PH Startups Wow London With Cheap, Game-Changing Health Tech
Two Filipino health technology startups just proved that world-class innovation doesn’t need a world-class price tag, wowing global investors and industry leaders in London with a portable diagnostic device and an affordable wound-care system built right here in the Philippines.
Manila HealthTek Inc. and AYO Tech Corp. represented the country at London Tech Week 2026, held June 8-10 at Olympia, London, engaging with prospective partners, investors, healthcare stakeholders, and innovation leaders while showcasing the Philippines’ growing capability to produce practical, scalable healthcare solutions for local and global markets alike.
Two Startups, Two Game-Changing Innovations
Manila HealthTek Inc., represented by Dr. Raul Destura, Mr. Lemuel Petronio, and Ms. Jana Denise Lacuna, presented Lab-in-a-Mug (LiaM) 3.0, a portable molecular diagnostic device capable of detecting multiple infectious diseases outside traditional laboratory settings — a potential game-changer for underserved and remote communities.
Meanwhile, AYO Tech Corp., represented by Dr. Jair Kimri Jingco and Dr. Lily Jingco, featured AquaVac, an affordable negative-pressure wound therapy system designed to make advanced wound care more accessible to patients and healthcare providers who might otherwise be priced out of such treatment.
Beyond the showcase floor, both startups held discussions with prospective collaborators, investors, and healthcare organizations from different countries, opening doors to future partnerships, market access and technology commercialization opportunities.
According to Dr. Destura, the international engagement sent a clear message about what Filipino innovators bring to the table.
“The world sees that the Philippines can provide a cheaper, but quality, source of innovations,” he said.
The exposure also allowed both startups to benchmark their technologies against global standards while building credibility among international stakeholders. Dr. Jingco noted that being part of a global platform gave AquaVac a significant boost in visibility.
“It gives us a lot of exposure. It gives us some modicum of legitimacy that we’re able to present here. The more people know about us, the more they will know about our technology,” Dr. Jingco said.
Government Backing Seen as Key to Global Success
Both startup founders pointed to government support as a critical factor in helping Filipino innovations break into international markets.
Dr. Destura emphasized that having the government as an early adopter sends a powerful signal to the rest of the world.
“It’s essential that the first client or adopter is the government. It sends a strong message that our country believes in the talent and ingenuity of Filipino innovators,” he said.
Both companies credited the Department of Science and Technology-Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) delegation with boosting their visibility, strengthening their credibility, and connecting them with international stakeholders eager to explore Filipino-made healthcare solutions.
Dr. Jingco encouraged fellow Filipino startups to tap into government resources to accelerate their own growth.
“If you’re a startup, it pays well to partner with DOST. They have a lot of programs that could help startups,” he said.
The London Tech Week showcase forms part of DOST-TAPI’s continuing efforts to help Filipino innovators expand their international networks and explore new opportunities for technology commercialization — proving once again that Philippine ingenuity is ready to compete on the world stage.
