This CEO is building the first all-local Grocery Assistant App in the Philippines

Originally published on expee.com.ph

A little over a year ago, Expee CEO and Founder Justin Talusan was working in a make-shift office with three other people in his apartment. Today, he’s pioneering the launch of the first Grocery Assistant app in the Philippines.

A graduate of De La Salle College of St. Benilde, Justin credits his accomplishments to his work ethic. “First year college palang, naghahanap na ako ng diskarte para makapag-Benilde,” he shared. “I skipped college parties and went straight to work. That’s where I developed my work ethic.”

With zero employees and no established companies yet, he started to pitch to firms, which eventually got him inside Nestlé’s agency bidding. “Everytime an agency would present, I would call up friends and offer to do the same thing for a cheaper price.” Unsure of the career he wanted to venture into, Justin continued to work for Nestlé as a freelance digital artist.

“One day, a bunch of iPads came for a mobile app that an outside company developed for them,” he continued. Justin was eager to venture into the tech industry and create mobile apps for local companies. “I went home and couldn’t sleep, so I started to think of a company name.”

Six years later, Justin is working with his own team to create mobile applications to streamline business processes.

His new introduction, the Expee App, is a lifestyle platform that offers promotion alerts and rewards for its users. With the app, shoppers get notified of product deals as they walk around the supermarket.

“I want to give shoppers a better grocery experience,” he shares.

Justin has been on his toes to make this launch possible, and they’re set to open booths in four Robinsons stores this coming September.

After an hour long meeting with one of the country’s biggest retail chains, we asked Justin how he handles the mountain-pile of work he needs to finish to keep Expee going.

“Much is given, much is required,” he said matter-of-factly.