Quezon City has awarded P6 million in equity-free grants to six local tech startups under its third cohort of the Startup QC Program. The grants aim to support and empower homegrown innovators as they develop solutions for various sectors.
“We are proud to see how these startups evolve and create meaningful sectoral transformation,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte. “Quezon City remains proactive and open to cultivating a more vibrant environment for local talents, business, and economic development.”
The six startups, selected from an initial pool of 58 applicants, are:
- Nyha Robotics: A promising team that aims to make robotics education more accessible to children.
- Callback: A platform that seeks to professionalize the casting process for cultural workers.
- Kwentoon: A startup that enhances youth literacy and promotes Filipino contemporary arts through storytelling digital platforms.
- LITHOS Manufacturing: A company that develops compact, portable water filtration systems for disaster-affected areas.
- Pasajob: A job placement platform that rewards users with referral fees, branded as GJobs in GCash.
- RevUp Finance: A startup that streamlines SME financial operations, cutting invoicing and payment processing times by 80%.
“Global scalability is within reach,” said Jay Gatmaitan, Head of the QC Local Economic Investment Promotions Office (LEIPO), “as Quezon City continues to establish itself as a model for LGU-driven startup ecosystems.”
The Startup QC Program has gained recognition, both locally and internationally, as a trailblazing initiative that nurtures tech innovation. It has caught the attention of policymakers worldwide, including the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Youth Co: Lab, with representatives from various countries visiting the Philippines to learn from its innovative approach.
Building on the success of Startup QC, the city is considering implementing specific incentives to attract more Filipino and Quezon City entrepreneurs to engage in tech innovation. The program’s success is attributed to the collaboration of key partners such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and tech-innovation incubators and hubs like Launch Garage.
As Quezon City celebrates its 85th founding anniversary, the Startup QC Program underscores the city’s dedication to fostering a thriving innovation ecosystem and empowering Filipino entrepreneurs to shape the future.