Philippines – Groundbreaking ideas were unveiled and spotlighted at the Red Bull Basement National Final, shining a spotlight on the future of Filipino ingenuity. The competition, which took place last October 26 at the Mind Museum in Taguig, gathered some of the brightest minds in the country, pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation. 

The expert jury panel, namely Unbox Creator Network CEO Carlo Ople, 2023 APEC Circular Economy Awardee and The Circle Hostel Co-founder Rafael Dionisio, and international consultant and capacity development (CD) practitioner Dr. Eduardo Canela, named “Agriconnect” as the National Champion. This victory secures his spot as the exclusive Philippine representative for the Red Bull Basement World Final, set for this December in Tokyo, Japan.

The Red Bull Basement National Final served as a testament to the Philippines’ rich pool of talent and creative visionaries. From health wellness concepts, to energy efficiency, and agricultural solutions, the ideas presented captured the forward-thinking spirit that the competition promotes.

Soj Gamayon’s “Agriconnect” innovation stood out for its creativity, practicality, and potential for significant impact for farming businesses in the Philippines and Asia, earning the innovator title of Red Bull Basement Philippines National Champion. The forward-thinking innovation addresses rice-farming concerns and aims to simplify and make rice-farming more efficient, having the potential to reshape the agriculture industry.

“It’s inspiring to see someone think of the problem and figure out innovations to make it easier for farmers as well as the end users or the customers.” said jury member and Unbox CEO Carlo Ople about the winning innovation. “That level of care and concern, and the creativity that was displayed in coming up with solutions is something else. ”

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He also noted, “The one thing that stood out (about the idea) is that he made us believe that he was capable of executing what he claims he could do, which is always a big thing in competitions like this.”

Ople also shared his thoughts on the competition and the finalists’ ideas pitched at the event, saying, “I was so inspired seeing all the different contestants. They’re so young which makes you think, ‘What was I doing when I was their age?’ It’s amazing to see that level of creativity,  concern, and care that they have in solving problems that they saw would be relevant to the Philippines and to themselves.”

As the victor of the National Final, Soj Gamayon is bound for Tokyo, Japan this December to showcase his idea on the world stage as the representative of the Philippines at the Red Bull Basement World Final, where innovators from 40 countries will gather together to compete for the title of Red Bull Basement World Champion. Along with the chance to win the title, Gamayon will also receive invaluable networking and mentorship opportunities, gaining him exposure to industry leaders and fellow innovators.

Reflecting on his win, Gamayon said, “It’s so surreal. It wasn’t in my expectations, honestly, I was just here because I knew I had so much more to learn, and this is for me such a great bonus.” He added, “I see it more as a responsibility to hopefully bring in the championship for the Philippines.”

The young innovator shared that two things inspired his winning concept. He said, “I come from a province that is really big in rice farming. And I really saw the complexities that they face every single day. The second thing is that I was fortunate enough to be sent to Singapore and be immersed in the startup ecosystem there. I interned for a company that helps shrimp farmers manage their risk of disease testing. When I came back here, I felt like there was a responsibility for me to make a greater impact.”

With his winning innovation, Gamayon said that he hopes to revolutionize farming. He stated, “It’s making things simpler and more efficient for agri-companies. As we all know, rice is a very vital part of our economy and our world. So, we need to make sure that in order for us to have this constant demand, we need to make sure we simplify and have a more strategic way of approaching rice farming.”

“In order for us to create true impact, we need to make sure everyone wins in the rice farming industry.”

Focusing on the upcoming World Final in Tokyo, Gamayon said, “I’m really looking forward to people’s ideas of how to solve very common problems, creating great impact with people, and just connecting with these like-minded individuals.”

A Platform for Future Innovators

Red Bull Basement invites young, upcoming innovators and entrepreneurs to showcase their groundbreaking ideas. Participants harnessed AI to build their concepts and business plans, focused on key opportunities and growth areas. For its 2024 edition, Red Bull Basement collaborated with Microsoft and AMD. 

The Red Bull Basement World Final, happening this December in Tokyo, Japan, will feature the winning innovations from participating countries across the world. Intensive workshops and networking opportunities will also be provided in the weeks leading up to the World Final. The global judging panel including Head of Microsoft for Startups Hans Yang, Early Stage Plug and Play Investor Letizia Royo-Villanova, and Digital Creator and Mentorship Program Leader Jun Yuh, will decide the winning idea for the Red Bull Basement 2024 World Final. The Red Bull Basement 2024 World Champion will receive a 3-week hands-on experience at Silicon Valley in California this 2025. This once-in-a-lifetime immersion allows the Red Bull Basement World Champion to gain networking opportunities with global industry leaders.

Support Soj Gamayon as he gears up for the journey of a lifetime to the Red Bull Basement World Final in Tokyo, Japan in December. Tune in to Red Bull Philippines’ social media for the latest updates. Visit the website to find out more about Red Bull Basement.