917Ventures Shaping the Future of Philippine Startups

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Credit: pexels.com, Smiling young bearded Hispanic male entrepreneur thinking over new ideas for startup project and looking away dreamily while working at table with laptop and taking notes in notebook

917Ventures is a venture capital arm of Globe Telecom, one of the Philippines' leading telecommunications companies. It was established to support and shape the future of Philippine startups.

The venture capital firm has already made its mark in the startup ecosystem, investing in companies that focus on digital payments, e-commerce, and fintech. Its investments have helped these startups grow and expand their reach.

One notable example is the investment in PayMongo, a digital payment platform that allows businesses to accept online payments. This investment has helped PayMongo become one of the leading digital payment platforms in the Philippines.

By investing in startups like PayMongo, 917Ventures is helping to drive innovation and economic growth in the Philippines.

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Industries and Partners

917Ventures is focused on supporting Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), which make up 99.5% of all businesses in the country. These businesses are the backbone of the Philippine economy, and the pandemic has highlighted the need for them to digitize and establish their online presence.

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The company is also prioritizing the education sector through its EdTech platform, EdVenture, which has over 1,100 tutors providing high-quality, affordable, and personalized online tutorials to students from Preschool to Grade 10. Additionally, KodeGo has played a significant role in upskilling thousands of individuals with IT and web development skills.

917Ventures has partnered with local governments to make its services more accessible to Filipinos. For example, KonsultaMD partnered with the local government of Kidapawan City in Mindanao to provide medical services to government employees and residents.

Here are some of 917Ventures' key partners and customers:

Most Promising Local Industries

MSMEs are the backbone of the Philippine economy, making up 99.5% of all businesses in the country.

The pandemic has highlighted the need for businesses to digitize and establish their online presence, which is where 917Ventures comes in with solutions like RUSH, m360, and DeepSea.

Education is another sector that 917Ventures is prioritizing, with EdVenture providing high-quality, affordable, and personalized online tutorials to over 1,100 students from Preschool to Grade 10.

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KodeGo has played a significant role in upskilling thousands of individuals with IT and web development skills, promoting STEM careers among the youth.

Local governments, or LGUs, have been actively collaborating with startups to continue the growth of the ecosystem and to further digitalization, financial inclusion, and generally uplift the lives of Filipinos.

In fact, the local government of Kidapawan City in Mindanao partnered with KonsultaMD to make their services available and improve access to medical services for government employees and residents.

Ventures Partners & Customers

917 Ventures has a total of 3 strategic partners and customers. These partnerships are crucial for the company's growth and success.

One of these partners is IPeople, a company 917 Ventures recently partnered with on November 11, 2024. This partnership is focused on developing students' digital skills for today's fast-growing tech careers.

IPeople is a Yuchengco-Ayala Education collaboration that equips students with relevant, industry-ready skills in high-demand digital fields. This partnership is a great example of how 917 Ventures is working with other companies to provide valuable resources to students.

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Credit: youtube.com, Partners, ventures and affiliates

Another partner of 917 Ventures is Gogoro, a company that partnered with Ayala in 2023 and 2022. This partnership is a significant one, as it involves a collaboration between companies in Taiwan and the Philippines.

Here's a list of 917 Ventures' partners and customers:

These partnerships demonstrate 917 Ventures' commitment to working with other companies to provide valuable resources and opportunities to students and the wider community.

News and Updates

917Ventures, the venture capital arm of Globe Telecom, was launched in 2016.

The fund focuses on investing in startups that aim to promote digital inclusion and financial inclusion in the Philippines.

917Ventures has invested in several startups, including fintech companies like PayMongo and Coins.ph.

These investments have helped drive financial inclusion in the country, particularly among underserved communities.

The venture capital firm has also invested in other sectors, such as e-commerce and healthtech.

917Ventures' investments have resulted in significant growth and job creation for the startups it has backed.

What's Next

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We're excited to share what's next for 917Ventures. The company is driven by continuous ideation and innovation, allowing it to stay at the forefront of identifying the next major startup opportunities.

One area of focus is climate technology, which aims to contribute to a greener future for Metro Manila and the entire country. 917Ventures is introducing solutions that address everyday challenges.

A recent collaboration with Taiwan's Gogoro exemplifies this commitment. Gogoro's battery-swapping technology holds great promise for the Philippines.

The technology is initially being utilized for logistics and last-mile delivery services, but 917Ventures envisions it becoming a viable transportation option for all Filipinos. This is just the beginning of a new era of sustainable transportation in the country.

Just as 917Ventures has championed financial inclusion through GCash and promoted comprehensive healthcare services with KonsultaMD, the company is pioneering the use of battery-swapping technology in the Philippines.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who owns 917 Ventures?

917Ventures is a separate, independent entity owned by Globe, with its own unique approach to innovation and business-building.

Krystal Bogisich

Lead Writer

Krystal Bogisich is a seasoned writer with a passion for crafting informative and engaging content. With a keen eye for detail and a knack for storytelling, she has established herself as a versatile writer capable of tackling a wide range of topics. Her expertise spans multiple industries, including finance, where she has developed a particular interest in actuarial careers.

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