As businesses navigate changing customer expectations, new technologies and an increasingly competitive environment, Filipino entrepreneurs are finding that growing a business also means continuously growing their own capabilities.

UB Negosyante BOOSTcamp, a six-week learning program that combined mentorship, peer learning and practical insights from entrepreneurs and industry experts, helped entrepreneurs address that challenge. Its first cohort, which concluded on October 24, brought together 27 SME owners from various industries to explore customer understanding, financial management, digital marketing, artificial intelligence and sustainable business growth.

The program was an initiative of UnionBank’s GoBeyond Community, the Bank’s flagship CSR and employee engagement program. It was designed to equip entrepreneurs with knowledge, networks and practical tools that could support them as they took their businesses to the next stage of growth.

Turning learning into opportunities for growth

For the entrepreneurs who participated, BOOSTcamp provided an opportunity to look at their businesses from new perspectives and consider how emerging ideas and technologies could apply to their own growth journeys.

Mico Buenaflor of Lucky LMB, a wholesale and retail distributor of power and industrial tools, joined the program after recognizing that his own capabilities needed to keep pace with the progress of the company he started six years ago.

He particularly valued the program’s lessons on the ethical use of artificial intelligence.

For Daryl Pascual, a telecom product distributor, adapting to emerging technologies has similarly become an important part of running a business

.BOOSTcamp approached growth from several practical perspectives. Potato Corner co-founder George Wieneke discussed continuously testing and improving products around genuine customer needs, while Bingo Soriano, known as “The Branding Nerd,” shared insights on understanding customers, identifying market opportunities and developing clear brand positioning.

Participants also explored digital marketing and the responsible use of AI. UnionBank Institutional Segment Marketing Head Dino Velasco discussed aligning marketing objectives, messaging and channels to encourage purchase and build customer loyalty, while Gino Pineda and Issang Ceballos of Meta shared approaches to reaching audiences, optimizing budgets and measuring campaign performance.

Sessions on AI covered fundamentals, governance, practical business applications, responsible use and data privacy, as well as the importance of validating AI-generated outputs. These were led by UnionBank’s Justin Philip S. Tuazon, Atty. Romina Angeliz H. Marcaida and Rosiel Jazmine T. Villareal. Cherrie L. Tinoko, UnionBank Secured Assets Network Head, also shared insights on effective selling techniques.

Learning from fellow entrepreneurs

Beyond the formal sessions, participants also found value in learning from the experiences of entrepreneurs who had faced similar challenges.

Lyle Legaspi, whose family owns a data solutions company, drew inspiration from George Wieneke’s story of transforming French fries from a hamburger side dish into the “main star.” The example prompted him to think about how companies could similarly recognize the value of their data and turn information assets into new business opportunities.

Denis Rodriguez, who manages an insurance firm, joined BOOSTcamp to keep abreast of business trends, better understand his customers and connect with other entrepreneurs.

From stronger businesses to stronger communities

At the cohort’s graduation, Rep. Brian Poe Llamanzares, who was an entrepreneur before entering public service, shared lessons from his own business experience. He encouraged graduates to embrace technology, prepare for crises, invest in their teams, continue learning and be responsible stewards, while offering to champion entrepreneurs’ concerns in Congress.

Michelle Rubio, UnionBank Chief Human Resources Officer and Head of CSR, connected the initiative with the broader impact entrepreneurs can create through their businesses and communities.

She encouraged participants to put their BOOSTcamp learnings into practice by supporting their employees, serving their customers and creating meaningful impact in the communities to which they belong.

BOOSTcamp builds on UnionBank’s support for Filipino entrepreneurs. The Bank launched its SME Business Banking app in January 2021 and reintroduced the enhanced offering under the more inclusive UB Negosyante brand in 2023, providing entrepreneurs with digital banking tools, financial solutions and other relevant support for managing and growing their businesses.

Through UB Negosyante and initiatives such as BOOSTcamp, UnionBank seeks to complement financial solutions with practical capability-building that can help entrepreneurs navigate change, make better-informed decisions and pursue sustainable growth.

For more information, visit UnionBank or follow the Bank on Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube. Union Bank of the Philippines is regulated by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP). Deposits are insured by PDIC up to P1 Million per depositor.