions Inc. (Tech Innovator Award), GoTyme Bank (Customer Excellence Award), Saint C (Innovation in Marketing Award), Sprout Solutions (Growth Champion Award), PAMMÉ (Sustainability Award), and Packworks (Social Impact Award).
Meanwhile, the bronze winners are Packworks (Startup of the Year), Unprude (Best Newcomer Award and Emerging Leader of the Year for Founder and CEO Rica Cruz, PHD), Cocotel International (Tech Innovator Award), KwikCare (Customer Excellence Award), Smile API (Innovative Product of the Year), EdukSine (Innovation in Marketing Award), Mober Technology, Inc. (Growth Champion), Agrabah Ventures (Sustainability Award), and Adobokashi Systems, Inc. (Pic-A-Talk AAC) (Social Impact Award).
Michael McCullough, Co-founder of KMC Solutions, reflected on the significance of the 2024 KMC Startup Awards, tying it to the company’s own journey. “This event holds a special place for us because we’ve been in their shoes—it wasn’t too long ago that KMC was a startup figuring out how to turn big ideas into reality. While we’ve grown, we’ve kept that agile mindset, constantly creating solutions to make it easier for businesses to navigate complexity and scale. Seeing these startups bring their visions to life is a powerful reminder of the magic that happens when great ideas meet determination.”
Now in its second year, the KMC Startup Awards has become one of the most prestigious events for recognizing innovation and entrepreneurship in the Philippines. Organized by KMC Solutions, a pioneer in offering flexible and affordable office solutions, the awards underscore KMC’s commitment to strengthening the startup ecosystem in the Philippines and fostering growth through innovative facilities.