IdeaSpace, the startup accelerator and early-stage venture capital arm of the MVP Group of Companies, has appointed Alwyn Rosel as its new Executive Director, as the organization sharpens its focus on bolstering the Philippines’ entrepreneurial ecosystem. Rosel succeeds Jay Fajardo, who led the organization through a period of transition and strategic restructuring.
Rosel, a veteran in the startup space with over 13 years of experience, steps into the role following her tenure as Deputy Director of QBO Innovation Hub, the public-private initiative she will now also lead. Her career includes senior roles at key startup enablers such as the AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator, UPSCALE Innovation Hub, and BPO giant VXI Global, as well as a stint at Singapore-based tech media platform e27.
“I am elated to receive the news of my appointment as Executive Director of IdeaSpace and QBO at a time when we are celebrating National Women’s Month,” Rosel said in a statement. “The cornerstone of my work is to sustain the ecosystem so that we help more startups that have immense potential to contribute to the economy and national development.”
The announcement comes as IdeaSpace and QBO continue to anchor the Philippine startup ecosystem, having invested over ₱300 million in resources and supported more than 35 startups since inception. The organization has incubated over 250 companies, worked with more than 700 organizations, and now runs upwards of 100 programs annually.
Rene “Butch” Meily, President of IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation, expressed confidence in Rosel’s appointment, citing her four-year track record within the organization. “I am confident that she has the dedication and strategic vision to do the job,” Meily said, while also commending Fajardo for his contributions during a pivotal period.
Fajardo, who will be stepping down after refining the organization’s structure and expanding its investment footprint through Ideaspace Ventures, leaves behind an improved portfolio, with a reported average MOIC (Multiple on Invested Capital) of 1.5x over four years. During his leadership, the venture arm backed seven startups in 2024 alone.
“I’m very happy to have had the opportunity to lead the remarkable team at IdeaSpace and QBO, reinforcing our role as a pivotal driver of the Philippine startup ecosystem,” Fajardo said. “The organization has regained clarity in its mission and now deserves dedicated, full-time leadership.”
Founded in 2012 by business magnate Manuel V. Pangilinan, IdeaSpace is supported by First Pacific, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), PLDT-Smart, Meralco, and Maynilad. In 2016, it joined forces with J.P. Morgan, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) to create QBO Innovation Hub.
Today, IdeaSpace and QBO remain at the forefront of the nation’s entrepreneurial ambitions. In addition to its in-house programs, QBO is actively working on the Regional Startup Enablers for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program in partnership with DOST, while collaborating with Smart-PLDT Innovation Generation and the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines on other initiatives.
Earl Valencia, a co-founder of IdeaSpace and member of the National Innovation Council, said, “She has spent her entire career supporting early-stage startups and has been instrumental in creating programs to accelerate the innovation ecosystem in the Philippines.”
As Rosel assumes leadership, the organization’s mission — to nurture startups capable of transforming the economy and making a global impact — takes on renewed momentum.