The Quezon City Government in the Philippines has awarded Php 6 million in equity-free grants to six local tech startups under the Startup QC Program. The program, the first and largest local government unit-run in the country, aims to support and empower homegrown innovators in creating impactful solutions across various sectors. The finalists, tackling issues in creative industries, youth empowerment, education, disaster risk reduction, sustainability, finance, and information technology, exceeded expectations.
From an initial pool of 58 applicants, the final awardees were selected after a rigorous selection process, underwent group mentorship, and product development workshops, and received needs-based coaching with industry practitioners.
One standout finalist is Nyha Robotics, a promising team that first made waves as awardees in the recently launched Startup QC Student Competition. While a newer entrant, Nyha stood alongside seasoned entrepreneurs and experts in hopes of advancing their cause to make robotics education more accessible to children.
Other notable startups from this cohort include Callback, which aims to professionalize the casting process for cultural workers, and Kwentoon, a startup that seeks to enhance youth literacy and promote Filipino contemporary arts through storytelling digital platforms.
Another set of groundbreaking startups include LITHOS Manufacturing, Pasajob, and RevUp Finance, each driving innovation in their respective fields. LITHOS tackles climate resilience with a compact, portable water filtration system that provides safe drinking water to remote or disaster-affected areas. Pasajob, branded in GCash as GJobs, accelerates job placements through a referral-based system that rewards users with referral fees.
Meanwhile, RevUp Finance revolutionizes SME financial operations by cutting invoicing and payment processing times by 80%. These startups exemplify the diverse range of solutions emerging from the StartUp QC program.
The Demo Day marked the culmination of an intense and inspiring journey, where these startups once again presented their business pitches. “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.”
This year, the Program gained positive recognition, both locally and internationally, as a trailblazing initiative that nurtures tech innovation catching the attention of policymakers worldwide through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) Youth Co:Lab. Representatives from various countries visited the Philippines to document Startup QC’s success for potential replication.
With the success of the Program, the city is exploring the creation of a startup incentives program to encourage more Filipinos and QCitizens to engage in entrepreneurship and technology development.
Further, the QC Government continues to work alongside key partners such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and tech-innovation incubators and hub – Launchgarage, whose invaluable guidance has contributed to the program’s growth.
“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.”
As Quezon City celebrates its 85th founding anniversary, the Startup QC Program demonstrates the local government’s commitment to play an active and impactful role in shaping the future of Filipino entrepreneurship and innovation.
