AI-powered concepts rule CSU’s annual pitch competition—PAGSANYOG

Empowering students to lead innovation and commercialization, Caraga State University-Technology Business Incubation Unit led the PAGSANYOG 2025, a university-wide pitching competition for students to propose solutions to relevant real-world problems and develop viable venture ideas. 

The competition, held on May 23, 2025 at the Administration Building Conference Hall, received 65 entries, the highest number of submissions in the history of TBI, reflecting CSU's growing innovation and entrepreneurship culture. Aside from the pitching, it featured exhibits and highlighted opportunities for industry-academe collaboration and potential investment.

Three of the four winning concepts integrate artificial intelligence:

• 1st - Ascribo.AI

• 2nd - Project KILUA

• 3rd - Care Guardian and Waste2Wise

This year’s champion is Ascribo.AI, an AI-powered, context-based tool for real-time translation developed by Computer Science students John Vianney Jandayan, Mac Tomi Bandialan, Hannah Sophia Villanueva and Angelo Mari Montero.

Project KILUA, a cloud-based and mobile AI platform for real-time monitoring and reporting of environmental violations, ranked 2nd. It was created by Geodetic Engineering students Gems Andro Ravela, Kezzia Gunay, and Judy Linogao.

Two projects share the third spot. Care Guardian, an AI-powered smart home system monitoring elderly movement and emergencies by BS Information Technology students David Aaron Rosales, Christian James Bantillo, and Noralf Russel; and WasteWise, a mobile app for homeowners to subscribe and schedule food waste pickups to improve waste management developed by  Information System students Vicryl Kez Lumanao, Leovin Jozh Salarda, and Josh Lyle Evangelista.

The growing pitching contests at CSU, which respond to SDG No. 9 - Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, are relevant to its mission of producing competent and innovative graduates with an entrepreneurial mindset ready for the dynamic global landscape. | with report from Navigatú

Bugsay, innovative Golden Paddlers!