Stories of inspiration

Shell LiveWire 2025: Growing Enterprises, Powering Possibilities

Through Shell LiveWire, implemented locally by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc., entrepreneurship becomes more than a source of income. It becomes a pathway to stability, dignity, and long-term resilience.

For more than four decades globally, Shell LiveWire has championed enterprise development. In the Philippines, that commitment continues to translate into practical support for grassroots businesses and technology-driven startups. The result is a growing network of Filipino entrepreneurs who are building solutions for their communities and beyond.

2025 at a Glance: From Ideas to Enterprises

Between 2020 and 2025, Shell LiveWire supported 157 Community Enterprises and 26 Tech Startups nationwide.

In 2025 alone:

  • 47 Community Enterprises were reached through the Community Enterprise Development Program

  • 42 Community Enterprises received startup capital

  • 5 Tech Startups were awarded equity-free grants through the Acceleration Program

  • 10 sites nationwide were engaged, including Shell fenceline communities and open-category areas

Strengthening Grassroots Enterprises

From Palawan to Cagayan de Oro, the 2025 Community Enterprise Development Program localized Shell’s global enterprise framework to support community-based entrepreneurs.

Out of more than 100 applicants, 47 enterprises completed hybrid learning sessions covering:

  • Basic entrepreneurship

  • Accounting and financial management

  • Production and sales planning

  • Business plan development

  • Pitch refinement

Each entrepreneur presented before a panel of PSFI and Shell Pilipinas leaders. Grants were awarded based on feasibility, sustainability, innovation, and potential for job creation.

More than capital, participants gained structure. Mentorship helped turn passion into systems, and ideas into operational plans. For many, it was the first time their businesses were treated not just as side hustles, but as enterprises with growth potential.

Accelerating Innovation: Tech Startups Take the Stage

While grassroots enterprises strengthened local economies, the Acceleration Program spotlighted technology-driven innovation.

Implemented with Brainsparks, the program supported five promising tech startups in 2025. Participants underwent intensive mentoring, pitch sessions, and 18 learning modules before presenting at Echelon Philippines, a major tech business conference in the region.

Greentech Ecobooster emerged as Champion, receiving a ₱1 million equity-free grant. Other finalists, including startups focused on green adhesives, drone-powered agricultural solutions, sodium-ion battery technology, and food innovation, also received grants and national exposure.

These ventures reflect a shift toward climate-conscious and efficiency-driven innovation, demonstrating how Filipino founders are building solutions aligned with sustainability and energy transition goals.

Enterprises That Multiply Impact

Shell LiveWire’s long-term value is most visible in its alumni.

PHILIA, a 2023 cohort alumnus, connects smallholder farmers to improved markets. In 2024, it earned global recognition as a Top Ten Innovator for Social Impact.

Agro-DigitalPH, a 2021 Acceleration Program winner, now works with 2,000 farmers and supplies approximately 40 tons of vegetables to supermarkets through its farm-to-market model.

These enterprises show that growth does not stop after a grant is awarded. It compounds. It expands employment. It strengthens supply chains. It creates ripple effects that extend well beyond the original cohort.

Partnerships That Sustain Progress

Shell LiveWire operates through collaboration. In 2025, PSFI partnered with:

  • Local Government Units and livelihood offices

  • National agencies such as DTI, DOST, PESO, and TESDA

  • Private sector partners and innovation hubs

These partnerships ensured localized delivery, stronger mentorship ecosystems, and improved market linkages. The goal is not simply to launch businesses, but to sustain them.

Beyond 2025: Investing in Sustainable Growth

Looking ahead, the program remains focused on:

  • Deepening support for grassroots enterprises in host communities

  • Standardizing and strengthening training assets

  • Expanding acceleration pathways for technology-driven startups

Entrepreneurship is not only about profit. It is about creating dignified work, building resilient communities, and enabling Filipino innovators to design solutions for Filipino realities.

Every pitch refined. Every grant awarded. Every enterprise launched.

Shell LiveWire demonstrates that when preparation meets opportunity, impact grows.

Related stories:

MGCC Technical-Vocational Scholars Strengthen Leadership Through LEAD Workshop

Fifteen scholars under the MGCC Technical-Vocational Scholarship Program, implemented by Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) with the support of the Manila Golf and Country Club Foundation, Inc. (MGCCFI), completed the LEAD Workshop, strengthening their leadership and workplace skills alongside their Basic Entrepreneurship with Customer Service NC II training.

RTS Pasacao 2.0 Strengthens Family Livelihoods Through Enterprise Support

Fifty-five child caregivers in Pasacao received livelihood assistance through RTS Pasacao 2.0, helping them establish or expand small enterprises that can provide more stable income for their families. By integrating livelihood support with maternal and child health interventions, the program empowers families to improve child nutrition, strengthen resilience, and build more sustainable futures.

A Mother’s Hands, A Caregiver’s Heart: How One Scholar Turned Sacrifice into Strength

For Maria Carmela “Mela” Andaya, caregiving began long before she entered the classroom. As a single mother of three, years of sacrifice, resilience, and unconditional love prepared her for a new purpose. Through the Medical Scholarship Program of Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and Bloomberry Cultural Foundation, Inc. (BCFI), Mela transformed an answered prayer into a pathway toward a brighter future for her family while inspiring other mothers to never give up on their dreams.

PSFI and San Isidro Solar Power Corp. Forge Partnership to Empower Farmers and Fisherfolk in Leyte

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) and San Isidro Solar Power Corp. (SISPC) have formalized a partnership to launch the Sustainable Initiatives and Projects for Agri-Fisheries Growth and Development (SIPAG) program in Leyte. Designed to empower around 100 farmers and fisherfolk, the initiative will strengthen food security and sustainable livelihoods through capacity building, climate-resilient agriculture, sustainable fisheries, enterprise development, and leadership training, reflecting the partners’ shared commitment to creating lasting opportunities for communities.

PSFI Earns Dual Finalist Recognition at the 2026 CSR Guild Awards

Pilipinas Shell Foundation, Inc. (PSFI) was recognized as a finalist in two categories at the 2026 CSR Guild Awards, with Response to Community Under Emergency (RESCUE) and PROTECTS UPSCALE earning national recognition for their impact in disaster resilience and health. The milestone affirms PSFI’s commitment to creating lasting change through community-centered programs that save lives, strengthen resilience, and improve access to healthcare.