2nd Runner Up - Country Finals for 3M Inspire Challenge🏆🍌

Created on January 30, 2023

2023

I was featured in a DLSU post that you may check here!

🥈 Proud to share that our team, Team Kamusa, was awarded 2nd Runner-Up at the 2022 3M Inspire Challenge – Philippines Country Finals!

Held from September 5 to October 27, 2022, this business pitch competition brought together some of the brightest young minds across the country to propose real-world innovations that align with 3M’s core focus areas.

👥 Our Team

Representing De La Salle University, I had the honor of collaborating with (Rom invited me for this competition at the online setup the rest was history~!):

  • Lanz Maui Chua (Applied Corporate Management)
  • Franchette Romjin Kim Miller (Applied Corporate Management)
  • Fernando Magallanes Jr. (Manufacturing Engineering)

Together, we were selected as one of the top 3 finalists from over a hundred entries nationwide — ultimately competing against teams from the University of the Philippines at the country finals.

♻️ Our Innovation: Organic-Based Insulation Board

Competing under the Sustainable Materials theme, we focused on enhancing 3M’s insulation board product line, which traditionally uses synthetic components. Our solution?

🚜 A high-performing insulation board made from banana fruit stalks — a commonly discarded byproduct in agricultural operations.

  • ✅ Upcycles agricultural waste into a valuable green material
  • ✅ Reduces dependence on synthetics
  • ✅ Supports circular economy principles in construction and packaging

🔧 Mentorship and Prototyping

With 3M’s generous support, we received mentorship from industry professionals who guided us in refining our idea, developing early prototypes, and conducting usability tests — bridging the gap between concept and execution. 🛠️✨

Shoutout

I was able to apply the UTM from the Manufacturing Eng. Department to test a sample of the fiberboard that I made to justify the different metrics we presented at this competition. Thank you sir Tan Ai for assisting me and sir Homer Co for validating my procedure and equipment used (It was literally all through a request done on email haha).

We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to grow through this challenge and collaborate on a vision for a more sustainable future. Thank you to 3M, MEM and all mentors involved! 💚🌍