PH mental health startup wins int’l prize

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATED) – AroogaHealth emerged as one of the top 3 Southeast Asian startups at the Global Entrepreneurship Community Summit 2017 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Center, Malaysia on Tuesday night, December 12.

MallDash and Active60, both from Malaysia, won alongside Arooga Health.

“This is an inspiring validation that mental health matters,” wrote AroogaHealth in a Facebook post.

Phinix, meanwhile, advanced as one of the top 15 finalists.

Both teams were invited to the international competition through Rappler and UNDP’s #HackSociety supported by UNDP’s Youth Co:Lab program. (READ: UNDP, Citi Foundation launch youth innovation program)

The Pre-Acceleration Bootcamp is an all-champions league from international startup competitions, organized by the Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC).

As mentored by top innovators and entrepreneurs in the region, the 29 invited teams refined their prototypes at the MaGIC Malaysia campus in Cyberjaya from November 26 until the demo day on December 12.

HackSociety winners

AroogaHealth, founded by Nina Samantha Sanchez and Dominique de Leon, is a platform that matches individuals with trusted healthcare providers for their emotional and mental wellness. (READ: #HackSociety 2017: Ways technology can improve public health)

Phinix, founded by Pamela Nicole Mejia, is a textile upcycling social enterprise that creates high-value products such as designer shoes and accessories. (READ: #HackSociety 2017: Ideas to manage waste, sustain food production)

Grand champion #HackSociety team LawKo will compete representing the Philippines at the UNDP Regional Competition in Bangkok, Thailand in March 2018. (READ: Standout solutions: The winning ideas from #HackSociety 2017)

HackSociety is an ideathon that crowdsources “hacks” to society’s problems – a spin-off of the Social Good Summit, jointly organized by Rappler and UNDP Philippines. – with reports from Pamela Nicole Mejia / Rappler.com