Last week, a delegation from the Philippines participated in the 10th annual London Tech Week (LTW), Europe’s largest tech festival.
The event, held from June 12th to 16th, brought together more than 20,000 government and corporate leaders, visionary startup founders, senior investors, and emerging tech talents from around the world.
The discussions centered around harnessing the power of technology for societal advancement.
Diverse Philippine Delegation Attends LTW
The Philippine delegation to London Tech Week included the following prominent figures and executives:
Key: Organizations/Companies | Delegates
GCash | Martha Sazon (President and CEO), Pebbles Sy (Chief Technology and Operations Officer), Sara Venturina (Chief Data Officer)
Kickstart Ventures | Minette Navarrete (President and Co-founder), Mike Maté (VP Investments)
Digital Pilipinas | Amor Maclang
QBO | Katrina Chan (Executive Director)
Paymongo | Jojo Malolos (President and CEO)
mWell by Metro Pacific | Chaye Cabal-Revilla (CEO)
RCBC | Lito Villanueva (EVP and Chief Innovations and Inclusion Officer)
Strengthening UK-Philippine Tech Cooperation
The discussions held throughout the week centered on deepening cooperation between the UK and the Philippines in the fields of fintech, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity.
The participants explored market potential and opportunities for British companies to enter and expand in the Philippines.
Showcasing Philippine Tech Innovations
At LTW’s Transformation Stage, Pebbles Sy of GCash highlighted the recent launch of GCash in the UK, discussing the future of payment innovation and the open banking industry.
Minette Navarrete of Kickstart Ventures had the privilege of joining the Global Leaders Innovation Summit, where she shed light on the transformative power of technology in inspiring change and innovation.
Networking with UK Officials
The Philippine delegation had the opportunity to engage with senior UK officials during their visit.
They attended a business leaders’ garden reception at 10 Downing Street, hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and a LTW reception at Banqueting House, hosted by Secretary of State for Business and Trade Rt Hon Kemi Badenoch MP.
These gatherings aimed to celebrate the thriving UK tech sector while fostering valuable connections.
Enhancing Cybersecurity Measures
Additionally, the delegation met with the UK’s Cybersecurity Ambassador, Juliette Wilcox CMG, to discuss equipping companies with robust cybersecurity technologies.
The conversation centered on strengthening cybersecurity measures to safeguard both UK and Philippine organizations.
Strengthening Tech Partnerships
Highlighting the growing partnership between the UK and the Philippines in the tech sector, His Majesty’s Trade Commissioner Natalie Black CMG announced Kickstart Ventures’ multimillion-dollar investment in Roslin Technologies.
This collaboration aims to position Kickstart Ventures as a leading provider of animal cell lines to the global cultivated meat industry.
The investment demonstrates the UK’s world-class tech sector, valued at $1 trillion and ranked third globally, following the United States and China.
The partnership holds the potential to drive breakthroughs and contribute to future food security efforts.
The Philippine delegation’s participation in London Tech Week exemplifies the commitment to foster international collaboration and exchange of ideas in the pursuit of technological advancements.
The discussions and networking opportunities provided a platform for both countries to explore avenues for growth and innovation in various tech sectors.
Sources: THX News & British Embassy Manila.
