EdTech startup CEO aims to bridge tech talent gap in PH

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — Lavine Hemlani, the CEO and founder of Xccelerate, aims to bridge the increasing gap between unfilled jobs and untapped talent in the Philippine tech industry. 

During a recent interview on CNN Philippines’ The Final Word, Hemlani argued the widening skills gap in key tech areas like artificial intelligence (AI), cybersecurity, and blockchain requires immediate action.

Hemlani identified outdated education systems, focusing on theory over practical application, as a major factor contributing to the tech talent shortage. 

Additionally, a lack of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) training left a chasm between what’s taught in schools and what the job market requires.

Hemlani stressed the necessity of upskilling, particularly for the 1.5 million outsourcing workers in the Philippines. 

“I don’t think it’s a want anymore, right? It’s a must. There’s 1.5 million BPO workers in the Philippines, and you don’t have 30 years. You have maybe a year, max two years, before all these skills and tools can replace what you do,” he stated.

Rather than succumbing to fear, Hemlani encouraged workers to acquire new skills to increase their value in the job market.

Xccelerate, Hemlani’s EdTech startup, provides a solution through its train-to-hire platform. They reverse engineer the supply chain, identifying future jobs and creating courses based on requisite skills. 

The firm has trained 50,000 people in the Asia Pacific region over the past six years. In the Philippines, Hemlani plans to upskill 10% of its total outsourcing workers in the next five years.