BAGUIO CITY – Following the successful Regional Start-Up Competition, the Young Farmers Challenge (YFC) Provincial Start-Up awardees participated in a mentoring and coaching session held on April 30, 2025, at Guisad, Baguio City.
The session enabled for the refinement of the participants’ business pitches and enhance their entrepreneurial presentation skills. The participants were mentored by Betty Listino, Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Pansidegan Advocacy Cooperative, and was attended by some of the young agripreneurs who competed in the regional leg a day earlier.
Participants were asked to present their business pitches once again, covering critical aspects such as the core problem addressed by their enterprise, business progress, product line, potential future offerings, target market, and cost structure.
Listino emphasized the importance of storytelling in business presentations, encouraging the participants to root their narratives in local or personal experiences. She also stressed the value of connecting their enterprises to the Cordillera’s rich agricultural heritage to strengthen audience engagement and make their pitches more impactful.
She gave practical suggestions on improving the visual presentation of pitches, including clear sectioning of content and the use of actual photos to convey authenticity. She noted that the introduction is crucial as it sets the tone of the pitch and serves as the audience’s first impression.
On the financial side, Brenson Dagwat of Dagwat Savers Farm reminded the agripreneurs to consider depreciation when computing costs, particularly for equipment and materials they have acquired.
One participant received commendation for clearly tracking expense patterns, which reflected a mature approach to financial planning.
Listino also encouraged participants to highlight what makes their products unique and to confidently express how customer feedback has helped shape their growth. She reminded them that pitch presentations should be delivered with clarity and business focus, avoiding the overly technical style of a thesis defense.
She also reminded the group that trade fairs should be viewed not as consistent market outlets, but as platforms for promotion and visibility.
As a final tip, she recommended that every presentation should end by showing the enterprise’s logo and slogan once again, followed by a clear and gracious thank you. This, she explained, helps reinforce brand identity and leaves a lasting impression on the audience.
The session concluded with a hands-on workshop where participants incorporated the feedback into their revised presentations, followed by mock pitch sessions to apply what they had learned.
The mentoring and coaching activity provided valuable insights and strengthened the participants’ capabilities to move forward not only with improved business strategies but also with greater confidence and clarity in presenting their enterprises. By Alyssa Dawn Alalag
