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Buzzing with Hope: What High School Entrepreneurs in the Philippines Just Taught Me About Innovation in Asia

I’m still buzzing with energy and inspiration after serving as a judge at the Academy of Entrepreneurs x PAREF Woodrose & PAREF Southridge Pitch Competition in the Philippines. This event wasn’t just a student showcase—it was a spotlight on the next generation of purpose-driven founders, ready to shape the future of Asia through innovation that is deeply local, relevant, and human-centered.



Alongside my fellow judges—Elmerei Cuevas, from the United Nations and David Smith from Sydney University’s Incubator —we had the incredible privilege of witnessing high school entrepreneurs pitch solutions across critical areas like AI, health, employment, food security, and family life. Their confidence and clarity blew us away.


A huge thank you to Paula Mills and Christepher Zandberg from the Academy of Entrepreneurs for bringing this initiative to life. These platforms matter—they ignite leadership, sharpen ideas, and nurture the belief that young people can lead change.


Celebrating the Top 3 Student Teams

  • I-Yuda – An intuitive platform matching Filipino domestic assistants with families, prioritizing two-way verification for mutual safety and trust. An incredibly thoughtful approach to a complex challenge.


  • Breaky Blends – Smoothie kits designed for teens who skip breakfast, promoting better health through convenience and fun.


  • Start Smart – A startup tackling youth unemployment and underemployment, with peer-led solutions and scalable outreach.


Honorable Mentions That Moved Us

  • Axis – An AI-powered recruitment platform focused on creating inclusive opportunities for people with disabilities and minorities.


  • Lifeleash – Affordable tech for pet health and tracking, wrapped in a collar that’s as caring as it is clever.


  • Foldify – A clothes-folding prototype by 13-year-olds designed to save families time and bring more joy to shared routines.


Small, Local Innovations = Big, Lasting Impact

As I’ve shared with my students at the Academy of Entrepreneurs over the last two terms, innovation doesn’t always need to be disruptive. Some of the most meaningful shifts happening across Asia today are incremental—and powerfully grounded in local context.


Just look at Grab vs. Uber:

  • Grab understood local needs

  • Moved fast with motorbike rides, cash payments, and built-in insurance

  • Built trust with governments and communities

  • Became a super app rooted in Southeast Asian realities


What Grab teaches us—and what these student founders reminded me of—is this:

To win in Asia, innovation must speak the language of local life.


Not just in dialect or payment options, but in honoring daily rhythms, family values, and cultural priorities. Impact comes when tech meets trust, and when solutions belong to the communities they serve.


From Growth Mindset to Future-Ready Leadership

I was especially inspired by how these students took our feedback with openness, grace, and a clear #growthmindset. It’s a far cry from the bundle of nerves I was during my first pitch at JFDI Demo Day in Singapore—where, mind you, I had 20 years of work experience under my belt!


The poise, passion, and purpose I witnessed in these students—especially the young women founders—give me tremendous hope for the future of entrepreneurship in Asia.


If this is what the future looks like, we’re in good hands.



Let’s keep championing the power of local innovation and youth leadership. Because when we nurture young minds, we don’t just prepare them for the future—we empower them to shape it.



 
 
 

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