Xeleqt AI wins PH Digicon’s PLDT Smart Innovation Challenge

PLDT Enterprise recently staged the Philippine Digital Convention 2023 (PH Digicon 2023), with over 5,500 physical delegates from various companies and organizations in attendance.

Its theme “VISION: Reimagine Tomorrow’s Enterprise” reflects the goal to empower tomorrow’s tech titans and enterprises, ignite future-forward thinking, explore cutting-edge technologies, inspire leader, business owners, and start-ups, to drive success in the evolving business landscape. 

One of its main highlights was the PLDT and Smart Start-up Innovation Challenge, in partnership with QBO and IdeaSpace, which served as a special venue for startups to showcase their innovative ventures. 

The final pitching and demo day gathered the top 10 finalists to compete in being the next technological breakthrough, addressing real-life challenges using technologies, such as the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), 5G, Smart Cities, Immersive Technologies, and Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG).

Xeleqt AI from Cebu was named the Grand Champion for their project that aims to help businesses collect and organize data from remote worksites and mobile workspaces using a new breed of 4G/5G-enabled AI devices that reduce H.R., I.T., and Finance data management workloads by 90%. They took home P250,000 in cash and 250,000 in Google Credits.

First runner-up was Metro Manila-based startup Mylo Speech Buddy, who was awarded P200,000 in cash and 150,000 in Google Credits for their innovative subscription-based Speech Development System designed to support kids with speech delays and children on the Autism Spectrum.

Manila-based startup VISON Technologies Corporation was named second runner-up, taking home P150,000 in cash and 100,000 in Google Credits for their flagship technology, TITAN, which has been used to process video footage and automate the counting, classifying, and analyzing of car movements on one major highway in Singapore, which facilitated a study to install wind turbines to harness renewable energy.