In a win for the agriculture sector, progressive agri-fishery tech startup company Mayani took the crown in the ‘Where Next Club’ program of Scotch whiskey distilery Glenfiddich that was unveiled early this month in Makati City.

Mayani, with its advocacy of better and wider consumer accessibility to fresh produce by bridging farmers and fisherfolks direct to market consumption through a digital supply chain, snagged the coveted “Breakthrough Maverick startup of 2023.” It edged out competing startups, namely, online medical education company AlliedHealth Academics; car-sharing marketplace Doon Transport Technologies, Inc.; neighborhood tech-enabled pocket gyms by GoGym; and beauty discovery fintech platform Parlon Wellness and Beauty Technologies. Inc.

Paneled by Endeavor PH managing director Manny Ayala, Terry S.A. co-founder and president Anne Gonzales and venture fund 500 Global partner Martin Cu, the competition bestows Mayani with one-on-one mentorship and strategy building directly from the panelists themselves.

On top of the holistic guidance is a one-million-peso non-equity dilutive grant to further boost the company closer to its main goal of contributing to solving the long-running issue of food security in the country.

“I hope we remember our farmers and fisherfolk. I hope that in the future, Filipinos empower the local food industry and consider their harvests instead of heavily relying on foreign imports while the local harvest goes to waste,” says Mayani co-founder Josef Amarra, dedicating their win to farmers and fisherfolk.

The Where Next Program was conceived to bolster innovative projects that will propel Philippine startups with visionary goals aimed at fostering change beyond the business landscape.

“Glenfiddich, which launched the Where Next Club Program, has developed a stepping stone for entrepreneurs and businesses embodying the core values of the brand,” says Kate Osmillo, Philippine Brand Ambassador for William Grant and Sons, parent company of Glenfiddich.