MANILA, PHILIPPINES – Aldrin Sojourner “Soj” Gamayon became the first-ever Filipino to win the Red Bull Basement World Championship.
The Red Bull Basement is a global competition where young innovators present their business plans to change the world with artificial intelligence.
On Thursday, December 5, Gamayon earned his award for his innovation, “AgriConnect,” in Tokyo, Japan.
It’s an agriculture tracking app that allows farmers to monitor their crops remotely to build resilience and increase yield.
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The Ateneo University student said he gained inspiration from his rice-farming family. Also, Gamayon developed AgriConnect after he returned from his internship in Singapore.
“I wanted to make an impact for the Filipinos,” the Pinoy Red Bull Champion stated.
“I do acknowledge that flying to another country to study is a privilege, and I feel that there is a responsibility for me to give back.”
“It’s always [been] my mantra to build something greater than myself,” he added.
Gamayon hopes his victory will inspire more Filipinos to pursue their innovation and drive their sense of ingenuity forward.
His advice for young, aspiring innovators is, “to not think, just do.”
He explained that only some people progress with their startups because they overthink.
As the Red Bull Basement World Champion, Gamayon will go on an all-expenses-paid trip to Silicon Valley in California, USA.
He will attend a three-week program for networking and mentorship with tech and VC leaders.
During the finals, the Filipino champion and the other Top 10 finalists pitched their ideas to the global panel:
- Microsoft for Startups Head Hans Yang
- Plug and Play Early-stage investor Letizia Royo-Villanova
- Influential business mentor Jun Yuh
- “AMD Meet the Experts” host and producer Ryan Sagare
- Red Bull Cliff Diving athlete and entrepreneur Molly Carlson
Agriconnect outshone ideas like Germany’s mental strength training app and Italy’s sustainable battery.