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Faculty of Business & Government
Willes Center for International Entrepreneurship

Great Ideas 2025 Winners

First Place
Second Place
Third Place

Manava EcoRenew

Manava EcoRenew
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Team member: Logotau Avanitele (Information Technology)

Manava EcoRenew turns one of Tuvalu’s biggest challenges—plastic waste—into a source of hope and opportunity. With many students learning on worn-out desks and chairs, the venture recycles discarded plastics into strong, affordable school furniture made locally in Tuvalu. This simple but transformative approach cleans the islands, reduces dependence on expensive imports, and gives children a safe place to learn and grow. Starting with preschools and kindergartens, Manava EcoRenew aims to expand across schools, churches, NGOs, offices, and eventually to other Pacific Islands facing the same struggle. The initiative also creates meaningful jobs and trains youth in recycling and craftsmanship skills. At its core, Manava EcoRenew is more than a business—it is a movement to protect Tuvalu, empower its people, and prove that even the smallest islands can create powerful solutions for the world.

Sakay

Sakay
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Team members: Fatima Dagohoy (Biology) and Isabela Petty (Graphic Design)

Our business is named Sakay, it’s all about providing safe, comfortable, and reliable tricycle transportation for students in underdeveloped areas of the Philippines, particularly Barangay Tabugon, Kabankalan City. According to the market research, 11 million students in the Philippines are out of school, 32% of them cited transportation problems as one of the factors behind this long-term absence. Sakay service aims to alleviate the daily struggles of students who endure unsafe, inconvenient, and unreliable transport options, ensuring that they can reach school on time and without additional hardship.

Spectrum Support

Spectrum Support
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Team members: Cheyenne La Torre (Hospitality and Tourism Management), Chevy La Torre (Education), and Cayenne La Torre (Hospitality and Tourism)

Spectrum Support provides quality special education in the Philippines for children and adults with disabilities. Over 1 million children with disabilities are currently excluded from formal education, and existing options for ongoing support are limited. Spectrum Support offers tailored programs to help participants develop skills for more independent and fulfilling lives. The business will start by partnering with schools to test demand and reduce costs, while collaborations with healthcare providers and communities build a support network. Revenue comes from tuition, addressing a real educational need with potential for scalable growth.