Have you ever wondered what would happen if students from three of the country’s top universities—the University of the Philippines (UP), Ateneo de Manila University (ADMU), and De La Salle University (DLSU)—were brought together in one room to compete in a hackathon?

Young Filipino tech minds unite to build game-changing solutions

Wonder no more—Maya just made it happen at the recently concluded Big 3 Startup Showdown. This student hackathon—a high-stakes coding competition—challenged young programmers to build innovative software solutions within a limited time. What made this showdown unique? It was exclusively designed for students from UP, ADMU, and DLSU. The result: a high-energy showcase of groundbreaking youth innovations aimed at improving the daily lives of Filipinos.

The final round of the competition took place at Maya’s headquarters in the Launchpad Building, where students delivered rapid-fire pitches and impactful solutions—proving that some of the country’s most promising startups may be taking shape within the walls of its top universities. From an impressive pool of participants, three winning teams—all from DLSU—emerged victorious.

First, LittleBranch, a go-to platform for discovering over 1,000 engaging kids’ activities, helping parents find the perfect experiences for their children.

Then, Quasar, an all-in-one, AI-powered platform designed to automate loan approval processes in the Philippines.

Last is Venyu, a comprehensive sports venue booking platform offering access to more than 1,000 courts across Metro Manila, allowing users to find, book, and play in just minutes.

The competition was tough. Each team’s project was evaluated by a panel of industry leaders, including Maya’s chief product officer Mitch Padua, mWell CIO Albert Padin, Google Philippines customer engineer Loys Talip, and Gobi Core founding partner Carlo Delantar.

“We witnessed incredible ingenuity from these top universities—ideas grounded in real-world problems and driven by purpose,” Mitch said. “That’s the magic of young innovators—they’re not just coding apps, they’re crafting solutions. At Maya, we’re proud to champion that mindset. It’s exactly how we began—by daring to reimagine the way things are done.”

Meet the winning teams of Maya’s Big 3 Startup Showdown

Each winning team received a ₱30,000 cash prize to support their upcoming participation in Geeks on a Beach 2025, a global beachside tech conference where game-changing ideas are presented to investors and industry thought leaders.

The Big 3 Startup Showdown was organized with the support of esteemed faculty from the participating universities, led by Prof. Bowei Gai (DLSU), along with Prof. Jose Emmanuel Reverente (UP) and Prof. Joseph Benjamin Ilagan (ADMU).

“This event isn’t just about winning pitches—it’s about opening doors,” shared Prof. Bowei. “Ateneo, La Salle, and UP worked together on this event with the shared goal of giving students the chance to pitch to real venture capitalists and product leaders, and learn how their ideas can translate into real-world solutions. That experience alone is game-changing.”

While the event opened new opportunities for students, it also fostered collaboration among the country’s top academic institutions.

“It’s rare—and really special—to see students from UP, La Salle, and Ateneo come together like this. Events like this allow them to go beyond the classroom and see what it really takes to compete at a high level,” Prof. Bowei added. “They get to pitch not just to mentors, but to real investors who challenge them with tough, real-world questions.”

The Big 3 Startup Showdown was more than just a competition—it was a celebration of innovation, collaboration, and the limitless potential of young Filipino minds. By bringing together the brightest students, Maya and its partners created a platform where ideas could thrive, networks could grow, and the next generation of tech leaders could take their first bold steps toward real-world impact. As these student-led startups move forward, they carry with them the momentum of this experience—and the promise of shaping a better, smarter future for all.