Journey from telco to techco at 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival

In a significant showcase of innovation and growth, the Globe Group will raise the flag at the 2023 Singapore Fintech Festival (SFF) this week and share its experience raising unicorns as part of its transformative journey from a traditional telecom company to a dynamic technology company.
Organized by the Monetary Authority of Singapore and Elevandi, the SFF, happening at the Singapore Expo from November 15 to 17, 2023, is a global fintech event that attracts thousands of participants worldwide. Last year, it gathered 62,000 participants from 134 countries. The festival focuses on the intersection of financial services, public policy, and cutting-edge technology.
A highlight of the event will be a panel discussion on "Building Unicorns: An ASEAN Success Story" featuring Globe Group President and CEO Ernest Cu and Mynt President and CEO Martha Sazon.
"Our transformation from telco to techco reflects our commitment to innovation and solving real-world challenges. At SFF, we're excited to demonstrate how this pivot is not just about business growth but making a tangible difference in the daily lives of Filipinos," said Cu.
Globe's evolution is supported by impressive financial growth, with the company recording a 44% year-on-year increase in non-telco revenues, reaching PHP4.1 billion in the first three quarters of 2023.
A key aspect of Globe's success story is GCash, operated by Mynt, which has emerged as the Philippines' only double unicorn. The platform's net earnings soared to PHP1.62 billion in the first nine months of 2023, a 149% increase from the previous year.
Martha Sazon, President and CEO of Mynt, said: "GCash is a testament to our customer-first approach and technological innovation. At SFF, we look forward to sharing our experiences and insights on creating inclusive financial solutions for millions of Filipinos."
Meanwhile, KonsultaMD, one of 917 Ventures' portfolio companies, also shows the potential to become the country's next unicorn. KonsultaMD expanded into a superapp this year, providing comprehensive healthcare services to over 2 million Filipinos.
Globe is also optimistic about collaborating with Gogoro of Taiwan to introduce two-wheel Smartscooters® using battery-swapping technology. Gogoro Philippines recently opened the Gogoro Experience Center in Makati City, a key financial hub in the Philippines, the first outside Taiwan.
