Empowering Sari-Sari Storeowners Across the Philippines with Practical AI Skills
Hapinoy (At1ndahan Inc.), a leading social enterprise dedicated to supporting Filipino sari-sari storeowners, has been selected as the Philippine grantee of the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific. This significant regional initiative, launched by Google.org in partnership with AVPN and supported by the Asian Development Bank, aims to expand access to artificial intelligence (AI) training and tools for underserved communities throughout the Asia-Pacific region.
The AI Opportunity Fund in APAC has committed a total of $27 million to support 49 organizations across 15 countries, with a goal of training over 720,000 workers and 100,000 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). The program emphasizes inclusive digital skilling and AI literacy to ensure no one is left behind in the region’s rapidly transforming economy.
Hapinoy’s mission perfectly aligns with this goal. Since its inception, the organization has empowered thousands of women microentrepreneurs to successfully run and grow their sari-sari stores by providing access to upskilling, robust supply chain networks, crucial financing, and essential digital tools. Now, through the AI Opportunity Fund, Hapinoy will introduce practical AI-based training and tools designed to help microentrepreneurs improve store operations, manage finances more effectively, and unlock new opportunities for growth.
“Through AVPN’s AI Opportunity Fund, we aim to empower sari-sari storeowners with practical AI tools that can transform their microbusinesses and uplift their families, bridging these women microentrepreneurs into the era of Artificial Intelligence,” said a Hapinoy representative. “Hapinoy’s approach will combine ‘High-Tech’ with ‘High-Touch’—the warmth of face-to-face community training with the scalability of digital platforms, making AI accessible and genuinely useful for daily sari-sari store operations. By helping microentrepreneurs embrace AI for store operations, financial management, and business growth, we’re not just helping these stores level up – we’re also impacting the communities they serve across the Philippines.”
Sanjay Gupta, President, Google Asia Pacific, stated in a blog post, “A shift towards an AI-powered economy needs to be fair and inclusive, ensuring all workers have the necessary knowledge and tools to participate. Through the Google.org AI Opportunity Fund: Asia-Pacific and our ongoing collaborations, we’re committed to making sure everyone can benefit from the potential of AI.”
This effort builds on Google.org’s broader commitment to help communities thrive in the AI era. By supporting mission-driven partners like Hapinoy, the AI Opportunity Fund is creating a more inclusive digital economy—one where every entrepreneur, regardless of background or location, has a chance to succeed.
