Kickstart Ventures partners with Plug and Play

  Kickstart Ventures, Inc., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Globe Telecom, has tapped California-based global accelerator Plug and Play Tech Center (PnP) as an international corporate partner, thereby giving select Philippine tech startups a bridge to Silicon Valley.

                “Plug and Play will work with Kickstart to first identify technology areas of interest, and we will then seek out high tech startups that are developing innovative products or solutions in these areas and help them grow their business.  We have already started to build partnerships in different countries such as Canada, Egypt, Malaysia, Singapore, Spain, Russia, and Germany and we’re glad to be working with Kickstart in the Philippines,” said Saeed Amidi, CEO and Founder of Plug and Play Tech Center.

“The world looks to Silicon Valley for innovation, entrepreneurship and venture capital success stories, and even as we build a unique Philippine startup ecosystem, there is much to learn from those who are genuinely driving innovation in the valley. We are excited to partner with one of its more active players to bring startups the kind of game-changing exposure to the best-in-class learning, capabilities and collaboration needed for success," said Minette Navarrete, President of Kickstart. 

She added: "By creating more opportunities for our portfolio companies to operate in Silicon Valley and participate in Plug and Play Tech Center's programs, Kickstart is helping build a stronger, broader, more engaged startup ecosystem. Innovation cultures require communities of collaboration and trust; our partnerships here in the Philippines and abroad, such as Launchgarage with Proudcloud, which is taking on its second batch, and now with Kickstart@Plug and Play Tech Center in the US, bring startup founders in the Philippines into wider global innovation communities.”

                PnP currently has a network of 300 tech startups, 180 venture capital investors, and a community of university and corporate partners.  Through PnP, new tech businesses which want to make it big in Silicon Valley can rent office space; join industry networking events, education and immersion programs; and get introductions to potential customers, investors or acquirers.

                Since it started in January 2006, PnP has already helped startups raise over USD1 billion in venture funding.  Its startup companies have created a cumulative value of USD2 billion.  It has partnerships with top-tier venture capital firms such as Sequioa Capital, Menlo Ventures, Norwest Venture Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, and Accel Partners.  Corporate partners include Google, Lenovo, Microsoft, Zanox, Best Buy, HP, PayPal, and Sun Microsystems.

                As a corporate partner of PnP, Kickstart will establish a presence in PnP’s Silicon Valley office and send select startup teams to the Valley for a three-month incubation program.  These young companies will be given a chance to participate in the Plug and Play University, networking events, mentoring activities, and potentially pitch their business at the quarterly Plug and Play EXPO where around 300-400 investors and acquirers attend.