Dr. Ruel M. Mojica, University Professor and Faculty Member of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DAFE), brought home the 2nd Best Pitch award under Category A: Products/Technologies from Startup Companies at the 3rd Agri-Aqua Innovation Pitch Fest (AIPF) 2026, held on August 11, 2026, at the E.O. Tan Hall, DOST-PCAARRD. Themed "Partnership and Collaboration in Action: Accelerating Research Results for Development," the 3rd AIPF was conducted by the Philippine Council for Agriculture, Aquatic and Natural Resources Research and Development under the Department of Science and Technology (DOST-PCAARRD) in partnership with Capiz State University, Cavite State University, and the Association of PAQE Professionals, Inc., lining up 23 startups that presented research-based products and solutions.
Among a highly competitive category of nine companies, Dr. Mojica earned recognition for his pitch representing Blends4U, a Philippine-based coffee innovation startup that offers unique, culturally inspired, and customizable coffee experiences. Blends4U’s product offerings include distinctive coffee blends made from locally sourced beans, as well as creative and experiential concepts such as thematic coffee lines like Simbang Kape and experimental innovations like Kape Fiesta, which reflect a fusion of Filipino tradition and modern lifestyle trends. Its competitive advantage lies in a distinctive value proposition: a highly unique customization process (among the first in the Philippines) that enables customers to co-create personalized coffee blends tailored to specific flavor profiles, branding needs, or cultural narratives. This not only enhances customer engagement but also creates new market opportunities for locally sourced coffee.
Beyond its product line, Blends4U carries a strong social mission: supporting small-scale coffee farming communities, particularly those in far-flung and underserved areas — a cause closely aligned with Dr. Mojica's decades-long body of research on coffee processing and technology commercialization at Cavite State University. The continuing mission, through innovation, sustainability, and social responsibility, resonated with the panel of evaluators, who represented major players across the agri-aqua industry, including Phillip Ong of Santeh Feeds Corporation, Ronald Daniel Mascariñas of Bounty Agro Ventures Inc., Arsenio Barcelona of Harbest Agribusiness Corporation, Irene Sion of East-West Seed Company Inc., Engr. Sherman B. Valdez of Act Corporation, and Atty. Editha Hechanova of the Association of Patent Agents of the Philippines.
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