Filipino Students Launch Blockchain-Powered Scholarship Platform, Win ₱100,000 Prize
Three college students in the Philippines built iSkolar, a centralized scholarship platform that combines blockchain and artificial intelligence to streamline how students find and apply for educational funding. The platform earned a Top 10 finish and ₱100,000 cash prize at the Project RISE startup competition in May 2026.
The founders-Justin Luzano (CEO), Adam Ruadilla (COO), and Louigie Caminoy (CTO)-identified a concrete problem: scholarship opportunities in the Philippines are scattered across multiple websites, application processes lack transparency, and students waste time hunting for opportunities they may not even know exist.
How the Platform Works
iSkolar consolidates the scholarship search and application process into a single interface. Students can browse opportunities, build profiles, submit documents, and track applications in one place. Scholarship providers and educational institutions get tools to set eligibility criteria, review applicants, and manage workflows.
"We are building iSkolar because too many students are forced to work harder than necessary just to find support that should already be within reach," Luzano said.
Blockchain and AI for Education
The platform uses blockchain to verify student credentials on-chain, allowing sponsors to confirm document authenticity without manually contacting schools. Fund disbursements also move through blockchain infrastructure for transparency.
AI handles matching students with eligible scholarships and helps sponsors monitor active programs.
Current Status and Next Steps
iSkolar is in beta at iskolar.io. The team plans to pilot integrations with the University of Makati, Polytechnic University of the Philippines-Sta. Mesa, and Taguig City University in the third quarter of 2026.
A broader rollout across the Philippines is scheduled for the fourth quarter, targeting a wider network of students and scholarship providers.
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