By Leira Mananzan, Reporter
Filipino ingenuity and sustainable innovation took center stage at the just-concluded Shell LiveWIRE 2025 culminating event held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City.
Organized by Shell Pilipinas Corporation through the Pilipinas Shell Foundation, the flagship program once again highlighted the potential of homegrown startups to create scalable solutions with global impact.
Shell LiveWIRE: Where innovation meets impact
In his opening remarks, Sebastian “Baste” Quiñones, Executive Director of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, underscored the long-term vision behind Shell LiveWIRE. He noted that in just five years, the program has supported more than 150 startups and community enterprises, creating over 800 jobs even during the pandemic.
“Shell LiveWIRE is about creating opportunities where innovation meets impact,” Quiñones said. “Homegrown solutions can drive inclusive growth not only here in the Philippines but also across Asia and the world.”
Beyond providing funding, Shell LiveWIRE connects startups to Shell’s global ecosystem. Alumni such as Nanotronics (nanotechnology), NextPay (fintech), and Agro-Digital PH (agritech) have gone on to become part of Shell’s supply chain or receive international recognition. These success stories showcase the diverse range of industries — from financial technology to sustainable agriculture — where Filipino startups are excelling.
A pitch showcase with purpose
The afternoon’s highlight was a live pitch competition featuring three startups: AgriDOM, Greentech Ecobooster, and Pili AdheSeal Inc., with each one offering a unique response to critical challenges in agriculture, fuel consumption, and sustainable manufacturing.
Here’s a video of the actual pitch from the culminating event:
AgriDOM: Revolutionizing agriculture with drones
AgriDOM presented its drone-as-a-service model for precision farming. Instead of requiring farmers to buy costly drones, the company offers drone spraying and mapping on demand, making the technology accessible even to smallholder farmers.
Since its founding, AgriDOM has already served over 2,000 farmers in Visayas and Mindanao, covering more than 300,000 hectares of rice, corn, banana, and coffee farms. By reducing chemical exposure and lowering input costs, the model not only boosts yields but also makes farming safer and more sustainable.
Greentech Ecobooster: Driving fuel efficiency and cleaner air
Greentech Ecobooster, which ultimately claimed the top prize, introduced a retrofit nozzle designed to make combustion engines burn fuel more efficiently.
For drivers, the result is tangible: tricycle operators testing the device in BF Parañaque reported daily savings of ₱50 to ₱120 on fuel. Independent laboratory tests, conducted to ISO standards, confirmed dramatic reductions in carbon monoxide, smog, and carbon dioxide emissions.
Marketed as a carburetor kit priced at around ₱1,900, the product offers a payback period of just 30 to 45 days and comes with a ten-year warranty.
For its potential to deliver immediate savings for motorists while addressing environmental concerns, Greentech Ecobooster received ₱1 million in equity-free funding.
Pili AdheSeal Inc.: Turning agricultural waste into sustainable sealants
Pili AdheSeal Inc., meanwhile, showcased how circular economy principles can create both value and livelihood. Founded by Engineer Mark Bantugon, the company transforms discarded pili nut shells and resin into eco-friendly adhesives and sealants.
The innovation, inspired by his childhood experience of patching a typhoon-damaged roof with chewing gum, is now certified for defense and aviation use.
Beyond its performance — curing in 30 seconds, resisting extreme heat, and meeting ISO construction standards — the product also supports pili farmers, who gain income from what was once agricultural waste.
Keynote insights and ecosystem growth
The program also featured a keynote address from Henry James Sison, Founder and Chief Farming Officer of Agro-Digital PH, himself a Shell LiveWIRE alumnus. He shared lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, emphasizing that with mentorship, networks, and persistence, Filipino startups can thrive not just locally but globally.
Henry James Sison (left) of Agro-Digital PH speaking with farmers and members of their family
The event reinforced that Shell LiveWIRE is not just about awarding winners but about building an ecosystem. By combining non-dilutive funding, expert mentorship, and access to Shell’s value chain, the program creates opportunities for startups to scale faster than they might on their own. Several alumni are now suppliers within Shell, demonstrating the real business pathways that LiveWIRE opens for innovators.
Notably, NextPay’s fintech innovations in digital payments and Agro-Digital PH’s technology-driven farming solutions highlight how the program has nurtured startups in financial services and digital platforms — industries crucial to the Philippines’ growing technology and fintech ecosystem.
Shell LiveWIRE’s impact and future outlook
Greentech Ecobooster’s victory at Shell LiveWIRE 2025 symbolizes more than a cash prize. It highlights how local technology can address everyday challenges like fuel costs while contributing to global sustainability goals.
Alongside Greentech Ecobooster, the recognition of Agridom and Pili AdheSeal shows how diverse Filipino startups are tackling challenges in agriculture, clean energy, and the circular economy. With a total of ₱2 million in equity-free funding awarded, all three finalists emerged as winners.
Agridom’s drones, Pili AdheSeal’s adhesives, and fintech alumni like NextPay illustrate the many ways Filipino entrepreneurs are applying technology and creativity to transform traditional industries and build a more inclusive economy.
For Shell Pilipinas, which recently marked its 43rd anniversary through the foundation, the event reaffirmed its legacy of working hand-in-hand with communities.
“We’ve spent over four decades empowering communities through innovation, sustainability, and partnerships,” Quiñones said. “Our finalists — they are all winners. They all have niche products within their areas which they can now scale. It’s up to them now, with a little bit more training and focus, to succeed.”
“With Shell LiveWIRE, we are going to the next stage, where we can give them more advice on the next steps — and of course, we pray very hard that they will succeed,” he added.
Ultimately, the program proved once again that when Filipino startups are empowered with the right tools, their innovations can ripple far beyond local borders.
