Opportunities,

work together with competitors or with incumbents as partners.

“I think we can only survive and grow with that kind of mindset,” noted Mr. Vea.

Mr. Cu expressed the same view and said, “We cannot work in silos or as a single company trying to do it alone. It is important for start-ups or even large companies who are trying to drive disruption in a certain space to work with other stakeholders. Also, being enablers to a space and being a platform that allows different stakeholders to enjoy benefits of the services you provide is very important.”

Mr. Thomas echoed the same message, and said that as a financial technology provider, they are looking for opportunities to partner and collaborate if they see someone moving into the same business space as they are present in, and are solving the similar problems as they are.

“What we aim to provide is really a better life for Filipinos,” Mr. Thomas said.

Also highlighting the significance of collaboration, Mr. Cuneta shared that no matter how incumbents or regulators resist, the market will eventually choose what is beneficial to them.

“It’s in the better interest of start- ups, regulators, incumbents, and all the players to work together to make sure that the ultimate beneficiary of disruptive technology will be not just all of us here today but also the future generation,” he said.