917V Core Values Come to Life through Velocity Innovation Challenge

by: Natasha Bautista, 917Ventures Head of Growth and Programs

We at 917Ventures, as a Venture Builder, invest not only in innovation and impact through efforts, time, and money in ensuring we develop game-changing digital solutions that will uplift the lives of Filipinos, but more importantly in our people – the pilots, brains, and hearts who make our ventures work.?

We prioritize that by living by our Core Values or what we call the 917V Codes or the 5 Cs.

• Collab - We find ways to get involved and work together.
• Care - We offer help and ask what is needed.
• Connect - We communicate beyond just having a talk.
• Coach - We do this within and beyond the company for the betterment of everyone.
• Celebrate - We fail as one and win as one.

Every company has a set of values that serve as pillars for culture-building. But when we implement the 917V Codes when investing in our people, it’s also because we want to empower them and nurture their talents so that their passion for uplifting lives through ideation and innovation may burn brighter.?

Within my team at Growth and Programs, collaboration is essential across verticals for cohesive and effective marketing strategies and executions; we care about each other, the ventures we work on, and our audience, and so we connect to brainstorm and align. What I love about my team is that coaching just doesn’t come from the heads and leads! Each of us has insights and specialties we bring to the table and we learn from one another. We celebrate and discuss progress through check-ins, check-outs, and hangouts. And across the whole 917V, I am proud that all departments are also setting good examples in their own way, and the way it manifests in our synergy as a company is just amazing.

Another one of the best platforms where we get to exhibit our 5 Cs is our annual Innovation Challenge called Velocity –? a program that I’ve led for three straight years and five total batches. We started Velocity to supplement 917Ventures’ goal of having a healthy pipeline of ideas to build scalable and successful ventures. Aside from our internal and external ideation activities, hackathons, and research, Velocity is our flagship initiative encompassing the broader Globe Group.

And now in our second year of partnership with Ayala Corporation’s AC Ventures, we extend Velocity to Ayala business units and prioritize collaboration and innovation while strengthening the synergy within the larger ecosystem. In that way, we also extend the 917V Codes in investing in everyone’s potential.

Velocity is always my favorite (and busiest!) time of the year because it is the season when I get to work with people beyond the 917Ventures wall and when we get to see so many venture ideas come to life in such a short amount period. This year, nine teams from different Globe and Ayala business units showed their care for the greater good and collaborated with each other and with their assigned mentors to exchange brilliant ideas. Velocity has been a great opportunity to make strong connections within their respective teams and with other participants. The mentors and everyone who lent their support and time to us for the panel talks and learning sessions have also been great coaches. Thank you to our guest speakers – Hans Jefferson Lim (Inquiro), Stephanie Kubota (Rush), Ada Hernandez (KonsultaMD), Brett Doyle (Mosaic Solutions), Diego (Pickup Coffee), Patrick Gentry (Sprout Solutions), Mai Marcelo (Globe CI), Bianca Sykimte (DTI), and Weldon Fung (馮瑋敦） (Meltwater), as well as to our 917V Strategy, CIMI, and Product teams, and our Venture Builders and EIRs! I can proudly say that everyone who took part in the program in any way has imparted invaluable insights and skills to help the teams and 917Ventures, Globe, and Ayala to continue uplifting Filipino lives.?

Velocity was a great opportunity to celebrate Filipino talent and their amazing ideas and passion. This was also a perfect time to celebrate the fruits of our collaboration and synergy among everyone who made another successful year of Velocity happen. The socials that come after the Demo Day is just the cherry on top besides the new acquaintances, network, and cross-industry insights we’ve acquired throughout the whole program!

This year, representatives from GCash bagged the grand prize for their winning idea, a tri-platform financial solution for MSMEs. Teams from Asticom, BPI, Brave Connective, ECPay, Entrego, and Globe also joined this year, and it’s so nice to witness the fruition of the 12 weeks of workshops, learning sessions, and fireside chats. Team members were chosen by their respective business units, who possess domain expertise and technical abilities, and showcase a catalyst mindset. Thank you again, guys, for being so game and putting your dedication into this!

In 2022, the real estate marketplace idea Housify won the grand prize. And just recently, Housify has become our newest portfolio company and is now on its way to becoming the country’s first and only real estate broker productivity suite that aids in closing property sales faster.

Through Velocity, teams had first-hand experience in ideating and venture building, learned from workshops, consultations, and mentorships with startup founders and key experts, and had the chance of a lifetime to build the next tech giants. They got to understand better what we do at 917Ventures, and it’s also great to know that they share the same passion for making an impact and enhancing lives through technology and digital solutions. Imagine this: the next GCash, the next KonsultaMD, perhaps the next Philippine unicorn being developed today could come from the minds and efforts of regular employees who were simply given the chance to build something great! All we need is an opportunity and the right platform, and that’s what we are doing at Velocity.?

So you see, we truly live and breathe collaboration to achieve synergy, which means that together we are gaining something greater than the sum of its parts. And with the 5Cs as our pillar in carrying this out, I know that it will only get better, and I’m so excited for what’s to come next year.