The National Capital Region Technology Business Incubator (NCR TBI) Summit 2025 concluded its second annual gathering, drawing 242 attendees to the Makati Diamond Residences to address the critical need for a more integrated startup support system in Metro Manila. Organized by the SCALE NCR TBI Consortium—a key initiative of the Department of Science and Technology (DOST)—the summit focused on the theme, “Innovate Forward: Synergizing for a Future-Ready Startup Ecosystem.”
The event successfully highlighted the National Capital Region’s undeniable position as the Philippines’ primary innovation hub while confronting the structural challenges that threaten to slow its momentum.
In her opening remarks, Maria Cristina “Indo” L. Ibanez, MA, President of the SCALE NCR TBI Consortium, outlined the region’s competitive advantages. She noted the strong legal foundation provided by the Philippine Innovation Act and the Innovative Startup Act, the presence of major university-based TBIs (such as UP Diliman’s UPSCALE and DLSU’s Animo Lab), and the concentration of capital and talent.
Ibanez also pointed to the ecosystem’s success in specific sectors, stating that the ecosystem’s strength “lies heavily in fintech, with major players like Mynt and Maya achieving high valuations and massive user bases, driving financial inclusion and attracting global attention.”
However, Ibanez pivoted to a candid assessment of the existing hurdles, echoing the summit’s core challenge: fragmentation.
“Despite its momentum, the NCR ecosystem must overcome several structural and operational hurdles to move forward,” Ibanez stated. “A significant hurdle is the difficulty in transitioning complex R&D from university labs and government institutes into market-ready, commercially viable products. The NCR ecosystem lacks a single, comprehensive, and up-to-date database for tracking startup performance. The disparity across LGUs [Local Government Units], wherein the support mechanisms and policies are uneven across the 17 local government units of Metro Manila [is also a concern].”
Other challenges cited included the persistent “valley of death” funding gap for highly technical startups, the talent “brain drain,” and the slowness of large, traditional Philippine conglomerates to strategically partner with the startup community.
Ibanez concluded with a call to action for the “triple helix” of government, academe, and industry:
“The future success of the NCR ecosystem hinges on turning our ‘triple helix’… from a concept into a seamlessly interconnected operational network… Collaboration is not a suggestion—it is the strategic necessity required to transform our vibrant but fractured startup environment into a resilient, globally competitive innovation powerhouse.”
The summit’s agenda was structured around the four strategic pillars of SCALE NCR: Global Competitiveness, Ecosystem Integration, Capability Development, and Strategic Governance.
A key opening session, “Synergy in Action: Fostering a Collaborative Startup Ecosystem,” featured Russell Pili (DOST PCIEERD), Franco Varona (Foxmont Capital Partners), and Ms. Ibanez, and was moderated by Niña Terol (Imaginable Impact). The discussion focused on shared activation points for innovation programs led by LGUs and pinpointing gaps in the startup journey from idea to investee.
Another critical discussion was “Startups on the Edge: Resilience in AI, Climate, and Regional Markets,” where seasoned founders like Felix Ayque (Komunidad), Dexter Ligot-Gordon (Swarm), and Steve Sy (Great Deals) shared personal experiences on how local ventures are shaping the future of AI, climate action, and regional markets. Pia Bernal (Kickstart Ventures) moderated this panel.
A panel titled “From campus labs to boardrooms” unpacked how TBIs bridge the gap between research and market-ready innovation, featuring Dr. Luis Sison (UPSCALE Innovation Hub), Atty. Mike Gerald David (Animo Labs PH), Priya Thachadi (Villgro), and Engr. Edward Paul Apigo (DOST PCIEERD), moderated by Shoraliah Macalbe (QBO Innovation).
Other sessions throughout the day provided deeper dives into specific elements required for the ecosystem to achieve maturity:
- Talent Development: The panel “Tech, Talent & Tenacity” explored strategies for nurturing Filipino innovators who can scale locally, featuring Jan Garrovillo (Kalibrr), Engr. Romelen Tresvalles (DOST-National Capital Region), and Paris Dy (ASES Manila), moderated by Nico Tubban (Adamson University Neo Science and Technology Incubation Center).
- Funding and Unicorns: The discussion “Supporting 10x & Beyond – Sustainable Growth Systems” addressed investor expectations and explored how enablers can create the right conditions for “unicorns” (startups valued at over $1 billion) to thrive, with insights from Rene Cuartero (AHG Lab), Alwyn Joy Rosel (QBO Innovation), Alewijn Ong (National Development Company), and Love Gregorie Moral-Perez (xchange), moderated by Phoebe Fontanilla (Gobi Partners).
- AI and the Workforce: Aurelien Chu, CEO of Eskwelabs, delivered a session on “AI in Learning and Its Impact on the Workforce,” detailing how artificial intelligence is transforming skills development and empowering Filipino talent.
- Global Branding: Ron Castro from The Independent Investor presented on “Startups and the PH in the Spotlight,” demonstrating how amplifying startup stories drives investment, collaboration, and inspiration on the global stage.
- TBI Capacity: Dr. Resty Collado shared the story behind the Startup Institute by SCALE NCR, detailing the initiative built on mentorship, collaboration, and a shared vision for global innovation.
The event also included the announcement of the 2025 Philippine Startup Week by lead organizer Dave Del Rosario (DLSU Animo Labs).
Since its inception, the SCALE NCR TBI Consortium has grown significantly, starting with nine core members (eight TBIs and DOST NCR) and recruiting an additional 19 members over two years, including eight more university-based TBIs. The consortium has been instrumental in spearheading local policies and ordinances that favor startups, with initiatives like Startup Muntinlupa, Paranaque Startup, and Valenzuela’s V Spark following the model of Startup QC.
Looking forward, the consortium is set to power the 2025 Philippine Startup Week (November 10-14) to support the goals of the Innovation Startup Act. Preceding this, the SCALE NCR’s 1st Accelerator Cohort will hold its Demo Day on November 12, culminating a program that onboarded 50 high-potential startups from across the region.
The event demonstrated a collective commitment to overcoming the challenges faced by the ecosystem, with a clear focus on synergizing programs, deepening industry engagement, and unifying policy.
Reflecting on the event’s outcome and the path ahead, Ms. Ibanez provided a final statement:
“The SCALE NCR Summit was a major success. We’ve successfully leveraged the NCR ecosystem to support Filipino innovators, and that’s a huge win for our community. This milestone proves that through focused action, we can achieve real progress toward innovation and nation-building.”