To prepare for the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Reverse Pitching competition scheduled for 10 April 2025, at the Paragon Hotel, SLU participated in an ideation session on 02 April 2025. This session was part of the CordInnovation 2025 Celebration’s Reverse Pitching event.
The Reverse Pitching session brought together industry professionals, researchers, and students in a dynamic exchange of ideas aimed at addressing real-world business challenges through innovative solutions.
Building on the March 20, 2025 orientation workshop on needs and problem identification, this session gave MSMEs a platform to clearly express their pain points, enabling researchers to design technology-driven solutions tailored to industry needs. The event featured two main sessions: a morning discussion using SWOT analysis, Fishbone Diagram, and the 5 Whys Method to thoroughly identify business challenges, and an afternoon workshop where researchers and technology developers collaborated to create practical, innovative solutions addressing those challenges.
During the presentation of the companies and the challenges faced by their operations, numerous members of the SLU participants were able to impart their sentiments and knowledge regarding how the owners may mitigate or solve their problems. Participants engaged actively with business owners by asking targeted questions to clarify company directions, analyzing processes, identifying inefficiencies, and suggesting improvement strategies. The discussions thoroughly explored areas such as product development, waste management, standardization, and market expansion.
Moreover, some business owners took the opportunity to engage in one-on-one consultations with SLU faculty members to gain further clarity on the suggestions provided. These discussions reinforced the collaborative nature of the event, where industry and academia worked hand-in-hand to develop practical solutions tailored to specific business needs. The open exchange of ideas helped business owners gain a renewed sense of direction, equipping them with the necessary knowledge to pursue improvements in their processes, technology, and market strategies.
A key takeaway was that, despite significant challenges, viable solutions were attainable. Many entrepreneurs initially saw their problems as overwhelming but, through constructive dialogue, discovered alternative approaches and technological innovations to optimize operations. SLU participants contributed valuable insights grounded in academic research, helping businesses adopt new perspectives to address their challenges effectively.
After the morning session, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) allotted a portion of their event for participants to group up and choose which company they would like to assist in addressing their challenges. The SLU teams selected Cersbest, Cheche’s Gourmet, and Gift of Grace as their focus. During this portion of the event, participants were able to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges these companies faced and how their current practices might have contributed to these issues.
With the help of the guidelines provided by DOST, the teams were able to break down the problems systematically and explore possible solutions that aligned with their fields of expertise. Through the formulation of their pitches and group discussions, the SLU participants were able to generate solutions based on the surface-level data provided to them. This process demonstrated not only their competence but also their willingness to contribute in meaningful ways. The insights and innovative approaches developed in the workshop laid the foundation for further research and potential implementation of industry-driven solutions.
At the end of the event, all participating teams were required to submit their initial entries, outlining their proposed solutions. These submissions will serve as the foundation for further refinements leading up to the next Reverse Pitching event, scheduled to take place on 10 April 2025. During this upcoming session, participants will finalize and present their comprehensive solutions, integrating deeper insights and feasibility studies to ensure that their proposals align with the needs of the businesses they aim to assist.
The Reverse Pitching event was graced by esteemed faculty members, researchers, and students from various disciplines, fostering a collaborative environment for problem-solving and ideation. Faculty from SAMCIS included Dr. Carmelita Amistad. Representatives from SEA included Karlo Dacanay, Carl Joven Carranza, Dionaida Fontanilla, April Gumnad, Junalyne Faguingas, Lee Man Basinga, Maria Corazon Ocampo, and Mark Emriel Parlan. Among the student attendees were Lawrence Konrad Quizon, Julianne Kate Fangonil, and Adriana Feliz Yap-Eo. Additionally, SAMCIS student participants included Hans Fredrick Aragona, Matt Danielle Bravo, Neil Clarence Cayton, Milton Junsel Fabe, Dylan Yeoj Magpili, Liam Jiro Morales, Lou Diamond Morados, and Melmar Palacio. (Article by Julianne Fangonil | Photos by UNRIC)
