Quezon City Awards Seven Startups with Php 1 Million Each at the Startup QC Cohort 4 Demo Day

19 November 2025 Quezon City, Philippines - The Quezon City Government recognized seven outstanding startups with Php 1 million equity-free grants each during the Startup QC Cohort 4 Demo Day.

In collaboration with startup accelerator Launchgarage, the event gathered founders, investors, and policymakers in celebration of the city’s growing reputation as the country’s innovation and startup capital. Out of nine (9) finalists, seven (7) startups were chosen for their innovative, scalable, and socially attuned solutions.

Launched under the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte, the Startup QC Program empowers early-stage startups through funding, mentorship, and access to a vibrant innovation network — driving inclusive economic growth, sustainability, and digital transformation across the city.

“Innovation is not just about technology — it is about empathy, service, and equity,” said Mayor Joy Belmonte. “Through Startup QC, we are proving that governance and innovation can work hand in hand, that a local government can be both visionary and inclusive.”

To further strengthen its innovation ecosystem, the City is also finalizing the Business Investment and Trade Incentives for Startups (BITIS) Ordinance, which will provide fiscal incentives and a supportive environment for entrepreneurs to scale and succeed. The Local Economic Development and Investment Promotions Office (LEDIPO) will spearhead its official launch under the Invest with QC campaign. 

Empowering Startups that Reflect the Nation’s Needs

This year’s Cohort 4 grantees represent key industries that mirror the evolving needs of Filipino communities — from clean energy and human resource development to recreation, health innovation, and digital transformation.

• Briyo – Builds modular, bamboo-based wind and hydro turbines for off-grid communities (Sustainable Energy)

• Hireable – AI-powered freelance hiring and KPI matching platform (Human Resource Technology)

• Kazam On-Demand Services – Flexible online marketplace for part-time household help (Human Resource Technology)

• Laro – Sports and recreation booking and community app (Sports and Recreation Technology)

• Agap.ai – AI-powered developmental screening tool for parents (Health Technology)

• Soolok – Streamlines foreclosure data and home acquisition within 45 days (Property Technology)

• Xamun.AI – AI platform that converts business requirements into applications in weeks (Information Technology)

Emerging Themes: Startups that Address Real Needs

This year’s Cohort 4 grantees show how startups in Quezon City are responding to real challenges faced by Filipinos.

Hireable and Kazam On-Demand Services reflect changes in work today, from hybrid jobs to the gig economy, providing flexible income opportunities and fair access to employment for freelancers and informal workers.

Agapai, a health-focused AI tool, supports parents in monitoring their children’s developmental milestones, promoting early intervention even outside formal healthcare settings. While it is not a diagnostic tool, it aligns with Quezon City’s goal of inclusive support for all children, including those with disabilities.

Together, these startups show that innovation in Quezon City is practical, socially aware, and designed to improve lives while contributing to broader conversations on sustainability and technology.

Fostering an Inclusive Innovation Ecosystem

Beyond financial support, the Startup QC Program provides capacity-building,mentorship, and access to investors and potential clients. Each cohort strengthens Quezon City’s role as an active enabler of entrepreneurship, bridging startups with industries and creating a sustainable innovation pipeline that benefits the wider economy.

By investing in its innovation ecosystem, Quezon City ensures that startups not only survive but thrive, becoming vital contributors to national development and social progress. 

Quezon City Opens Applications for Startup QC Cohort 4 – Professional Category

04 July 2025 Quezon City, Philippines — The Quezon City Government, through its Startup QC Program, is now accepting applications for its Cohort 4 – Professional Category as part of the city’s ongoing commitment to building a vibrant innovation ecosystem and supporting high-potential Filipino startups.

The Startup QC Program offers selected early-stage startups the opportunity to receive up to PHP 1 million in equity-free grants, hands-on mentorship, capacity-building sessions, and access to a growing network of investors, incubators, and innovation partners. The program is designed to help founders sharpen their business strategies, scale their solutions, and prepare for long-term sustainability.

Through the leadership of Mayor Joy Belmonte, Quezon City is building a future-ready economy by empowering Filipino founders to solve real-world problems through innovation. The Startup QC Program plays a key role in this vision by providing entrepreneurs with the platform, tools, and support they need to grow and thrive.

Since its launch in 2022, the StartUp QC Program has partnered with Launchgarage Innovation Hub to successfully run three cohorts under the professional category. Through this collaboration, the program has supported 16 professional startups from diverse industries, ranging from technology, sustainability, education, and the creative economy. Launchgarage has played a key role in designing and delivering the program’s content, mentoring startups, and guiding them through their growth journeys. The program’s alumni exemplify the strength of Filipino innovation, with several gaining national and international recognition, attracting investments, and entering global markets.

Notable alumni include:

• EdukSine – an award-winning streaming platform for Filipino indie films, featured in ASEAN and UN events for the youth and entrepreneurs.

• Wika Media – creators of accessible AR/VR learning tools, recently showcased in Japan and Singapore.

• Lithos Manufacturing – a climate-tech startup providing clean water solutions to disaster-affected areas, with pilots launched across the Philippines.

• Kwentoon – a digital storytelling platform for youth, promoting literacy and Filipino culture through comics and manga, with growing partnerships in the education and publishing sectors.

• Hibla Ph - a culture-based fashion startup bringing Philippine weaves to the global stage, with showcases in Japan, China, and the UK.

• NYHA Robotics – a social impact venture making STEM education more inclusive through localized robotics kits and teacher training programs.

These startups represent the future of inclusive, impact-driven entrepreneurship—and the growing influence of Quezon City as a hub for innovation in the Philippines.

Interested applicants must be early-stage startups registered in the Philippines, with innovative solutions that demonstrate strong market potential and measurable impact. 

Applications are now open through the Quezon City eServices portal. For more information on the application guidelines and other details, you may visit qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph.

DTI Unveils Top 5 Startup Finalists of ADVanCE for Creatives Program

03 April 2024, Philippines – The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has officially announced the top five startup finalists for the Accelerating Development, Valuation, and Corporate Entrepreneurship (ADVanCE) for Creatives Program on March 21, 2024, at the Launchgarage Innovation Hub in Quezon City.

Selected from an initial pool of eight growth-stage startups, the top five finalists underwent assessments focused on organizational capacity, business maturity, and readiness levels. In these sessions, DTI and Launchgarage evaluated each startup based on its product status, team dynamics, future objectives, and challenges, concentrating on how the program could support its growth. This ensured that the chosen finalists were not only well-prepared to navigate forthcoming challenges but were also positioned to make a significant impact on the creative sector through their innovative and scalable solutions.

The top five finalists are AniMattify, a startup transforming print ads into animations; KikoMonster Creative Studio, providing creative solutions from Zamboanga; Bihasa, merging instructional design with production for learning videos; ROC.PH Digital Marketing Services, assisting businesses and professionals through website management, digital marketing consultation, creative design, and strategy implementation; and Bentamo, a tech startup showcasing creative Filipino brands. The finalists will undergo intensive training based on the specific interventions identified during the needs assessment.

The ADVanCE for Creatives program, launched on December 5, 2023, aligns with the visions outlined in the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) and the Philippine Creative Industries Development Act (PCIDA). This initiative underscores DTI's commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and economic growth in the Philippines.

DTI Undersecretary for Competitiveness and Innovation Group Rafaelita M. Aldaba commended the selected startups, emphasizing DTI's dedication to supporting their growth. “We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the top five startup finalists of the ADVanCE for Creatives program,” said Usec. Aldaba. “DTI is proud to support the development of these promising startups as they contribute to the advancement of the Philippine Creative Industries.”

The finalists will benefit from comprehensive training through a series of learning workshops, mentorship from industry experts, and customized business matching and acceleration programs. The program will culminate in a demo day in April, providing an opportunity for the startups to showcase their progress and attract potential partners and investors.

In addition to ADVanCE, DTI previously unveiled ten select creative startups and enterprises for the Incubation, Development, and Entrepreneurial Assistance (IDEA) program, further bolstering the Philippine Creative Industries.The selected startups for IDEA are Wika, 7x7 Development Corporation, MVRK Simulations, Pamitisan Shoe Shop, Transcend Studios Inc., Kwentoon, Carisle Media Corporation, Produkto PH, DND Denim N’ Denim, and Brave Story.

More Cities Adopt Coworking Model Due to Cost, Convenience and Efficiency

Advancements in mobile technology and modern personal devices have changed the way people work. Working remotely has become more viable and has enabled both employees and employers to work outside the confines of a traditional office space without compromising work product. This has been a major factor in the development of business models and work set-ups designed to bring out the best in the workforce. In the Philippines, especially in Metro Manila, coworking is becoming more and more popular.

Coworking in the Philippines is a trend popularized by the tech savvy millennial generation, who comprise the bulk of the metropolitan sector. Coworking provides an alternative work environment that is conducive for work- without the rigidity of a traditional office.

The demand for coworking spaces in Metro Manila is increasing from freelancers, entrepreneurs, start-ups, small corporations, IT firms, BPOs, and even multinational corporations.

The benefits of cost, increased productivity and convenience are some of the main reasons why coworking has become a viable option for businesses.

Cost is one of the premier reasons why coworking has become popular. Firms looking for office space but need to conserve money, are becoming more and more aware that coworking spaces do not require long term lease contracts; come equipped with fundamental amenities, furniture and equipment of modern offices; and, are more cost effective than traditional office spaces.

Another major factor for the growing demand in coworking spaces is that it increases productivity. Coworking spaces are designed to foster collaboration, cooperation, innovation, creativity and a spirit of community by exposing people to new business concepts and encouraging the exchange of ideas.

Convenience is also a significant consideration why coworking spaces in the country are in high demand. MNCs that mostly use office spaces as temporary or swing spaces are recognizing that coworking spaces are convenient and provide them with the ability to move in and out of an office space at short notice and avoid complicated contract negotiations, fit out work, and dealings with brokers, landlords, and property managers.

The real estate industry in the Philippines is growing rapidly and coworking spaces have become a significant driver of property demand. In fact, both foreign and local flexible space operators as well as real estate developers have recognized this opportunity and are developing all types of coworking spaces around Metro Manila.

Lobien Realty Group (LRG) says Makati and BGC are currently the preferred locations for establishing coworking sites and have the largest number of coworking spaces because of the heavy concentration of businesses in these areas. Currently, the five companies handling the biggest chunk of the country’s coworking spaces have, more or less, 33 thousand seats on the market. LRG, for one, is currently handling Work Studios located at the Infinity Tower in BGC. With a total of 172 seats, it also boasts of 122 private studios, 3 meeting rooms, 31 dedicated desks, 19 hot desks, 18 breakout areas, and 27 lounges.

And as the trend of coworking gets more and more popular, LRG predicts that the property markets in Quezon City, Ortigas and Alabang will benefit next.

High-Impact Tech Startups Get Boost Rrom INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019

There is no problem too difficult for a plucky startup with a purpose.

Startups have gained increasing recognition for offering solutions to problems, and startups in the Philippines are no exception. Tech startups that are leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning capabilities are also gaining ground, with some setting their sights on regional expansion even in the early years of their inception.

Kumu, a livestream and community platform, which only started last year, has exhibited an explosive 2000% growth rate since it started. The app has been downloaded almost one million times and is currently the only Filipino company to be included in Google Play’s Top 10 grossing social apps. Roland Ros, the company’s co-founder, shared that revenue has been exponentially growing 300% quarter on quarter, as it has found a way to monetize global Filipino millennial and Gen Z users. Hundreds of content creators are now earning part time income on the app as well, with a growing base of full-time creators earning as much as 50,000 pesos a month.

Senti, a data and sentiment analysis platform, started as a one-man university research project that sought to better understand local jargon and dialects. The company has since grown to become one of the most highly-recognized AI and natural language processing companies in the Philippines. Ralph Regalado’s brainchild is now home to half of the country’s Google Developer experts and is helping to create high-value tech jobs in the lucrative AI field in the Philippines. Senti has since expanded to Singapore and Malaysia because of its success.

Another startup that has made a positive impact is Investagrams, a social fintech platform which helps Filipinos invest in the stock market through in-app tutorials, virtual trading, social networking, and other tools designed to make investing in equities more accessible, easy and fun. Only three years old, Investagrams now has over 360,000 users. Investagrams caters not only to seasoned traders and investors but also to regular Filipinos, from millennials to retirees, and even overseas workers seeking to increase the value of their savings. The startup also regularly conducts programs on financial literacy and equities investing that has attracted thousands of participants, with the goal of increasing participation in the stock market among Filipinos (currently at less than 1%) to at least 5% in the next five years. The fintech startup founder and CEO John Christian Bisnar announced that the company is expanding to Singapore.

Kumu, Senti, and Investagrams, along with 12 other startups, are just some of the rising stars in the Filipino startup scene featured in INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019.

“The INQBATION Startup Showcase draws attention to awesome Filipino startups that are creating innovative and scalable solutions for real world problems, and we hope that investors, corporations and partners across the globe will take notice,” said Katrina Chan, Director of QBO. “The startups we featured today grew with QBO and J.P. Morgan through the INQBATION program and are creating tremendous impact. We’re glad to give them the spotlight they deserve and invite more partners to join us in uplifting our burgeoning local startup community.”

The event is organized by QBO Innovation Hub, a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talent, and grow, that was created through the joint effort of the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, IdeaSpace, and J.P. Morgan.

“It was a privilege and a pleasure to help create opportunities for these startups,” said Carlos Ma. G. Mendoza, Senior Country Officer for J.P. Morgan Philippines. “We are proud to have supported this program as it enabled small businesses and positively impacted underserved communities.”

“The vision for this program is for QBO and J.P. Morgan, as well as other partners, to open up more opportunities for startups and founders to grow,” explained Rene “Butch” Meily, President of QBO. “We want to give people who are creating scalable, positive impact through their startups a better shot at success.”

Meily added that by showcasing startups that have the potential to change lives as well as succeed as a business, they hope to get more companies and institutions to realize the value of supporting local startup ecosystem.

Aside from the startups mentioned, the showcase also featured AdMov, Cropital, Pushkart.ph, Exora, Learntalk, OneWatt, Payo, Lexmeet, Streetby, Washub, Container Living, and MAD Travel.

QBO said that it will continue to support startups in different ways including INQBATION, an acceleration program where the country’s most promising but underserved startup founders receive mentorship, training, exposure, resources and other support tailor fit to their needs. The INQBATION program was created in order to help highly promising Filipino tech startup companies scale up, fundraise and become globally competitive-- in the process generating jobs, developing the technology sector and creating impact.

QBO envisions more organizations becoming more involved with Filipino startup companies— whether as mentors, investors, or customers—and being able to help more local startups attain success.

For more information about the INQBATION Startup Showcase 2019, visit https://www.qbo.com.ph/incubation/.


About QBO

QBO (‘ku-bo’) is an innovation hub or a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talent, and grow. It provides startups with support and resources through events and capacity building programs as well as focused interventions designed to improve access to markets, knowledge, capital, and talent. QBO is the country’s first public-private initiative for startups, created through a partnership between IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, Department of Science and Technology, and Department of Trade and Industry.

Spurred on by the vision of Filipinos startups changing the world, QBO’s mission is to create a globally competitive startup ecosystem in the Philippines.

About JPMorgan Chase & Co.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.5 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available atwww.jpmorganchase.com.