As Brainsparks builds on the momentum from the past year, we invite you to take a look back at our milestones and get a glimpse of what’s in store for 2025. From strengthening local initiatives to forging global connections, 2024 laid a strong foundation for our mission of turning dreamers into founders.

Local Growth

Group Photos of the Attendees From All 4 Installments of Founders Circle 2024

In partnership with Shell Philippines, Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc., KMC Solutions, and Founders Launchpad, Brainsparks successfully hosted four Founders Circle events in May and June 2024. These gatherings explored critical startup topics, including AI integration, sustainable business practices, the future of design, and the Philippine and Southeast Asian startup ecosystem. Featuring industry leaders as speakers, Founders Circle continued to provide a space for entrepreneurs to connect, learn, and navigate the evolving business landscape.

Some Photos from the SLINGSHOT X Venture Pilipinas Pitch Competition Business Mission to Singapore

Brainsparks also partnered with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Quest Ventures to support the SLINGSHOT X Venture Pilipinas Pitch Competition winners—SolX Technologies Inc., Betterteem, and Xeleqt AI—on a business mission to Singapore from May 13-17, 2024. This initiative helped these startups expand into international markets, connect with investors, and promote Filipino innovation. With sponsored travel and accommodation, participants engaged in cross-border networking and gained insights into global trends, further positioning the Philippines as a growing startup hub.

Top: Screenshots from the Learning Sessions of Shell LiveWIRE 2024; Bottom (L-R): Photo from the Face-To-Face Workshop, the Top 3 Tech Startups at the Final Pitch Day

Now in its fifth year, the Shell LiveWIRE program continued to drive local entrepreneurship, with Brainsparks playing an active role in mentoring and guiding startups. As part of Team IGNITE (TechShake, Dentsu X, and Brainsparks), we led learning sessions and mentorship programs, culminating in a face-to-face workshop at the Shell Office in BGC on September 9, 2024. The session featured Vincent Mendoza, a past winner of the program, who shared insights on startup success and scaling innovations.

Some photos from the KMC Solutions Hackathon

Brainsparks also co-organized a hackathon with KMC Solutions on October 24-25, 2024, at KMC Jollibee Tower. Bringing together 50+ developers, the event focused on building innovative talent matchmaking solutions to tackle real-world hiring challenges. By fostering collaboration between professionals and coding enthusiasts, the hackathon drove advancements in recruitment technology and enhanced how companies and candidates connect.

Top (L-R): UNBOXD What Wednesdays Photo,  MCIH Meeting Photo, CDO B.I.T.E.S Fire Starter Incubation Program Poster; Bottom (L-R): EO GSEA Learning Superday Photo,  DLSU-SCALE Vanguard Photo, SULONG Central Luzon Startup Consortium Screenshot

Beyond these initiatives, Brainsparks deepened its commitment to the local ecosystem through knowledge-sharing and mentorship. Co-Founder Coach Artie Lopez spoke at UNBOXD What Wednesdays at De La Salle University, emphasizing strategic networking. He also joined the EO Global Student Entrepreneur Awards (GSEA) Learning Superday, mentoring student entrepreneurs. Additionally, Brainsparks hosted the Marikina Creative Innovation Hub (MCIH), sharing insights on fostering creative startups. Coach Artie further led sessions on investment literacy at the SULONG Central Luzon Startup Consortium, pitching at CDO B.I.T.E.S Fire Starter Incubation Program, and startup growth at DLSU-SCALE Vanguard, reinforcing our mission to equip startups with real-world guidance.

International Relationships

Screenshots from the Ecothon Philippines 2024 Demo Day

Brainsparks once again partnered with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea for Ecothon Philippines 2024—a competition designed to help startups integrate sustainability into their business models. The program provided intensive training, mentoring, and coaching for selected ASEAN startups, culminating in the Ecothon Philippines Demo Day on September 10, 2024, via Zoom.

Some photos from the MYStartup Market Access Program (MAP) to the Philippines

From November 26 to 28, 2024, Brainsparks and Artem Ventures hosted the MYStartup Market Access Program (MAP) to the Philippines, a cross-border initiative connecting Malaysian and Philippine founders, investors, and ecosystem players. The program welcomed seven Malaysian startups—ALT Synergy, AxTraction AI, Infinitilab, MessengerCo, Otter Barista, Pixalink, and Scancer AI—alongside representatives from Artem Ventures and Cradle Fund. Over the three days, participants engaged in learning sessions with industry leaders like Angkas and PayMongo, explored legal and HR strategies for market entry, pitched to top Philippine investors, and connected with government representatives from DTI, BOI, and DICT.

Some photos from the First-Ever Echelon Philippines

In another major milestone, Brainsparks partnered with e27 to launch Echelon Philippines 2024, the country’s first edition of the renowned tech conference. The event gathered 2,500+ attendees, 90 speakers, 40 exhibitors, 15 startup showcases, and 38 content sessions, supported by 10 sponsors and 55 partners. A key highlight was the Startup Pitch competition, where SolX emerged as the champion, reinforcing Filipino innovation on the global stage. Attendees heard insights from industry leaders such as Angeline Tham (Angkas), Danielle Cojuangco-Abraham (Zed), Alan Cheah (CARSOME), Jojo Malolos (PayMongo), Wai Hong Fong (StoreHub), and ER Rollan (Growsari). 

Looking Ahead to 2025

Building on the strong foundation laid in 2024, Brainsparks is committed to making an even greater impact on the Philippine startup ecosystem in 2025. Our mission remains the same: turning dreamers into founders while fostering local innovation, international collaboration, and groundbreaking solutions.

To kick things off, Brainsparks invites you to join us for Startup Playbook 2025: Adapting to the Year Ahead—the first installment of this year’s Founders Circle—happening on April 2, 2025, at Common Ground. This event will dive into discussions on how the startup landscape has evolved in the first quarter of 2025 and what founders, investors, and ecosystem enablers need to do to stay ahead for the rest of the year. You may click this link to sign up:https://bit.ly/StartupPlaybook2025

The Shell LiveWIRE Acceleration Program is also back for its sixth year, and applications are now open! This is your chance to gain expert mentorship, business training, and access to funding opportunities to take your startup to the next level. Apply now and be part of a thriving community of innovators! Apply now by visiting: https://bit.ly/SLW2025Registration

Following the success of its inaugural run, Echelon Philippines is set to return in September 2025, promising an even bigger and better experience! If you want to be part of the premier tech and startup convention—whether as an attendee, speaker, exhibitor, or partner—follow Brainsparks and e27 on social media for updates, or email us at team@brainsparks.ph to explore how you can get involved!

As we move further into 2025, Brainsparks is set to drive even greater impact through Founders Circle, Shell LiveWIRE, and Echelon Philippines. Stay connected, get involved, and let’s build the future of startups together!

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