The Chosen Ones: 2 Philippine Startups in First Google Accelerator Program in SEA

Two Philippine startups are among the lucky 15 to join the first batch of the Google for Startups Accelerator Program in Southeast Asia. The inaugural class will take part in Google’s three-month online program that aims to support the growing tech scene in the region. It offers mentorship, workshops, and the invaluable connections of Google.

From a pool of 600 applicants, only 15 startups from seven SEA countries made the cut, including the Philippines’ own Advance and Rumarocket.

Advance is a credit platform that provides short-term salary advances for Filipino employees, many who live paycheck to paycheck, especially during this pandemic. With a “salary on demand,” Advance aims to financially empower Filipino workers

Meanwhile, Rumarocket is a platform that utilizes artificial intelligence to help companies find and hire the best people using behavioral sciences instead of just relying on a resume. The startup is founded on the principle that companies should hire talent, not employees, and has managed to develop the technology to do just that.

Other startups joining Google’s program include DeafTawk, Sehat Kahani, and Walee from Pakistan; GIZTIZ from Thailand; Hacktiv8, Kata.ai, and Riliv from Indonesia; MHub from Malaysia; SenzeHub, Shoplinks, and Smartfuture from Singapore; and Thuocsi.vn and TopCV from Vietnam.