NEWS
Globe’s 917Ventures to grow digital health startup KonsultaMD in 2022
Globe’s 917Ventures announced that it expects its portfolio company, telemedicine provider KonsultaMD, to follow the footsteps of sister company Mynt in the coming years.
In a virtual discussion held on November 10, the Globe affiliate shared that it is bent on growing health tech services in the country, given the rising demand for remote medical access because of convenience, affordability, and safety.
“We’ve had high hopes for KonsultaMD even before the pandemic. We saw it as a way to address the pain points in Philippine healthcare, which was suffering from a lack of healthcare professionals, inadequate health infrastructure, and limited accessibility, not to mention the high cost of medical consultation,” said Vince Yamat, 917Ventures Managing Director.
He added: “People were wary of using the service before as they are used to traditional face-to-face consultations, but with the pandemic, things have changed. Telehealth has become an important innovation that will stay and evolve.”
Less than two years into the global health crisis, medical consultations through the KonsultaMD app already skyrocketed to 1,549% versus pre-pandemic. Likewise, the service has reached over one million members who enjoy 24/7 unlimited access to licensed doctors via voice or video call for as low as P60 a month.
“Our situation has taken away the reluctance of many Filipinos to try telehealth services. People are looking for ways to stay safe from the virus while our hospitals are overwhelmed with patients. KonsultaMD has become a platform that connects Filipinos to much-needed medical consults for non-emergency cases,” said Cholo Tagaysay, CEO of KonsultaMD.
Tagaysay is confident that even after the pandemic, the public’s behavior of consulting with a doctor via voice or video will remain if the current trend is an indication. He noted that even when COVID-19 cases subsided early this year, teleconsults continued to grow as people realized the advantages of using the service and going digital.
Aside from being affordable, safe, and convenient, teleconsultation encourages the practice of raising medical concerns while they are still at an early stage instead of waiting until the condition worsens. KonsultaMD members can consult with doctors specializing in different fields — from general medicine, family medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, rehabilitation medicine, mental health support (counseling and psychotherapy), psychiatry, dermatology, ophthalmology, dentistry, ENT, and surgery.
Likewise, KonsultaMD provides digital management of health consultation records and issuance of medical documents such as e-prescriptions, e-laboratory requests, e-referrals, and e-medical certificates.
917Ventures, as Globe’s corporate venture builder, plays a significant role in the company’s journey to becoming a digital solutions group. It is set to participate in the Philippine Startup Week from Nov 15 – 19 to share learnings and developments among their different ventures within the startup community. The company is also looking for talents and startups who may want to be part of the country’s biggest corporate venture builder.
Aside from GCash and KonsultaMD, other portfolio companies under 917Ventures are online grocery shopping platform Purego, loyalty and e-commerce solution RUSH, end-to-end digital advertising agency AdSpark, primary care aggregator HealthNow, multi-channel communication services m360, and self-service AI-powered merchant dashboard Inquiro. 917Ventures also has investments in online learning platform Edventure, fan marketplace Fanlife, online IT bootcamp KodeGo, and online seller platform BentaTV.
The Globe Group strongly supports the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly UN SDG No. 9, highlighting the roles of infrastructure and innovation as crucial drivers of economic growth and development. The company also champions the UN Global Compact principles and contributes to 10 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information about 917Ventures, visit https://917ventures.com/.
NEWS
Cebuana Lhuillier ventures into future of payments at Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland
10:40 p.m. December 30, 2024
Cebuana Lhuillier, the Philippines’ leading microfinance institution, is stepping into the future of payments by exploring innovative blockchain solutions.
This initiative underscores the company’s commitment to financial inclusion and its strategic move towards adopting digital technologies. Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier attended the prestigious Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland, where financial leaders and innovators gathered to discuss the next evolution in payments, blockchain, and digital finance.
A Global Stage for Financial Innovation
The Plan B Forum serves as a vital platform for thought leaders to explore the future of blockchain and digital currencies in the global economy. With a focus on the growing impact of decentralized finance (DeFi), stablecoins, and digital currencies, the forum highlights how emerging technologies are reshaping the landscape of financial services. Cebuana Lhuillier’s participation signifies its drive to stay ahead of technological advancements that can reshape and bridge TradFi and DeFi in the Philippines.
The event was attended by some of the prominent names in the digital currency space, demonstrating Cebuana’s commitment to industry and reinforcing its role in shaping the crypto landscape.
Cebuana Lhuillier: Championing Financial Inclusion in the Digital Space
Jean Henri Lhuillier, President and CEO of Cebuana Lhuillier, highlights the company’s growing focus on digital transformation. “As Cebuana Lhuillier continues to expand in the digital space, it aims to enhance payment services by adopting stablecoins and partnering with innovative digital solutions companies. These technologies promise faster, more affordable, and secure transactions for Filipinos, offering a modern way to manage payments with greater transparency and ease.”
Following this, Cebuana Lhuillier Senior Executive Vice President Philippe Andre Lhuillier added, “Blockchain technology and digital currencies are not just tools for innovation; they are vehicles for empowerment. By leveraging these technologies, we can democratize access to financial services, enabling Filipinos from all walks of life to participate in a global digital economy.”
This move reflects Cebuana Lhuillier’s commitment to providing reliable financial services that cater to the evolving needs of its customers across the country.
In representing Cebuana Lhuillier at the forum, Philippe Andre Lhuillier emphasized the importance of financial inclusion in the digital age. In an era where internet access and digital infrastructure are rapidly expanding, especially with advancements in web3 technologies, it set the stage that highlighted the importance of emerging payments in the web3 space and the role of Cebuana Lhuillier in bridging this technology with traditional finance.
Cebuana Lhuillier’s participation at the forum reinforces its commitment to financial inclusion. By incorporating digital wallets, blockchain technology, and digital currencies, the company aims to expand access to financial services, beyond traditional finance.
President and CEO Jean Henri Lhuillier remarked “With the evolution of financial landscapes, Cebuana Lhuillier is positioning itself at the forefront of digital transformation in the Philippines. By attending the Plan B Forum, the company is not only seeking to learn from global leaders but is also reaffirming its role as a key player in the future of payments and financial inclusion. Philippe Andre Lhuillier’s participation marks a critical step towards realizing Cebuana Lhuillier’s vision of becoming a fully integrated financial service provider that leverages cutting-edge technology.”
As blockchain and digital cryptocurrency technologies continue to grow, Cebuana Lhuillier is well-positioned to lead the way in providing innovative financial services.
NEWS
InLife wins Best in Future of Intelligence Award at IDC Future Enterprise Awards 2024
3:30 p.m. December 25, 2024
Insular Life (InLife) received the Best in Future of Intelligence Award – Philippines during the IDC (International Data Corporation) Future Enterprise Awards 2024 held at the Sands Expo and Convention Centre in Singapore on November 18, 2024.
The award recognizes InLife’s Agile Academy, a transformative initiative aimed at fostering an Agile mindset among InLife employees, or InLifers.
Through bootcamps, masterclasses, workshops, and curated resources, the Agile Academy empowers InLifers to tackle organizational challenges with innovative solutions, contributing to the company’s business and digital transformation journey.
At the heart of the Agile Academy are the Mission-Based Teams (MBTs)—cross-functional, user-centric, and self-organizing groups that leverage the Agile framework to address critical customer and enterprise issues.
To date, the Agile Academy has activated 21 MBTs, resulting in innovations like the InLife App, a mobile and web application for managing life insurance policies; and the InLife Compass Super App, designed to boost the productivity of InLife financial advisors. MBTs have also developed solutions addressing pain points of Gen Zs, Group account holders, and the silver generation, demonstrating InLife’s customer-centric and inclusive approach.
“InLife’s recognition at the IDC Future Enterprise Awards reaffirms our commitment to continuous innovation and transformation in service of our customers,” said InLife Chief Transformation Officer Efren C. Caringal, Jr. “At 114 years, InLife remains true to its pioneering spirit, leveraging initiatives like the Agile Academy to deliver meaningful solutions that benefit our policyholders and other stakeholders.”
The IDC Future Enterprise Awards recognize organizations that lead the way in digital transformation, demonstrating resilience, and a commitment to enhanced customer experiences.
NEWS
Converge engages Unang Yakap beneficiaries in gift-giving activities
8:30 p.m. December 24, 2024
Leading fiber broadband and technology provider Converge ICT Solutions Inc. shared the joy of Christmas to the mothers and volunteers of its Unang Yakap Community in Baseco, Tondo.
With the help of the mentors and mentees from its women mentorship program Grace Under Pressure: MentorSHE, the company celebrated with the beneficiaries and community volunteers through games, raffle, and gift-giving activities.
In partnership with Caritas Manila, Converge has been supporting the Unang Yakap Program that aims to provide healthcare and nutritional assistance to underprivileged pregnant and lactating mothers, and their infants, during their first 1,000 days.
Sylvia Sanchez-Atayde grateful for MMFF’s recognition of Topakk
Cebuana Lhuillier ventures into future of payments at Plan B Forum in Lugano, Switzerland
Topakk bags MMFF’s Jury Prize Award, 2 other citations
