‘The Final Pitch’ Season 3 to start filming in December


“The Final Pitch,” the Philippines’ first business reality TV show which airs on CNN Philippines, is set to return for its third season – linking promising entrepreneurs with multi-millionaire and billionaire investors looking to forge the next exciting business deals.

“Based on the success of our two previous seasons, we’ve proven how the combination of the right business models and talented entrepreneurs can attract angel funding from even the most traditional businessmen in the Philippines. This motivated us to create a bigger, better season that will help bridge the gap in mentorship and funding that startups face. Our goal is to connect them to the right people, get them funded, and help them scale to eventually become successful contributors to nation building,” shares the show’s creator and host, serial entrepreneur and TV producer John Aguilar.

The upcoming season will bring back two of the previous season’s investor judges. William Tiu Lim, multi-awarded President and CEO of diversified food conglomerate Mega Global Corporation, makers of market leading Mega Sardines, returns with an eye to find and mentor more budding entrepreneurs. Congressman Mikee Romero, energy and power industrialist and co-founding owner of Philippines Air Asia, rejoins the show together with his daughter, millennial entrepreneur Milka Romero.

(From left): John Aguilar, Monica Aguilar, Maricris Sandiego,  Mikee Romero, Milka Romero, William Tiu Lim, Mark Vernon, and Michael Dargani (From left): John Aguilar, Monica Aguilar, Maricris Sandiego,
Mikee Romero, Milka Romero, William Tiu Lim, Mark Vernon, and Michael Dargani

Joining the lineup of the show’s illustrious investor judges are Michael Dargani, President and CEO of IceDream, Inc., Philippine franchise owner of Baskin Robbins, and Philippine-based British national Mark Vernon, founder of Tagcash Ltd., a blockchain and cryptocurrency payments and crowdfunding platform. Vernon’s involvement will be complemented by the special participation of the Manila Angels Investor Network (MAIN).

“The Final Pitch” once again renews its partnership with BPI Foundation for the show’s social enterprise category. BPI Foundation Executive Director Maricris Sandiego joins the show as a guest judge, earmarking a R500,000 grant to a social enterprise of their choice. Joining Sandiego as guest judges and mentors are John-C Syquia, SVP and Group Head of BPI Corporate Banking, and Junie Veloso, SVP and Group Head of BPI Business Banking.

The season begins with an initial pitch, where the entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to the investor judges. Those selected in the initial pitch will undergo a boot camp complete with business challenges and mentoring opportunities from industry thought leaders and the show’s partners on how to better run, brand, and grow their businesses. The season culminates in a nerve-wracking final pitch, where the deals are eventually made.

Mentors of the third season will include Thames International Business School President Joel Santos, EON The Stakeholder Relationships Group Co-Founder and Chairman Junie del Mundo, Gorriceta Law Partner Mark Gorriceta, and other resource experts.

“The Final Pitch” had just finished accepting applications for the new season. Filming begins by December 2018, and the show premieres March 2019 on CNN Philippines.