CIT-U Team Finn Triumphs at Sinulog PropTech Hackathon 2026
Team Finn from the Cebu Institute of Technology-University has been crowned champion of the Sinulog PropTech Hackathon 2026, securing a cash prize of P50,000. The winning team consisted of four talented students: Matthew Emmanuel Echavez, Gabe Jeremy San Diego, Brian Steve Pila, and Leah Barbaso. The award was presented by Anthony Gerard Leuterio, founder of PropTech Philippines, who highlighted the growing role of Filipino students in developing digital innovations for the real estate sector.
Addressing Real Estate Data Challenges
According to Leuterio, the Philippine property sector faces significant hurdles due to fragmented and inaccessible data. Key information on land values, zoning regulations, project viability, and official appraisals often remains siloed across various local government offices. This fragmentation necessitates manual requests and leads to prolonged processing times, which can delay development projects and increase uncertainty for stakeholders.
Leuterio emphasized that many student proposals from the hackathon aimed to tackle these issues by creating platforms that could consolidate public and private data, potentially through collaborations with government agencies. He noted that artificial intelligence (AI) is becoming a crucial element in these solutions, offering both disruptive potential and new opportunities for problem-solving in real estate.
Hackathon Highlights and Broader Impact
The Sinulog PropTech Hackathon 2026, organized in partnership with Filipino Homes, attracted entries from 43 schools nationwide, with 12 teams advancing to the finals. The event focused on identifying and nurturing early-stage ideas that apply digital tools to persistent real estate challenges. Beyond the competition, the hackathon provides funding and mentorship to student teams, with the goal of incubating promising concepts into full-fledged startups. Leuterio mentioned that standout projects might receive angel investment support to accelerate their commercialization.
Other winners included:
- Team Git Push Adelante from the University of San Jose–Recoletos, who secured second place and a P40,000 cash prize.
- Team Quinchers, who placed third and took home P30,000.
Fostering Innovation and Collaboration
Leuterio stressed that the hackathon's broader objective is to encourage innovation and sustained engagement among academic institutions. He observed increasing support from university administrators, who view the program as a means to motivate students to develop industry-relevant skills. While the search for a breakthrough solution continues, Leuterio highlighted the importance of active school participation, student motivation, and the testing of new ideas.
He concluded that strengthening collaboration among academia, industry, and government will be essential for advancing proptech adoption in the Philippines, ultimately helping to modernize the country's real estate sector through digital transformation.
