November 10, 2020

Dennis Velasco had made it big in the United States, working in some of the most innovative hubs for innovation in the world. He was the CEO of Xtendly, which focused on web and mobile application development. But it wasn’t enough—Dennis had a dream. He wanted to come back home to the Philippines and introduce the same technology that has revolutionized business operations abroad. Determined to make change, he flew home and started Prosperna, a sales productivity and online marketing platform for the real estate industry. 

“Everyone’s going digital. So we must prepare ourselves,” he shares in his webinar Preparing For The Second Wave Of Digital Shift last September 12. After moving back home, building software for real estate companies gave Dennis the time to analyze the current state of the digital shift in the country. This led him to the conclusion that unlike other countries, the Philippines is still in the early aughts of the digital shift, and integrating digital technology in local businesses is trickier than expected, because technology abroad is not fit for the Philippine context. Not only are they 5 to 15 years more advanced, but they're also 5 to 15 years years more expensive.

This gives Prosperna the ultimate opportunity: help Filipino businesses transition to digital with tailor-fit and affordable software. While the first wave of the digital shift in the country optimized productivity and efficiency through devices, the second wave will shift companies to an online ecosystem. “We need not only to create and build, but also collaborate and connect with other software providers,” he says. 

Especially with the pandemic pushing companies to transition online, digitalization is now a necessary decision rather than an option. Today, Prosperna aims to provide a seamless customer experience through their Software-as-a-Service platform that integrates store-building, multiple payment methods, and chatbox technology. “They can serve their customers all in one place,” Dennis describes. 

Through helping businesses cope with changes brought by the pandemic, Dennis envisions a better Philippines. “[I want to] empower our country [through] technology that equalizes the playing field.”

By: Glenielle Geraldo Nanglihan

Glenielle has been writing since she was ten years old. She is currently the Features editor of The LaSallian, De La Salle University-Manila’s student publication. 

• FB: Glenielle Geraldo Nanglihan 
• IG: @gleynyelgeraldo