FWD Life Insurance (FWD Philippines) has opened the registration for its annual FWD SpringboardX Student Challenge until September 30, 2023.
Launched in 2021, the FWD SpringboardX Student Challenge invites tertiary students to form teams of up to five individuals to come up with new, innovative, and impactful solutions for real-life business challenges.
Students who participate in the program will learn how to upgrade their skill-sets through mentorship programs with the FWD senior management team, while also expanding their network by meeting like-minded professionals and other participating students.
“To build the best future for all of us, we must be able to empower the next generation,” said FWD President and CEO Antonio Manuel “Jumbing” de Rosas.
“With the SpringboardX Student Challenge, we’re enabling them to tap into their entrepreneurial spirit and help them become their own agents of positive change for our communities by solving real-world problems. This helps FWD to continue changing the way people feel about insurance and support nation-building for everyone,” he added.
How it works
The SpringboardX Student Challenge calls for entries from all tertiary students (Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD), across 10 FWD markets in Asia, namely the Philippines, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Macau, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Five teams with the best ideas will be selected and mentored for the final pitch from October 23 to 27 to stand a chance to win cash prizes. Winning ideas may also be developed, produced, and rolled out by FWD.
Last year, three student representatives from the University of the Philippines-Diliman bagged the 2nd place among all representatives from other Asian markets. “Team Ulteamates’’ members Veronica Julio, Alexandra Pates, and Chelsea Dy recognized the financial constraints often faced by Filipino Gen-Zs and created a tech-based plan that is fit for the target.
Their “Adulting Starter Pack” included affordable monthly premiums, maximized accessibility through popular e-wallets and e-commerce platforms, and enabled group purchases for up to four individuals, reinforcing the idea that the journey is better taken together.
“Our plan encapsulates our dedication to crafting a solution that resonates with the distinct needs, aspirations, and apprehensions of young Filipinos as they embark on this exciting phase of life,” Dy said.
Julio added: “We were able to apply our marketing and technical skills and knowledge to a real-life case, which helped us better understand what we were taught. The warm support we received from the FWD Philippines Community upon entering the finals was also very rewarding. Overall, the SpringboardX Student Challenge was very worthwhile and gratifying.”
(Participants get a chance to win up to $3,000. Registration for the FWD SpringboardX Student Challenge is open until September 30, 2023. For more information about the program and its requirements, visit https://innovation.fwd.com/SpringboardX2023)
