QC gov’t to launch competition for startup businesses, young innovators

Mayor Joy Belmonte with small scale entrepreneurs who received financial assistance

MANILA, Philippines — In its bid to strengthen, promote and develop the city’s startup business ecosystem, the Quezon City government will be launching a program giving financial grants to qualified startup entrepreneurs.

The Startup QC Program is aligned with Mayor Joy Belmonte’s 14-point agenda which aims to provide a conducive environment for businesses and startups and encourage the creation of ingenious products, systems, and processes.

“The goal is to create business hubs that will inspire and empower QCitizens to create innovative business models that can help provide solutions to social issues or concerns. Through this program, we are encouraging entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to be part of the greater mission of improving our society,” Belmonte said.

Belmonte said that the city government is aiming to fund innovative startup ventures that are still at their early stages but have promising and viable products for execution.

“Through this multi-million peso initiative to catalyze QC innovation, we will enable young startup ventures to thrive in the city, develop a QC business startup ecosystem and make Quezon City the Startup Capital of the Philippines,” she added.

The Startup QC Program is open to students and non-students alike. The program is composed of 3 phases: the evaluation phase, business development phase, and product development phase, all with curated activities to improve, mentor, and finalize business models from conceptualization to execution.

In the business and product development phases, beneficiaries will be immersed in training, mentorship, and networking activities facilitated by the QC Government.

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