Key Takeaways
- • Dedale Intelligence and John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) at Ateneo de Manila University jointly launched the Ateneo Private Equity aXelerator (APEX), a four-week accelerator program designed to equip students with foundational private equity skills including market analysis, competitive landscape assessment, and investment narrative development.
- • APEX attracted 67 applications with 25 students selected for the inaugural cohort; the program pairs participants with Dedale mentors and culminates in 15-minute investment-grade panel presentations, with Php30,000 in prize money and five full-time internships awarded to top performers.
- • Dedale Intelligence, a Paris-headquartered strategic intelligence firm with over 100 full-time research analysts, leverages AI-powered analysis focused on North America and Europe technology sectors; the partnership represents the firm's entry into institutional education and talent development in Southeast Asia.
- • Program curriculum covers market foundations, market sizing, competitive landscape analysis, and investment narrative crafting—core competencies for institutional private equity practice—delivered through research-driven mentorship by Dedale's investment research professionals.
Summary
Dedale Intelligence, a Paris-based technology-focused strategic intelligence firm, has partnered with Ateneo de Manila University's John Gokongwei School of Management to launch the Ateneo Private Equity aXelerator (APEX), marking the first collaborative private equity accelerator program tailored for Filipino undergraduate students. The initiative reflects growing institutional interest in early-stage talent development within Southeast Asian financial markets and the expansion of European fintech and research platforms into the region.
APEX is structured as an intensive four-week program combining theoretical foundations with applied research methodology. The curriculum encompasses market sizing, competitive landscape analysis, market foundations, and investment narrative development—competencies essential to professional private equity practice. Students enrolled in the program receive direct mentorship from Dedale research analysts, guiding participants from foundational research skills through investment-grade presentation preparation. The program culminates in formal 15-minute investment presentation panels, providing students with practical pitch experience before institutional audiences.
The inaugural cohort demonstrates measurable demand: 67 students applied for the program, with 25 selected for participation. Dedale is incentivizing performance through a Php30,000 prize pool distributed among top performers and five full-time internship placements within the firm. This compensation structure signals Dedale's intent to convert high-performing students into talent pipeline candidates for its growing analyst and research operations.
Dedale's participation underscores the firm's broader institutional strategy. With a team of over 100 full-time research analysts headquartered in Paris, Dedale specializes in AI-augmented strategic intelligence focused on technology sector dynamics across North America and Europe. The partnership includes senior leadership engagement: Investment Research Director Rambo Joinani and CEO Benjamin Forlani have been directly involved in program development and student outreach. Alumni of JGSOM already embedded within Dedale—including Matthew Cortez (BS ME '22) and Staniel Rivera (BS ME '25)—have participated in program delivery, creating institutional continuity and credibility with the student audience.
The partnership reflects a broader trend of research-driven institutional investors establishing educational pipelines in underserved talent markets, combining mentorship delivery with recruitment objectives. For Ateneo students, the program provides direct exposure to professional-grade investment research methodologies and potential early-career placement opportunities with a Europe-focused intelligence firm expanding its operational footprint.
APEX is structured as an intensive four-week program combining theoretical foundations with applied research methodology. The curriculum encompasses market sizing, competitive landscape analysis, market foundations, and investment narrative development—competencies essential to professional private equity practice. Students enrolled in the program receive direct mentorship from Dedale research analysts, guiding participants from foundational research skills through investment-grade presentation preparation. The program culminates in formal 15-minute investment presentation panels, providing students with practical pitch experience before institutional audiences.
The inaugural cohort demonstrates measurable demand: 67 students applied for the program, with 25 selected for participation. Dedale is incentivizing performance through a Php30,000 prize pool distributed among top performers and five full-time internship placements within the firm. This compensation structure signals Dedale's intent to convert high-performing students into talent pipeline candidates for its growing analyst and research operations.
Dedale's participation underscores the firm's broader institutional strategy. With a team of over 100 full-time research analysts headquartered in Paris, Dedale specializes in AI-augmented strategic intelligence focused on technology sector dynamics across North America and Europe. The partnership includes senior leadership engagement: Investment Research Director Rambo Joinani and CEO Benjamin Forlani have been directly involved in program development and student outreach. Alumni of JGSOM already embedded within Dedale—including Matthew Cortez (BS ME '22) and Staniel Rivera (BS ME '25)—have participated in program delivery, creating institutional continuity and credibility with the student audience.
The partnership reflects a broader trend of research-driven institutional investors establishing educational pipelines in underserved talent markets, combining mentorship delivery with recruitment objectives. For Ateneo students, the program provides direct exposure to professional-grade investment research methodologies and potential early-career placement opportunities with a Europe-focused intelligence firm expanding its operational footprint.
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