The Department of Information and Communications Technology, through the ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB), sets off three (3) regional acceleration projects in Regions 4A, 6, and 10. The Startup-tailored Empowerment and People-focused Upskilling Project (STEP UP) takes off for CALABARZON, Western Visayas, and Northern Mindanao, scouting 33 local startups to undergo the short-term, extensive, and rapid immersive mentorship project this year.

DICT Conducts Back-to-back Startup Workshop Series for Northern Mindanao STEP UP Mentees

Twelve local startups – Sci-App, POLLD, ResqCollision, Kape Lumad, FARMY, Nano-Filter, AGOS, Axcel, ATLAS, SIRENA AI, Plantbox Innovation, and Paw Tah – underwent a series of pre-launch workshops initiating the regional acceleration project or STEP UP.

United in achieving a nationwide digital transformation through countryside development and startup empowerment, STEP UP Northern Mindanao was organized by the DICT, through its IIDB and Regional Office, in partnership with renowned local technology incubators UPGRADE Innolab Inc, CDO Bites, and iDEYA

Distinguished startup enablers and representatives were present during the 2-day pre-launch sessions, including Syntactics and the CDO ICT Business Council, at the University of Science and Technology of Southern Philippines in Cagayan de Oro, from October 25 to 26, 2023. After continuous mentorship roadshows since October, STEP UP Northern Mindanao mentees will undergo extensive and needs-based
coaching sessions until March 2024.

DICT’s STEP UP Takes Off with Promise and Potential in CALABARZON

The DICT launched its second iteration for this year’s STEP UP in CALABARZON. The ICT Industry Development Bureau through the DICT Regional Office and community partners made the much-awaited launch possible.

This initiative for the region aims to further enhance and upskill local startups in their early stages, as it aims to develop their Minimum Viable Products after the extensive mentorship period. The following selected startups are the STEP UP CALABARZON’s cohort: SariSiklab, MS Team, Care4Juan, Juan D’ Job, PBB TEAM, Gawa, GoLD: Guild of Lycean Developers, 3ANJ, Makiling Ventures and IMIS.

The launch of STEP UP in Region 4A has been met with enthusiasm and anticipation. Local innovators and startup hustlers in the region are excited about the prospect of a more empowered startup ecosystem.

Distinguished startup enablers and representatives were present during the launch, including local industry partners from the Center for Technopreneurship and Innovation (CTI) – Batangas State University – The National Engineering University, DOST CALABARZON and DOST Cavite, DTI CALABARZON and ICONS South Luzon last November 8, 2023.

STEP UP CALABARZON will cover the mentorship and learning sessions equivalent to a 6-month program in a compressed schedule, from October to December 2023.

STEP UP Western Visayas gears 11 local startups for MVP development

Completing the successful launches of the DICT STEP UP, the IIDB through its Region 6 Office, successfully conducted its Day 0 Pitching Session and Ceremonial Launch last November 10, 2023, in the Spring Valley Headquarters at Bago City, Negros Occidental.

Pledging their commitment to the six-month acceleration project, the 11 local startups – Decrow Software Solutions, Golden Travel, UniHub, Kabaro App, EDUKILA, iTeach Development, Fabricated DiGiLP, MyTutor Learning Hub, RoLab Technologies Corp., Agriconnect, Look4Tech pitched their digital products and solutions during the event. The pitching panel comprised of Spring Valley and Philippine Software Industry Association President Jonathan De Luzuriaga, DTI Negros Occidental Office Trade and Industry Development Specialist Mr. Kenneth Villarosa, TUP- Visayas HIVE Project Leader Mr. Jovel Young, DOST Negros Occidental Office Provincial Director Engr. Allan Francis Dara-ug, DICT Region 6 Director Ralph Moncatar, and IIDB Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program Lead Shaz Lagarto.

The startup teams will undergo their first acceleration session on December 4, 2023, through the mentorship of Spring Valley in its office headquarters. STEP UP is one of the components under the Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program, the DICT’s flagship program for the Philippine Startup Ecosystem. The initiative reflects the goals of the Philippine Startup Development Program, as mandated by the Republic Act 11337, otherwise known as the Innovative Startup Act.