Local App Makes Heads Turn at Toronto and Singapore Tech Conferences

(via manilastandard.net) Parlon proudly took part in the “Collision Conference 2022” at Enercare Centre, Toronto, Canada, the go-to platform for beauty and wellness services in the Philippines. The conference is North America’s biggest startup event bringing together Fortune 500 companies, groundbreaking startups, and world-class speakers.

During the event, Parlon founders Claire Ongcangco and Miko Cornejo together with Marga Romero, the company’s head of growth and partnerships, shared how the app helped salons and wellness centers in the Philippines adapt to the digital world and maximize the power of technology.

Parlon was launched in 2019 as a listing online platform to help customers book appointments for salons and wellness centers.

“The idea originated from my own pain point of not finding service menus of salons online,” Ongcangco says.

She remembers parking the idea for a while until the pandemic happened and everything closed. In time salons were allowed but not at full capacity. The app couldn’t come at a better time when the business owners needed assistance to book clients while following the health protocols efficiently.

I am always excited for every opportunity where we can showcase our great Filipino talent. Parlon has been a game-changer in the beauty and wellness space in the Philippines. It’s just a matter of time before this Parlon magic will be experienced by people in Southeast Asia and eventually, the rest of the world. — Claire Ongcangco

Collision Conference 2022 gathered over 35,000 attendees from 130 countries. Out of the 1,557 startups that joined, the company was one of five beauty startups at the conference. Apart from Parlon, the only participant from the Philippines was 4Gives, which aims to empower the unbanked and the financially excluded by providing access to revolving credit.

The international conference was an opportunity for Parlon, to share its initiatives for helping salons and wellness centers in the Philippines adapt to the digital world and maximize the power of technology, especially during the pandemic. Because of the app, salons, spas, and wellness centers were able to resume operations, allowing clients to book appointments online, and giving establishments ample time to observe the prescribed health protocols.

I want Parlon to be able to ignite that same feeling when beauty enthusiasts anywhere in the world come across our booth. I still dream of the day we are able to ship and scale a global platform for beauty and wellness that is 100 percent Filipino-engineered. — Miko Cornejo

According to Romero, the experience at the Collision Conference was most enriching.

“[I was] very grateful and amazed to meet and connect with entrepreneurs and founders who shared the same intention for the tech⁠—not just to focus on the solution, but empathy for those experiencing the problem,” she says.

Romero added that the team plans to take the platform to various international tech conferences.

“I want Parlon to be able to ignite that same feeling when beauty enthusiasts anywhere in the world come across our booth. I still dream of the day we are able to ship and scale a global platform for beauty and wellness that is 100 percent Filipino-engineered,” Cornejo adds.

Parlon was also part of the Tech In Asia Conference Start-up Factory at the Marina Bay Sands in Singapore.

“I am always excited for every opportunity where we can showcase our great Filipino talent. Parlon has been a game-changer in the beauty and wellness space in the Philippines. It’s just a matter of time before this Parlon magic will be experienced by people in Southeast Asia and eventually, the rest of the world,” Ongcangco shares.

The conference was held at Marina Bay Sands in Singapore with participants onsite and online, making it the first-ever hybrid Tech in Asia Conference​. It gathered tech founders, investors, executives, and talents for two days full of insights, connections, opportunities, and the tools needed to overcome business challenges.

(This story originally appeared on Manila Standard. Minor edits have been made by the Parlon team.)

What's GLOW-ing On? is a collection of updates from different Parlon partners all over the country. This section highlights their growth, milestones, and achievements that we, as their champions in the beauty and wellness industry, celebrate with them. We're excited to share more of their salon openings, new branches, exciting news, and other revolutionary developments that contribute to the revival of the Philippine economy and bounce-back of this beautiful industry.