UnionBank has completed the first run of UB Negosyante BOOSTcamp, a six-week learning programme for small and medium enterprise (SME) owners, the bank announced.

The first cohort, which ended on 24 October, brought together 27 SME owners from various industries.

The programme combined mentorship, peer learning and talks from entrepreneurs and industry experts, covering topics such as understanding customers, financial management, digital marketing, artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainable growth.

UnionBank’s GoBeyond Community, the bank’s corporate social responsibility and employee engagement initiative, ran the programme.

“The businesses you are growing today will become the next generation of companies that will help drive our economy forward,” Albert Cuadrante, UnionBank Chief Marketing and Experience Officer, told participants.

AI and Digital Marketing on the Agenda

UnionBank staff led sessions on AI fundamentals, governance, practical business uses, responsible use and data privacy.

They also stressed the importance of checking AI-generated outputs.

Gino Pineda and Issang Ceballos of Meta covered how to reach audiences, optimise budgets and measure campaign performance.

Potato Corner co-founder George Wieneke spoke about testing and improving products around genuine customer needs.

Participant Mico Buenaflor of Lucky LMB, a power and industrial tools distributor, said he joined because “my business was growing, but my skills were plateauing.”

He particularly valued the lessons on the ethical use of AI.

Part of UnionBank’s SME Push

BOOSTcamp builds on UnionBank’s digital services for small businesses.

The bank launched its SME Business Banking app in January 2021 and relaunched it under the UB Negosyante brand in 2023, offering entrepreneurs digital banking tools and financing.

Featured image: Edited by Fintech News Philippines based on an image by muravev via Magnific.