The 15-year-old is mellow, the 12-year-old is fresh,” was how it was summed up, just a few minutes into the second course in a recent dinner pairing of Glenfiddich single-malt Scotch whiskies and the incomparable Chef Chele Gonzalez’s creations at Gallery by Chele.
A sauce of chocolate and whiskey, a hint of green apple, pear and vanilla, an oaky nuttiness — delicious descriptions flowed like the spirit that is “known as the world’s most-awarded single-malt Scotch whiskey.”
Since 1887, Glenfiddich has proudly carried its “ultra-premium and family-owned heritage brand” through all the changes and challenges in the world. It continues to inspire generations “to live out passions and create positive and lasting change,” and this time it does this by encouraging people to chart their path to success by “going beyond their limits and setting the bar higher.”
“Glenfiddich, which launched the Where Next Club Program last year, has developed a stepping stone for entrepreneurs and businesses embodying the core values of the brand,” says Kate Osmillo, Philippine Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich. “The program was developed to search for and reward an innovative venture that is ready to scale up and create a lasting impact in the Philippines and eventually, the World.”
This year, Glenfiddich has partnered with three industry pillars, “each one a trailblazer who represents and embodies the core values and vision of Glenfiddich,” says the brand.
Manny Ayala, Anne Gonzales and Martin Cu will not only help select a startup for this year’s Where Next Club Program, but also “provide strategy and one-on-one mentorship.”
“The startup scene is on an upward trend. Compared 10 years ago, there is much more startup activity, startup funding and startup support available,” said Ayala, who is the managing director of Endeavor Philippines, a global nonprofit organization committed to accelerating the growth of High-Impact Entrepreneurs.
“I am looking at the idea first. Is it trying to solve a real and relevant problem, or address a need? And how? Does their proposed business have a meaningful impact that is realistic? Then I will examine them as individuals. Do they have the grit, humility, sincerity and tenacity to see their vision through?” says Gonzales on how she would assess the startups.
The co-founder and president of Terry S.A (a retail company housing coveted brands such as Havaianas, Dupe, Bensimon, Common Thread & Aura Athletica, is also a recipient of Go Negosyo’s 55 Inspiring Women in Business last 2016.
Meanwhile, Cu, a partner at 500 Global, says, “I hope to really find someone who has a big problem that they are trying to solve. A startup that focuses on making the lives of Filipinos better.” Cu is a builder and scaler of one of the top startups in Southeast Asia. Under his helm, Ninja Van grew from 0 to 10,000 workers and dominated the Country’s logistics space.
A million-peso non-equity dilutive grant goes to the chosen startup from Glenfiddich.
To find out more about Glenfiddich’s WHERE NEXT CLUB Program everyone may check out their social media channels and reach out to [email protected].