Launch of the Startupper of the Year by Total Challenge in Almost 60 Countries

 

Manila, 10 October 2018

Energizing Your Ideas!

In its journey to become the responsible energy major, Total (Philippines) Corporation launched Startupper of the Year by Total, an idea-pitching competition that wants to discover groundbreaking initiatives and social enterprises for the Philippines.

The first Startupper of the Year Challenge was held in 2015 in more than 30 African countries. Total is bringing it back in 2018, this time in almost 60 countries worldwide, including the Philippines.

The 2018-2019 Startupper of the Year by Total Challenge will support and reward young local entrepreneurs in any business sector with a project or business less than two years old. In each participating country , a local jury comprised of experts from Total, specialists from incubators and accelerators, business leaders and local community stakeholders will select three winners. The projects will be assessed based on their innovative nature, social and community impact, feasibility and development potential.

“Total recognizes the creativity and passion of the Filipino youth. We are optimistic that the first run of Startupper of the Year by Total can spark positive change in the country through the efforts of the participants,” says Laurent Stouffe, Managing Director of Total (Philippines) Corporation

Algeria, Angola, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Chad, Chile, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Fiji, Gabon, Ghana, Guinea-Conakry, Ivory Coast, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Malawi, Mali, Mauritius, Mauritania, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Poland, Republic of the Congo, Romania, Senegal, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Togo, Tunisia, Uganda, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. For France, only New Caledonia, Mayotte, French Polynesia and Reunion Island are concerned.

Each winner will be awarded the “Startupper of the Year by Total” label and receive financial support of at most Php 750,000, plus professional coaching and extensive publicity to advertise their project.

To support women entrepreneurs, the jury will also designate a Top Female Entrepreneur in each country. This special award, which is in addition to the other awards, is Total’s way of encouraging more women to take part in the Challenge.

A grand jury will meet subsequently to select six overall Grand Winners from among the first-prize winners in each country.

More than just a business challenge, the 2018-2019 Startupper of the Year by Total Challenge also reaffirms Total’s commitment to capacity building in the countries where it operates, worldwide. By helping innovative young entrepreneurs to realize their projects, the Challenge strengthens the local social fabric.

Registration opens on October 9 at http://startupper.total.com/. Interested applicants will have until November 13 to submit their applications.

For more information, visit Total (Philippines) Corporation’s official Facebook page at facebook.com/TotalinthePhilippines or to log on to startupper.total.com

Total (Philippines) Corporation President and Managing Director and Total Country Chair Laurent Stouffe shares his insights on the potential socio-economic impact of the Startupper of the Year by Total challenge.

Malou Espina, Vice President for Marketing and Communications of Total (Philippines) Corporation, talks about the first-ever Startupper of the Year by Total challenge in the Philippines.

Startupper of the Year by Total Ambassador Natasha Bautista commends Total (Philippines) Corporation for creating an avenue for social entrepreneurs to make their ideas a reality through the local edition of the challenge.

Total (Philippines) Corporation CSR and Internal Communications Executive Joan Javier discusses the competition mechanics of the Startupper of the Year by Total challenge and encourages the youth to sign up online.

(From left to right) Total (Philippines) Corporation CSR and Internal Communications Executive Joan Javier, Total (Philippines) Corporation President and Managing Director and Country Chief Laurent Stouffe, Startupper of the Year by Total ambassador Natasha Bautista, and Total (Philippines) Corporation Vice President for Marketing and Communications Malou Espina.

Jury members and official coaching partner of the Startupper of the Year by Total challenge pose for a photo with Total (Philippines) Corporation representatives.

(From left to right) Total Philippines CSR and Communications Executive Joan Javier, Edukasyon.ph Chief of Staff Denisse Banez, Great Women Chief Visionary Leader Jeannie Javelosa, Total Philippines President and Managing Director and Total Country Chief Laurent Stouffe, Startupper of the Year by Total Ambassador Natasha Bautista of QBO Innovation Hub, Impact Hub CEO Ces Rondario, Total Philippines Vice President for Marketing and Communications Malou Espina, Impact Hub Project Lead Patrick Son, and Impact Hub Program Director Jasmin Runez.

About Total Affiliate

Total (Philippines) Corporation is the local subsidiary of French oil giant TOTAL SA. Established in 1997, the company is engaged in the marketing of fuels, lubricants and special fluids, and operates a network of over 450 service stations throughout Luzon and the Visayas. Other Total affiliates in the Philippines include the Asia-Pacific Shared Service Center, Total E&P Philippines, SunPower, and Total Solar. www.totaloil.com.ph

About Total

Total is a global integrated energy producer and provider, a leading international oil and gas company, a major player in low-carbon energies. Our 98,000 employees are committed to better energy that is safer, cleaner, more efficient, more innovative and accessible to as many people as possible. As a responsible corporate citizen, we focus on ensuring that our operations in more than 130 countries worldwide consistently deliver economic, social and environmental benefits.

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Total Affiliate Contact

Media Relations : Dianne Poblete | +632 893 5642 loc. 120 | [email protected]

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