Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC), the banking arm of the Yuchengco Group of Companies, and SMBC Asia Rising Fund (SARF) are searching for the next innovative and cutting-edge financial technological solution during the inaugural Business Co-creation Dojo in Manila (Business DOJO MNL), a game-changing program curated to boost the development of modern financial technologies.

The pitching session took place at RCBC’s Collaboration Hub (‘CollHub’) at the A.T. Yuchengco Centre in BGC, Taguig City.

Sharing a vision to continuously offer context-specific and customer-centric banking solutions, RCBC and SARF, together with Fintech Alliance PH, collaborated to find and invest in the next revolutionary idea from startups that would address challenges in deposits, loans, loyalty programs, fraud prevention, digital payroll, and MSME lending by leveraging the power of AI and emerging technologies.

Before the presentations, RCBC Executive Vice President and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer, and Fintech Alliance PH Founding Chairman Lito Villanueva addressed the participants and guests.

“Through the DOJO initiative, powered by SMBC’s $200 million Asia Rising Fund, we are identifying and investing in the most promising fintech companies—those whose cutting-edge solutions align with RCBC’s mission of driving digital banking forward,” Villanueva said.

 Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Assistant Director for the Bureau of Policy Research and Innovation Karl Lyndon Pacolor shared his insights on “Enabling the Philippine Startup and Innovation Ecosystem.”

Pacolor underscored the Philippines as one of the fastest 10-year risers among countries and the first in global high-tech exports. He highlighted the Philippines’ emergence as a startup destination in Asia with a rich talent pool, government support through enabling legislation, and a robust innovation system.

Franco Varona of Foxmont Capital Partners and Nao Murakami of Incubate Fund also took the stage for a fireside chat on “Unlocking the Next Phase of Growth for PH Startups.”

The discussions provided valuable insights into the evolving Philippine startup ecosystem, highlighting key opportunities, investment strategies, and the role of innovation in scaling fintech solutions—reinforcing the core mission of the DOJO initiative.

Mayoran Rajendra, Managing Director and Head of the Asia Innovation Centre at Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC), said, “I was impressed by the uniqueness and their understanding of the nuances of local business practices of the startups who participated. The mission of the SMBC Asia Rising Fund is to support the growth and expansion of startups by leveraging SMBC Group’s global footprint and extensive client base.”

The evaluation process considered several key factors, including the viability and scalability of the business model, social impact, alignment with market trends, potential for global expansion, synergy with SMBC’s strategic direction, and the company’s current fundraising status.

The session allowed industry leaders, investors, and entrepreneurs to engage in meaningful discussions and explore potential collaborations.