StartUp QC, Quezon City’s initiative to boost its local startup ecosystem, awarded P1 million of equity-free grants to each of the five startups featured during the StartUp QC Demo Day last August 11, 2023.
The five startups are Bamboo Impact Lab, which uses high-quality bamboo products to fight harmful chemicals in the beauty and cosmetics industries; EdukSine, a DOST-funded hybrid streaming platform that shows socially relevant and educational films; Indigo Research, which offers intelligence solutions ranging from machine learning to natural language AI; ITOOH Homestyle, a one-stop platform for quality home and office furniture showcasing Filipino craftsmanship; and Wika Media, which empowers the local deaf community by giving them auditory content in Filipino Sign Language.
According to Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, it is crucial for cities to prioritize innovation and offer robust support for local businesses. “It’s in the interest of all sectors to have a city where anyone would be confident to launch their businesses however novel their idea is. Such endeavors would eventually generate jobs, push the economy to its maximum potential, and help every citizen live the life they aspire to have,” Mayor Belmonte said.
“The city, together with its partners, are ready to collaborate with these startups and introduce their ideas to the market. Their success will redound to the growth of the community and the city,” she added.
Each of the five startups—who were chosen from a set of about 70 applicants—underwent a thorough and demanding application and screening procedure, adhering to a set of criteria that prioritize innovation, creativity, sustainability, and social relevance. Finally, Mayor Belmonte added that from a shortlist of 10 startups, the final five were the ones she felt most benefited Quezon City and its residents.
StartUp QC’s criteria notably emphasizes the pursuit of social goals like inclusivity. Wika Media, for example, showcases how technology and innovation can lift up the differently abled. In the past, Quezon City has even been recognized for its inclusive approach to issues such as climate change and gender identity.
All of the five startups also went through numerous business and technical educational initiatives prepared by partners such as the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, Quezon City University, Ateneo De Manila University, Miriam College, Thames International, Technological Institute of the Philippines, and the University of the Philippines Diliman, with the involvement of Launchgarage.
Quezon City Administrator Michael Alimurung reiterated that the recent Demo Day is only the start of a long and productive journey for the StartupQC program. “The intent is to make Quezon City the hub for the startup community in the Philippines, maybe even the world,” Alimurung said. “We hope that more startups will apply to the program—there’s no harm in applying multiple times. Our intent really is to grow the startup community.”
StartUp QC already has multiple ongoing initiatives outside of its recent Demo Day. Last month, the program opened applications for its second cohort. The student category offers participants a startup cadetship involving practical business insights from partners. The top startup pitch will be awarded up to P100,000. While all startups can apply, the student track emphasizes agritech, edtech, healthtech, greentech, and govtech. The professional category, aimed at those aged 21 and above with a minimum viable product, involves tailored coaching and mentorship for selected applicants. Awardees will receive a grant and advance to the accelerator program after committee selection. Even startup teams based out of Quezon City are welcome to the program, with the only requirement being that at least one member is a resident of the city.
Even the five startups of StartUp QC’s first cohort also still have much to look forward to. “The city’s support does not end here. In addition to the learning, engagement, and development sessions, each participant will embark on the product development phase of our program,” Quezon City Local Economic Investment and Promotions Office’s Head Jay Gatmaitan explained. “This takes their journey to the next level by offering venture acceleration assistance to each startup.”
With each of the five startups facing a bright future ahead of them, Mayor Joy Belmonte hoped they would never forget StartUp QC’s initial help. “Please don’t forget those Filipinos who contributed a peso, five pesos, fifteen pesos, for your project,” Belmonte said, referring to the grant that came from taxpayer’s money.
For more details visit the official StartUp QC Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/startupquezoncity or contact the StartUp QC Team via email at startupqc@quezoncity.gov.ph.