PRESS RELEASE | PR-115-2026
SINGAPORE, 15 April 2026 – The Philippines mounted a strong presence at GITEX AI Asia 2026 held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore on 9-10 April 2026, through its national pavilion showcasing the country’s vibrant innovation ecosystem and readiness to contribute to the regional and global digital economy.
The Philippine Pavilion, headed by the Department of Science and Technology – Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI), featured seven (7) Filipino dynamic and rising startups presenting homegrown solutions designed for ASEAN and international markets. Among them is a Filipina social entrepreneur, the only woman and sole founder from Mindanao, underscoring the inclusivity and diversity of the country’s startup community.
The startups highlighted a diverse range of innovations spanning climate resilience, precision agriculture, education technology, real-time navigation, and property management., Collectively, their participation demonstrated the maturity of the Philippine startup landscape and its ability to deliver scalable, impact-driven solutions.
A major highlight was Cerebro, an integrated K-12 school management and content library platform offering over 4,000 curriculum-aligned digital lessons, for winning the Expand North Star Award at the Summit’s Supernova Pitch Competition, reinforcing the global competitiveness of Philippine startups and their growing footprint in the international innovation space.
Two other startups, namely Duon, the Philippines’ first real-time indoor navigation app and Collo, a Cloud-based AI property management platform, also competed and emerged among the Top 10 Finalists and semi-finalist, respectively, standing out from 50 of the most innovative startups in the AI and advanced technology space.
Beyond the showcase, the Philippine Pavilion also served as a strategic platform for engaging investors, industry partners, and potential clients, reinforcing the Philippines’ position as an emerging hub for innovation and digital entrepreneurship. It further reflected the Philippine government’s sustained efforts to promote science, technology, and innovation as key drivers of inclusive growth.
The Philippine Pavilion was officially opened through a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by Consul General Joyleen E. Santos of the Philippine Embassy in Singapore, together with Atty. Carla Regina P. Grepo, Commercial Counsellor of the Philippine Trade and Investment Center (PTIC) in Singapore, and Atty. Marion Ivy D. Decena, Director of the Department of Science and Technology’s Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI).
Consul General Santos is heartened to note the positive response to participating Philippine startups, given that Singapore is a country leading in terms of AI, technology and innovation. “To our innovators, rising innovators and startups in the Philippines, consider coming to Singapore and engaging with Philippine government agencies like DOST and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI)”, she said. Consul General Santos further conveyed the Philippine Embassy’s readiness to support the Philippine startup industry. (END)
About the Philippine startups
WEHLO – A localized weather, environment, and hydromet monitoring system that provides real-time climate intelligence to support disaster resilience and preparedness.
Farmesto Technologies Inc – A greenhouse automation solution that uses IoT and AI to manage dosing, irrigation, and climate control for precision agritech.
GreenVisions – An AI-driven farm management and agricultural monitoring platform designed to help growers improve productivity and sustainability.
Cerebro Plus – An integrated K-12 school management and content library system that supports digital learning and school administration.
GradeChum – An AI-powered platform that automates the evaluation of handwritten student activities, helping teachers save time and improve consistency.
DUON Wayfinding – A real-time indoor wayfinding and geo-marketing tool that helps users navigate large venues such as malls and transport hubs.
Collo PH – An AI-powered property management solution that streamlines billing, collections, and operational workflows for the Philippine market.
