Kickstart Ventures joins London Tech Week

As part of a select Philippine delegation, Kickstart Ventures, Inc. participated in the globally renowned London Tech Week, where it highlighted the importance of strategic corporate innovation and collaboration in the creation of solutions to large and complex challenges.

President and CEO Minette Navarrete provided vital insights during the Global Leaders Innovation Summit discussion, “Cracking the Innovation Code – Remaining Resolute on Investment,” conducted on June 12, 2023 at the Queen Elizabeth Centre II in Westminster, London.

The founder of Tech London Advocates and Global Tech Advocates, moderated the panel, Russ Shaw. Jim Adler from Toyota Ventures and Hadi Badri from Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism shared their insights on how they have advanced innovation in mobility, property management, and other fields.

In spite of an uncertain economic climate, shareholder pressure, and escalating competition from disruptive technologies such as generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), the panel explored methods to strengthen corporate resolve to continue investing in innovation.

“We have discovered that focusing on our customers and communities, who confront deep-seated challenges, is beneficial. Our investments in Kickstart are part of a larger effort by the Globe and Ayala Groups to develop remedies for these pervasive societal ills. By combining the enterprise scope of Globe and Ayala with the agility of startups, we invest in solutions for today’s and tomorrow’s problems. “Now is undoubtedly the time to double down,” Navarrete stated.

She emphasized that adversity is an opportunity to improve the lives of others.

“A third of all food produced in the world is wasted, yet in the Philippines, 12-15% of the population suffers from involuntary hunger every single day,” she stated.

Navarrete used food security as an illustration to illustrate Kickstart’s strategy of investing in future solutions, such as companies like SariSuki in the Philippines, which brings consumers closer to the farmers who grow fresh food, and TreeDots in Singapore, which streamlines food logistics and combats food waste.

Additionally, Navarrete emphasized the importance of collaboration between corporations and entrepreneurs for mutual success. Pickup Coffee, one of Kickstart’s portfolio companies, is evidence of this. The young grab-and-go coffee brand had always exhibited exponential development, and Kickstart’s early investment positioned it within the robustly supportive ecosystems of Globe and Ayala. Today, Pickup Coffee has nearly one hundred locations within its first year of operation.

“We make investments when we identify opportunities that will generate value. “Our investments in Xendit, a Southeast Asian payment gateway now working with BPI and Globe Telecom, and Treedots, a Singapore-based wholesale distributor of surplus and imperfect food supplies now working with some of Southeast Asia’s largest food suppliers, are evidence that technology, products, and services are deploying new business models, meeting new customers, and creating new use cases,” she explained.

Her advice to leaders desiring to invest in the current climate was crystal clear: “Begin modestly. Consider prototypes and proofs of concept, and then scale quickly – collectively.”

“London Tech Week 2023 is an excellent forum for discussions that matter – price resiliency, remaining steadfast in the face of adversity, examining the sustainability of businesses, and maintaining the human at the center of technology and innovation. These factors are crucial for corporations and companies, investors, and founders, Navarrete concluded.

In addition to Navarrete’s panel participation, Kickstart’s vice president of investments, Mike Maté, participated in the “Pitch Up” event, a London Eye-based elevator pitching session.

As it navigates the swiftly evolving technology landscape, Kickstart’s participation in London Tech Week demonstrates its dedication to fostering innovation and productive collaboration, as well as making intelligent investments.

For more information on Kickstart Ventures, please visit https://kickstart.ph/.