IGNITE 2024, the largest innovation conference in the Philippines, concluded on an exhilarating note on October 10 at Dusit Thani Manila and October 11 at Fairmont Makati. Co-organized by TechShake, a leading startup ecosystem builder in ASEAN, and dentsu X, a global advertising powerhouse, the event brought together a curated audience of 1,000 participants from startups, investors, large enterprises, media, and government officials.

Themed “The New Era of Innovation: How AI is Rewriting the Rules of Business,” this two-day event was a vibrant platform for sharing insights, networking, and exploring the transformative potential of artificial intelligence across various industries. Supported by key partners including JETRO, Shell Philippines, Mynavi Corporation, Sprout Solutions, IE Business School, Tokyo Stock Exchange (JPX), and Penbrothers, IGNITE 2024 showcased the strength of the Philippine and Asian innovation landscape.

The conference opened with remarks from Kotaro Adachi, Co-Founder & CEO of TechShake, alongside Executive Director Kazuo Nakamura of JETRO Manila and Assistant Secretary Leonila T. Baluyut from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). Attendees were then inspired by keynote sessions featuring renowned speakers such as Yoichi Ito, Dean of Musashino University, Bruce from TikTok Philippines, and Naveen Asrani from Amazon Web Services.

A highlight of the conference was the engaging fireside chat with Ikuo Hiraishi of Dream Vision, moderated by Franco Varona of Foxmont Capital Partners, which offered valuable insights into the evolving innovation ecosystem. A panel discussion on “Innovation Ecosystem Building in ASEAN,” moderated by Katrina Chan, featured distinguished panelists, including Kentaro Machii from ERIA, Mega Prawita from KUMPUL, Allen John Ku from Startup Island Taiwan, and Loo Chuan Boon from SIDEC.

The afternoon sessions included the JETRO Pitch Session featuring ten innovative Japanese startups, followed by the Startup World Cup x Wildfire Pitch Competition. This exciting segment, opened by Yonathan Xavier of Pegasus Tech Ventures, showcased ten startups competing for recognition. The top three, Pasajob, Farmtri, and Betterteem, impressed the judges, with Betterteem emerging victorious. As the grand winner, Betterteem will represent the Philippines in next year’s final pitch at Silicon Valley. Additionally, the top three winners earned a trip to Jeju, South Korea, for the A-Stream Conference by Y&Archer.

“We are thrilled with the outcome of IGNITE 2024,” said Kotaro Adachi. “The event not only highlighted the vibrancy of the startup ecosystem in the Philippines and Asia but also emphasized the crucial role of AI in shaping the future of business. We look forward to the innovations and collaborations that will emerge from this gathering.”

With its impactful sessions, networking opportunities, and inspiring discussions, IGNITE 2024 successfully fostered an environment of collaboration, innovation, and forward-thinking strategies, setting the stage for a new era of business transformation.

For more information about IGNITE 2024 and future events, please visit their official website or LinkedIn page. 

This article is brought to you by IGNITE 2024.