The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has equipped 20 visionary startups in Negros Occidental to scale their ventures and create lasting economic impact through the 2026 Moonshot TNK–ASPIRE Startup Bootcamp.
The participants went through seven modules for a week, with the final day focusing on pitching, networking, and expert mentorship.
DTI-Negros Occidental provincial director Lynna Joy Cardinal said the ASPIRE Bootcamp is designed to empower early-stage startups with tools, mentorship, and network needed to scale.
“This initiative was made possible through collective commitment and collaboration. We look forward to seeing our ASPIRE startups take flights and share the future for our local economy,” she added.
During the demonstration day on Sept. 21, the startups pitched their groundbreaking ideas, solutions, and business models to a panel of expert judges and mentors, which chose three standouts for their exceptional innovation and market potential.
EcoPET was awarded Best Standard Presentation for its eco-friendly innovation that recycles waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles into useful three dimensional (3D)-printed products, promoting plastic waste reduction and sustainable manufacturing.
Jackk’s Petssentials was recognized for Most Innovative Solution with its pet care startup creating affordable, convenient, and sustainable grooming solutions that improve pet care while reducing plastic waste.
The Best Market Potential went to EggSort, a smart automated egg-sorting system that classifies eggs based on their size and quality, improving sorting speed and consistency.
The participating startups were introduced to focusing on startup identity, founder leadership, and ecosystem orientation.
The rest of the modules covered startup validation, customer-centric innovation, digital transformation and artificial intelligence readiness, finance and investment readiness, intellectual property and legal readiness, and commercialization. ||
