Melo Villareal
2015 Bozz Awards Winners
Are you an entrepreneur who has already tapped digital technology to help your business grow and become sustainable? Have you used social media not only to market and advertise your products and services, but also to promote your cause and/or give convenience to others? Have you established an online community for your customers to venture into? Then, you’re definitely right on track!
Celebrating the next generation of Bossings (from left): Voyager FVP and Group Head Stephen Misa. Cignal COO Oscar Reyes, Airbnb Regional Manager of Southeast Asia Jia Jih Chai, Uber Country Manager Laurence Cua, Boss for Customer Service Chino Atilano of Timefree Innovations, Boss for Social Media Jason Magbanua of Jason Magbanua, Mobkard Chair of the Board Jay Bernardo representing Boss for Mobile Readiness Carlo Calimon of Mobkard, Boss for E-Commerce Kim Lato of Kimstore, President and CEO of PLDT Group Manuel V. Pangilinan, Boss for Social Responsibility Kristine Reyes-Lopez of Messy Bessy, Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, EVP and Head of PLDT Enterprise Eric R. Alberto, FVP and Head of PLDT Smart SME Nation Kat Luna-Abelarde, BBZ Chairman and CEO Luigi Nuñez, and IdeaSpace President and Founder Earl Valencia
In fact, you belonging to this new generation of entrepreneurs engaged in the small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), are what PLDT Smart SME Nation’s the Bozz Awards is for. The Bozz Awards is said to be the first social media crowdsourced search for the most creative, most innovative and most successful new breed of SMEs. And it has just revealed its final set of Bozz Awards winners a few weeks ago.
From hundreds of nominees, the list was trimmed down to the top 15, having three nominees for each of the five categories. So, here are the winners of the first-ever Bozz Awards!
Mobkard Chair of the Board Jay Bernardo representing Boss for Mobile Readiness Carlo Calimon of Mobkard one of the Bozz Awards winners
MobKard’s Carlo Calimon took home The Boss for Mobile Readiness award for making his product, mobile application MobKard, accessible anytime or anywhere. MobKard allows customers to receive exclusive promos in real time as they go near a store, an outlet or a restaurant. It digitizes traditional plastic privilege cards so that merchants can create flash sales for customers to see.
Bozz Awards Winner Kim Lato – founder of Kimstore
Kimstore’s Kim Lato emerged as the winner of the Boss for E-commerce award which honors entrepreneurs who exemplify maximum utilization of the Internet as the world’s largest marketplace. Kimstore, a pioneer of e-commerce in the country, has served as an online tech and gadget shopping site popular to Filipino buyers. It is known for its commitment to safe and trustworthy online shopping of gadgets including tablets, PCs, notebooks, cameras, mobile phones, and other gadgets.
Messy Bessy’s Kristine Lopez-Reyes is the first ever Boss for Social Responsibility
The Boss for Social Responsibility award, an award for the entrepreneur who effectively harnesses the power of technology to serve a noble cause, went to Messy Bessy’s Kristine Reyes-Lopez. Her company Messy Bessy Cleaners, Inc. manufactures and sells cleaning and personal care items made from biodegradable, non-toxic and all-natural materials. They operate with project HOUSE, Helping Ourselves through Sustainable Enterprises, which is a group of enterprises that employs and educates formerly abused, jailed and trafficked young adults.
Renowned wedding videographer and the Boss for Social Media Jason Magbanua
In-demand wedding videographer Jason Magbanua received the Boss for Social Media award which recognizes entrepreneurs who make use of social media platforms to create meaningful connections with customers and grow an online community of brand advocates. Popularly to a lot as the “holy grail of wedding videographers,” he pioneered the “same-day-edit” videos. His creations truly make a buzz in social networks.
TimeFree Innovations founder and the Boss for Customer Service Chino Atilano
The Boss for Customer Service award, searching for the entrepreneur who uses digital platforms to provide better service and improve their business processes, was won by TimeFree Innovations founder Chino Atilano. TimeFree Innovations is a virtual queuing solutions company that allows users to get an electronic ticket via their smartphone and notifies them via SMS alerts of their position in the queue so that they won’t have to waste time waiting in line. This innovation helps businesses improve their customer service and in the process, build brand loyalty.
Multi-awarded design genius Kenneth Cobonpue designed the Bozz trophy depicting a man calling using a tin can.
All winners each received a full-powered Smart Enterprise Biz Kit which consists of business-enhancing tools and gadgets, including a year-long data subscription, which would keep them always connected to their customers and updated with their operations, even while on the go. In addition to the Biz Kit, all top 15 finalists will have an exclusive tour of the world’s melting pot of technology and development ground for startups – Silicon Valley.
Ely Buendia (right) caps the night off with a nostalgic performance.
The Bozz Awards would have not been successful if it weren’t for its partners Rappler, Voyager, Bloomberg Philippines, Uber, AirBnB, Ideaspace, and Takatack. More than these, the keen interest and the passionate response from members of the SME and digital committee have made it truly remarkable. “We exceeded our expected number of nominations by almost 150 percent and we’ve seen some really inspiring stories of digitally powered business success. Digital truly is the future, and this is a resounding testament to that,” FVP and PLDT Smart SME Nation Head Kat Luna-Abelarde said.
Yassi Pressman and Josh Padilla sing the Philpop hit Edge of the World
Hope this event inspired you to use the digital medium not only to boost your enterprise’s presence, but also to create better opportunities and give better service to our fellowmen.
