Future4ward: GCash iGnite Innovation Summit 2025 champions people-first approach to AI

Industry leaders, innovators, and changemakers highlight the importance of keeping humans in the loop in shaping the future of digital finance

(Left to Right) Martha Sazon, President and CEO of Mynt, the holding company of GCash; Undersecretary Joee Guilas of the Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAP-IEA); and Pebbles Sy, Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Mynt, the holding company of GCash, joined a packed house at GCash iGnite 2025, marking one of GCash’s biggest innovation summits to date.

GCash, the Philippines’ largest cashless ecosystem and leading finance super app, hosted the 2025 run of its premier think tank event, the iGnite Innovation Summit, last July 8, 2025, at the SMX Convention Center in SM Aura Premier. Now in its 4th year, the dynamic event introduced the next revolution in fintech, bringing together 76 industry partners, seven universities, and thousands of attendees from diverse sectors.

This is where GCash led with new insights and innovations to support the next phase of digital evolution. Entitled “Future 4ward,” iGnite Innovation Summit 2025 featured a full day of immersive experiences, bold conversations, artificial intelligence (AI) powered interactions, and future-defining strategies. This year’s program also featured renowned speakers, trailblazing innovators, and influential thought leaders, with plenary talks by event partners Alibaba Cloud, Ascendion, Amazon Web Services, and Huawei.

“We need to redesign how things are done and keep people at the center—what we call the ‘human in the loop,” shared Pebbles Sy, Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Mynt, the holding company of GCash. “Because at the end of the day, AI can speed things up, but humans bring the judgment, creativity, and empathy that make the difference. At GCash, we’re starting to see that balance—AI takes care of repetitive tasks, so our teams can focus on solving bigger problems, serving customers better, and thinking more strategically. That’s how we stay future-ready—by building with AI, but also building for people.”

This year’s keynote speaker, Undersecretary Joee Guilas, who spoke on behalf of Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAP-IEA) Secretary Frederick D. Go, delved further into the future of the Philippine economy, with AI and financial technology driving economic growth and inclusion for all.

Pebbles Sy, Chief Technology and Operations Officer of Mynt, the holding company of GCash, Undersecretary Joee Guilas, Office of the Special Assistant to the President for Investment and Economic Affairs (OSAP-IEA); and President and CEO Martha Sazon, of Mynt, the holding company of GCash, kicked off the morning plenary session of GCash iGnite Innovation Summit 2025.

“AI could redefine our economic landscape—from optimizing supply chains and creating new

industries to delivering hyper-personalized financial services. With the Philippines’ young, dynamic workforce and strong tech partnerships, we are positioning our nation at the center of the digital global economy,” Usec. Guilas explained.

Empowering the nation’s digital shift

Meanwhile, Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Henry Aguda also graced the summit and shared his insights on how the government is enabling the shift toward digital transformation.

DICT Secretary Henry Rhoel Aguda sparks the vision for a fully digital government in a dynamic fireside chat during the regulators’ breakout session

“Everybody wants digitalization. The President issued an executive order that all government services must interface with the eGov app. We’re connecting the dots—from infrastructure to policy to talent—because digital transformation isn’t just a vision, it’s a whole-of-government effort,” said DICT Secretary Aguda.

Launched in 2022, the GCash Innovation Summit began as a way to spark thought starters within GCash; it evolved into a conversation with like-minded companies about what the future of digital finance could hold. In 2024, it transformed into an event that made a concerted effort to understand AI and digital trust, seeking ways to deepen engagement and bring innovative solutions to the forefront.

This year, the goal of the iGnite Innovation Summit was not merely to discuss but to create the future of fintech and the technology that surrounds it. Through “Future 4ward,” GCash unveiled the future of AI and set out to empower the leaders of tomorrow by exploring cutting-edge technologies, providing a platform for actionable collaboration, and ultimately enabling these “future makers” to innovate within their respective industries.

At the summit, attendees engaged in immersive, hands-on experiences including the “Shark AI” virtual investor panel and the “Future Finance Hub,” both designed to showcase GCash’s commitment to shaping the future.

The event featured a robust series of breakout sessions spanning four critical tracks: Technology AI-Volution, Trust and Reliability, Next-Gen Enterprise, and Regulatory Innovation. Equally important were the regulatory roundtable discussions, which underscored the need for a stronger public-private collaboration in navigating the evolving digital landscape. Highlights included a fireside chat with DICT Secretary Aguda, alongside sessions on Regulatory Tech and AI, “Rewiring the Nation”, and Innovations in Capital Markets. These conversations emphasized the crucial role of forward-thinking regulations in enabling safer, more inclusive, and future-ready digital finance in the country.

“At GCash, we’re investing in platforms that can scale fast, and stay resilient, while embedding AI into how we work and how we serve—from fighting fraud, to improving customer support, to creating more personalized experiences. But more than the tools, it’s about mindset. We’re building a culture that’s curious, agile, and ready to challenge old ways of thinking. That’s what iGnite is all about—opening up space for new ideas and real conversations on how we shape what’s next.” Sy concluded.

GCash, as a renowned pioneer in the fintech space, aims to continue leading this important conversation. With efforts such as “Future 4ward,” the company hopes to foster an environment of forward-thinking collaboration, where leaders can outline a roadmap together that empowers them as they navigate digital disruption and drive the next phase of the digital evolution.

About GCash

GCash is the Philippines’ #1 Finance Super App and Largest Cashless Ecosystem. Through the GCash App, users can easily purchase prepaid airtime; pay bills via partner billers nationwide; send and receive money anywhere in the Philippines, even to other bank accounts; purchase from over 6 million partner merchants and social sellers; and get access to savings, credit, loans, insurance and invest money, and so much more, all at the convenience of their smartphones. Its mobile wallet operations are handled by G-Xchange, Inc. (GXI), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Mynt, the first and only $5 billion unicorn in the Philippines.

GCash is a staunch supporter of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly UN SDGs 5,8,10, and 13, which focus on safety & security, financial inclusion, diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts, respectively.