The search for the next big thing in the Philippine startup scene takes center stage once again as CNN Philippines’ ‘The Final Pitch (TFP)’ launches its 8th season that will focus on an all-tech lineup of startups and entrepreneurs. This comes at a perfect time when the local startup ecosystem is experiencing a boom with a 179% increase in raised funding in 2021 to as much as $1 billion, generating interest from local and international investors.
Returning investor-judges John Janusczcak, President and CEO of UBX, recognized as the Fastest Growing Fintech Company in South East Asia in 2020; former TFP mentor turned-investor-judge Amor Maclang of Geiser-Maclang, the convenor of Digital Pilipinas and World Fintech Festival – Philippines, and the forthcoming Philippine Fintech Festival; Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon Depot, and one of the directors of the Proptech Consortium of the Philippines have come back for another season.
Also joining as new investor judges are Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph, the largest crypto wallet in the Philippines; Francis Plaza, co-founder and CEO of PayMongo, and one of the leading fintechs in the country; and Avin Ong, founder and CEO of Fredley Group of Companies who has under his belt a consortium of over 250 restaurants and café branches in the Philippines.
Top row (L to R) : Francis Plaza, co-founder and CEO of PayMongo, Amor Maclang of Geiser-Maclang, the convenor of Digital Pilipinas and World Fintech Festival – Philippines, and the forthcoming Philippine Fintech Festival and John Janusczcak, President and CEO of UBX
Middle row (L to R) : Rosemarie Bosch-Ong, SEVP and COO of Wilcon Depot, John Aguilar, The Final Pitch creator and host and Wei Zhou, CEO of Coins.ph
Bottom row: Avin Ong, founder and CEO of Fredley Group of Companies
The show is now accepting applications for entrepreneurs to pitch their idea stage, existing, and scale-up startups that are ready for their next stage of growth. “This will be our biggest season yet,” TFP creator and host John Aguilar said. “The 8th season of the show has a very deliberate slant towards tech and we are looking forward to backing startups that will help our economy transition back to pre-pandemic growth levels.”
Filming of TFP will be held from July 5-6, 2022 in Okada Manila, the show’s exclusive hotel and venue partner. Okada Manila SVP for Hotel Operations Ivaylo S. Ivanov, who will come in as a guest judge, said “Being one of the technologically advanced resorts in the country, it’s the perfect match for us. Looking forward to fantastic creative ideas and talents out there.“
Season 8 will serve as a run-up to The Final Pitch: ASEAN, which will involve Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, and Vietnam by 2023 and will be filmed and broadcast across Asia. “We are aiming for the show to be the regional platform that will enable cross-border investment and cooperation across Southeast Asia. Proudly Filipino produced, for a global audience,” said Aguilar.
Interested applicants for The Final Pitch Season 8: Tech Edition can fill up the application form at TheFinalPitch.ph/application or get in touch with the show at submit@TheFinalPitch.ph or admin@DragonsNest.co. The deadline for submission of applications is June 24, 2022. TFP premieres on July 31, 2022, at 8:30 pm on CNN Philippines and is produced by Streetpark Productions Inc.