Around 90 aspiring technology entrepreneurs from across the Visayas gathered during the two-day Startup Grant Fund (SGF) BootStart-Visayas Leg organized by the Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
Held on July 1 and 2 at Park Inn by Radisson Bacolod and the SMX Convention Center Bacolod, the bootcamp aimed to strengthen the participants’ ability to turn innovative ideas into fundable ventures.
Those who attended were startup founders, innovators, researchers, faculty members, and startup ecosystem enablers from across the Visayas.
Participants came from Metro Manila, Samar, Cebu, and other emerging startup communities, along with representatives from state universities and colleges and higher education institutions, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing in advancing technology-based entrepreneurship.
They underwent intensive writeshops, expert mentoring, collaborative learning sessions, and discussions with successful startup founders aimed at helping them develop stronger proposals for the SGF.
The activities were designed to enhance their entrepreneurial competencies and improve their readiness to secure government funding.
DOST-PCIEERD said the initiative forms part of its continuing commitment to provide technical assistance and proposal development support for startups, enabling them to accelerate the commercialization of research- and technology-based innovations.
Among the participating startups were incubatees from the sixth cohort of the DOST-Technological University of the Philippines HIVE Technology Business Incubator, including Prescripsure, Binhing Mangkasasanon Learning and Development Center, Trioxide Chemical Engineering Services, Acrosys, Luntian, Embrei, and other emerging technology ventures.
Their participation reflects the growing pipeline of innovation-driven enterprises being nurtured in the Visayas and underscores the increasing strength of the region’s startup ecosystem.
Building Unified Growth through Linkages, Acceleration, and Synergy for Negros Island Region (Buglas-NIR) is a multi-agency consortium spearheaded by the DOST.
It serves as an innovation ecosystem dedicated to supporting startups, creative industries, and technological talent in the Negros Island Region.
Participating startups are expected to move forward with stronger grant proposals, enhanced entrepreneurial skills, and greater confidence in developing innovation-driven solutions that address real-world challenges. ||
