Gov’t Opens Startup Pitching Competition for Students

The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is inviting senior high school and college students to participate in its annual startup pitching competition, aiming to nurture entrepreneurship and transform viable, innovative ideas to fruition.

Marvin Manuel, the ICT Industry Development Bureau focal person of DICT Western Visayas, emphasized the importance of entrepreneurship for students, encouraging them to consider a startup journey rather than solely pursuing employment after graduation in a press briefing held in Iloilo City as part of the launch of the National ICT Month celebration,

Manuel emphasized the need to increase public awareness about startups and the process of formulating business ideas through innovation and technology.

The startup pitching competition serves as a platform to achieve this objective and expand the reach of the startup concept.

Applications for this year’s Philippine Startup Challenge at the regional level will be accepted until September, followed by an online pitching competition in October.

The winner will have the opportunity to participate in the national face-to-face pitching competition, which will take place in Panglao, Bohol in November, coinciding with the Philippine Startup Week.

Winners of the competition will have access to mentoring programs and the possibility of exploring other countries to gain insights and seek technologies to enhance their business ideas.

Additionally, eight existing startups from Western Visayas have responded to the call for Startup Grant Funding, with the potential to receive PHP500,000 to PHP1 million in startup funds. Manuel expressed hope that some of them will receive the grant funding.

Ralph Joseph Moncatar, the Director of DICT Western Visayas, emphasized the crucial role of ICT in various social and economic spheres during the monthlong celebration of ICT Month.

The theme for this year’s celebration, “Connecting Communities, Enriching Lives, Forging a Digital Future Philippines,” aims to promote innovation, collaboration, impact, and inclusivity, urging Filipinos to embrace the digital transformation era. (GFB)