JGSOM Grand Prix launched to fuel Ateneo’s entrepreneurial minds

Last April 19, 2023, JGSOM Sanggunian, Ateneo’s student government for business-cluster, launched its founding event called JGSOM Grand Prix (JGP) — a 2-week  intensive program designed to train and shape entrepreneurial minds as well as develop the business community in the Loyola Schools.

JGSOM Grand Prix (JGP) entailed a 3-day bootcamp centered on training Ateneans to pitch their products to angel investors and venture capitalists. Out of 80+ applicants, they were meticulously screened based on business ownership, sales traction, experience, and quality of their responses. Out of the pool of applicants, only the top 40 were accepted to participate in the competition. They were divided into ten teams and proceeded to be mentored by the industry's leading experts. Among the ten groups, seven were composed of business owners, two of which had already demonstrated sales traction. 

On the pitch day, eight teams presented their ideas to notable figures in the venture capital industry, including Atty. Jecky Pelaez, the Director of Legal and Compliance at Kickstart Ventures, as well as Gabrielle Rodriguez and Toby Floro, both representing Kaya Founders in their respective roles as Investment Associate and Investment Director. The top three winning teams were awarded a prize of PHP 30,000, PHP 15,000, and PHP 5,000 respectively.

Team Buzzed with Chili secured first place with Buzzin, a web-based order and payment system that streamlines bar sales by allowing customers to order and pay from their smartphones. In second place was Drive to Survivors, with their eSea on-demand seafood delivery platform that offers a wide range of fresh and affordable local seafood delivered straight to users' doorsteps via their mobile phones. Team Vroom Vroom took third place with their business, Hirayas, which produces unique handcrafted and bio-based jewelry using eco-friendly materials such as agar and bentonite clay.

The awarding took place last April 28 in Areté Loft in Ateneo de Manila University along with a networking portion where Ateneans had the opportunity to talk to alumni and special guests from different industries. Keynote speakers were Lance Villacin, CEO of MeetBit, and Judge Calimbahin Manager in Entrepreneur Experience of Endeavor. During the roundtable networking activity, participants were able to connect with successful entrepreneurs and leaders in the business and startup community. Notable alumni and special guests were Maya Bank’s President Angelo Madrid, TechShake’s Investment Consultant Phoebe Fontanilla, Savon Cleaning Solutions CEO Yumi Lee Briones, Swarm’s CEO Alexis Collado, Bitskwela’s CEO Jiro Reyes, Bien Herrera of Embiggen, Rohan Sugapong of McCann Worldgroup, KC Joaquin of Plentina, Selina De Dios of Kumu, Sab Vicente of Grab, Bettina Gamboa of Accelerating Asia, and Victor Sison of GCash.

"The goal of JGP was to empower and equip Ateneans with the essential skills and experiences needed to thrive in the dynamic startup ecosystem. We at JGSOM Sanggunian wanted to cultivate a platform where students could not only dream big but also take concrete steps toward transforming their ideas into viable ventures. With this project, we aim to create an immersive environment that would ignite the entrepreneurial spark within Ateneo. I am honored to have led this initiative and look forward to witnessing the continued success and growth of our student entrepreneurs,” says the Business-Community Development Head of JGSOM Sanggunian, Rachel Uy from 2 AB Management Economics. 

This project was made possible with the help of JGP’s major partners TechShake, Kaya Founders, QBO Innovation Hub, Entrepreneur in Residence (EIR), Ateneo Business Resource Center, SparkUp, Philippine STAR, as well as minor partners AIESEC in ADMU, Loyola Schools Office of Placement and Career Services (LSOPCS), Ateneo Student Judicial Court (SJC), and Ateneo Commissions on Elections (COMELEC). Together, they aim to foster a thriving entrepreneurial community at Ateneo de Manila University, with the JGSOM Grand Prix marking the start of a promising future for student innovators and entrepreneurs.

Visit JGSOM Sanggunian’s FB Page to learn more about JGSOM Grand Prix!