Xurpas CEO named Entrepreneur of the Year Philippines 2015

Atechnopreneur is representing the Philippines in the World Entrepreneur Of The Year awards in Monte Carlo, Monaco in June, 2016.

Nico Jose Nolledo, chairman and chief executive officer of Xurpas, Inc., one of the largest listed consumer technology companies in Southeast Asia, was named Entrepreneur Of The Year Philippines 2015.

Nolledo also received the Master Entrepreneur award for applying sound management practices in the critical areas of the company such as finance, business development, marketing, human resources and sales. He was recognized for his vision and insight, which foresaw the potential of mobile Internet to change how people live.

Xurpas’ product portfolio includes casual games, stickers, messaging and social discovery applications, as well as call/SMS/data bundles, mobile advertising, and mobile commerce.

Nolledo’s rise as a technopreneur mirrors his determination, passion and acumen, which transformed Xurpas into a billion-peso company from its humble start as a fledgling enterprise with a capitalization of only 62,500 in 2001.

A game changer in his own right, Nolledo never learned how to write computer code, but used his understanding of consumers’ content needs to make Xurpas the leading mobile content developer and distributor today. He cofounded Xurpas with Raymond Gerard Racaza and Fernando Jude Garcia 13 years ago, betting on a mobile future for consumers, riding on the explosion of Internet connectivity and mobile phone use. In 2014, he led Xurpas through an initial public offering that raised capital for the company to invest in nine other technology firms across Southeast Asia.

SGV Chairman and Managing Partner Cirilo P. Noel said that entrepre- neurs are in essence game changers, saying: “Entrepreneurs are perceptive business leaders who understand a vital truth – that in order to win the game, one must sometimes change the rules for the better.

Capitalizing on their strategic vision, entrepreneurs see the possibilities and opportunities that others cannot. As game changers, entrepreneurs continually innovate and improve the business landscape, just like how Mr. Nolledo of Xurpas, Inc. has accelerated the evolution of mobile application technology in the Philippines.”

Former Prime Minister Cesar E. A. Virata, corporate vice-chairman of Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation, chaired the Philippine judging panel.

The other panel members were former Foreign Affairs Secretary and SGV Senior Adviser Amb. Delia D. Albert, Department of Trade and Industry Undersecretary Zenaida Maglaya, Synergeia CEO Milwida M. Guevara, Philippine Business for Social Progress Executive Director Rafael Cojuangco Lopa, as well as Philippine Stock Exchange President and CEO Hans B. Sicat.