‘Startups in best spot to help communities’

STARTUPS can solve the pain points in a developing country such as the Philippines, according to a consultancy firm.

“Being immersed in the grassroots and at the same time a breeding ground for innovation, startups are in the best position to tackle the problems in the community,” AHGLAB Consultancy Services Inc. COO Rene Cuartero told the BusinessMirror last Friday.

Cuartero urged venture capitalists eyeing investments in the technology sector to seek local partners because they are in a better position to assess the real situation on the ground.

“Local partners can guide their foreign counterparts to develop the most appropriate, practical and relevant products and services for the community,” Cuartero added.

Cuartero’s colleague Thomas Abetung said there are huge opportunities for startups that can introduce innovative ideas to the problems in the Philippines.

Another colleague, Simon Bauer, said the startups would be mentored every stage in its mentorship program consisting of 12 weeks.

“They will be given access to services, support them from A to Z, incorporation, legal matters, marketing and other stuff that early startup companies need,” explained Bauer.

“We will also introduce a tailor-fitted curriculum for them,” he added.

The company will also help startups starting from “zero to one.”

Cuartero said their mentoring program will cover accounting, hurman resources, marketing, legal work, among others.

From the 270 applicants, six startups were chosen for the mentorship program.

According to the executives, the program aims to help early-stage entrepreneurs through a comprehensive learning journey for promising founders with its weekly curriculum of training sessions, workshops and mentorship from industry leaders.