In a move to transform the city into a cradle of innovation, the Quezon City Government has awarded P1 million in startup grants to finalists under the inaugural cohort of StartUp QC on Friday, 11 August 2023.
Empowering Local Entrepreneurs
Launched in October 2022, StartUp QC is a pioneering initiative led by the Quezon City Government. It aims to nurture early-stage startups by offering a wealth of resources, including training, mentoring sessions, industry exposure, and networking events. This initiative is an extension of the city’s commitment to empowering local entrepreneurs, particularly those at the grassroots level, to leverage technology for community development.
Diverse and Inclusive Finalists
The five finalists are:
- Bamboo Impact Lab, a company dedicated to producing high-quality, sustainable bamboo-derived products
- EdukSine Production Corporation, an online platform offering socially relevant, Filipino independent films
- ITOOH Homestyle, the first tech-enabled marketplace for quality-vetted home and office furniture, crafted predominantly by local artisans
- Indigo Artificial Intelligence Research Inc., a collaboration between engineers and professors that aims to develop multilingual AI engines attuned to local languages and dialects,
- and Wika, an accessibility service provider offering tech-enabled solutions like sign language, captions, and audio descriptions for the deaf and visually impaired
Partnerships for Progress
Throughout StartUp QC, these companies have benefited from extensive business and technical training. This was made possible through partnerships with the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Quezon City University (QCU), Ateneo De Manila University (ADMU), Miriam College (MC), Thames International, Technological Institute of the Philippines, University of the Philippines, Diliman (UPD), and Launchgarage.
A Vision for Inclusive Growth
“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,” said QC Mayor Joy Belmonte, emphasizing the critical role of local governments in fostering an inclusive environment that promotes growth and progress for all types of businesses. “Such endeavors would eventually generate jobs, push the economy to its maximum potential, and help every citizen live the life they aspire to have.”
A Call to Aspiring Entrepreneurs
In a demonstration of its sustained commitment to nurturing startups, the Quezon City Government is inviting aspiring entrepreneurs to apply for the second round of the StartUp QC Program. Additionally, it is encouraging talented students to participate in the StartUp QC Student Business Plan Competition.
For more details, visit the official StartUp QC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/startupquezoncity or contact the StartUp QC Team via email at [email protected].