Philippine Startup Week 2026 opened Monday in Quezon City, with government officials acknowledging persistent challenges in financing, access to specialized talent, and regulatory requirements that continue to affect the growth of Filipino startups.
The four-day event, held at the Quezon City M.I.C.E. Center from November 9 to 12, brings together startup founders, investors, technology companies, and policymakers under the theme “Beyond Borders: Filipino Startups Navigating Our Future.”
“Many continue to struggle with access to financing, specialized talent, regulatory requirements, and the resources needed to bring their products and services to market. These are challenges that require more than individual effort. They call for stronger coordination among government, academe, industry, and the startup community,” said Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Secretary Robert Joseph de Claro in his opening remarks.
Now in its eighth year, Philippine Startup Week is jointly organized by the DICT, Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Quezon City government through Startup QC.
As chair of the Innovative Startup Act Steering Committee for 2026–2027, DICT is coordinating government initiatives aimed at strengthening the startup ecosystem, including improving access to funding, institutional support, and opportunities for collaboration.
on November 9. Photos courtesy of: Startup QC, DICT and DTI.
De Claro announced the relaunch of the Startup Philippines website (startup.gov.ph), which will serve as a central registry for Filipino startups and ecosystem participants. The platform will allow startups to register, obtain unique identification numbers, and access recognition and certification services.
DICT is also working on initiatives to expand startup participation in government procurement, potentially opening additional business opportunities for emerging technology companies.
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte emphasized the importance of sustained support for startups, particularly in helping entrepreneurs develop viable businesses.
“Startups are important drivers of economic growth, job creation, and sustainable development. But to unlock their full potential, great ideas require strong machinery to prove a few of them and reliable mechanism to keep them going,” Belmonte said.
DOST Secretary Renato Solidum Jr. highlighted the department’s Startup Grant Fund (SGF), which provides financial support for research and development to help early-stage ventures bring their innovations to market.
“We are fully committed to ensuring that our startups are equipped, funded and empowered to scale beyond boundaries through a robust, end-to-end framework. Through our SGF Program, we provide funding support to de-risk research and development, enabling founders to transform their breakthrough concepts into market-ready and commercially viable technologies,” Solidum said.
Meanwhile, Karl Lyndon Pacolor, Officer-in-Charge of DTI’s Bureau of Policy Research and Innovation, emphasized the need for Filipino startups to develop sustainable businesses capable of competing internationally.
“Our theme: ‘Beyond Borders: Filipino Startups Navigating Our Future’ reflects our goal of helping Filipino enterprises move beyond developing promising ideas toward building sustainable businesses that can grow, scale and compete internationally,” Pacolor said.
This year’s Philippine Startup Week has also been recognized as an official ASEAN side event in connection with the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship, providing opportunities for Filipino entrepreneurs to connect with regional investors, technology companies, and potential business partners.
The conference features five program tracks — Discover, Collaborate, Develop, Showcase, and Invest — covering startup development, technology applications, investment opportunities, and collaboration across the innovation ecosystem.
Among the scheduled events is the 10th edition of IGNITE X, organized by TechShake on November 10, featuring discussions on ASEAN investment trends, international market expansion, and artificial intelligence.
The program includes representatives from KUMPUL.ID, the Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, and the Selangor Information Technology and Digital Economy Corporation. Executives from Mitsubishi Corporation, the Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Huawei are also scheduled to participate in discussions on global business opportunities and emerging technologies.
Other sessions throughout the week will cover AI-assisted application development, cybersecurity, digital transformation, startup financing, and strategies for scaling Filipino businesses.
The event also provides opportunities for entrepreneurs to connect with investors, industry partners, and government agencies offering startup support programs.
Despite the opportunities for regional expansion, access to capital, specialized talent, and regulatory support remain among the challenges facing the Philippine startup ecosystem.
“The government cannot build this ecosystem alone. It requires the sustained commitment of the private sector, academe, local government units, and the innovators themselves,” de Claro said.