Startup Ecosystem Mapping 2020

METRO
MANILA

A Developed by
IVE
ITIAT
IN
ABOUT

On January 22, 2021, QBO Innovation Hub, in partnership with the

Department of Trade and Industry, appealed to relevant startup
stakeholders to meet in order to map out the Startup Ecosystem in the City.
During this session, stakeholders and their individual initiatives were
identified as well as the gaps and challenges both experienced by the
startups and the startup enablers.

The session was attended by representatives from the academe,

government, community builders, and startup founders. Their contribution
was invaluable in generating the information in this document.

The goals of the session were the following:

• To identify and map the existing support available to
startups in Metro Manila

• To highlight, promote, and encourage collaboration

among the stakeholders in Metro Manila

• To discuss the pain points experienced by startup

founders and identify initiatives that startup enablers
can work on to reduce these

In this document, you will find:

• The Ecosystem Canvas created by the attendees

• The initiatives the different stakeholders committed to

achieve in 2021-2022

1
STARTUP ECOSYSTEM CANVAS

The methodology used to create the startup ecosystem canvas was

developed by Startup Communities and refined by Founder Institute. This
framework has been used to assess the maturity of startup ecosystems
across hundreds of cities around the world.

The Founder’s Institute Methodology allowed us to:

• Benchmark Metro Manila with hundreds of

cities from around the world

• Identify the support areas that lack initiatives

• Save time for startup founders as all necessary

resources can be found in a single document

Below are the results obtained based on the contributions of the attendees.
To better understand the mapping, it is important to keep the following in
mind:

• Each resource or initiative is only listed once

Upon deciding an appropriate category for a

resource, the earliest category or startup
phase the resource primary serves was chosen

The resources or initiatives are presented in

this format: Name of the Initiative, Name of the
Organization/s that owns it/organizes it. This
format is followed unless the name of the
organization that owns the resource/organizes
the initiative includes its name in the Name of
the Resource / Initiative

• The resources or initiatives are in alphabetical order

• The resources highlighted in purple specifically cater to

women founders

2
 METRO MANILA

IDEA STAGE
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best
practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build
their team and product.

Inspire Educate Validate

Startup Media Best Practices Team Foundation
Centralized local information, Beginner knowledge-sharing Resources and events for
listings, blogs and news events teaming up

1. 1MEntrepinoys FB Group, 1. BASIQS, QBO Innovation Hub 1. DOST TBI Program

Draper Startup House
2. Connected Women X 2. Startup PH: Jobs, FB Group
2. Adobotech #SheMeansBusiness
3. Startup Weekend Manila
3. BeFast.TV 3. Design Thinking and UX
Training, On-Off Group 4. Startup Weekend Manila:
4. Bounce Back PH Women Edition
4. DEVCON Code Camps
5. Connected Women Magazine
5. DevFest Philippines,Google
6. DOSTv Developer Groups Philippines Build First Product
7. e27 6. Draper University Fundamentals Hackathons & resources to
of Entrepreneurship Program build an MVP
8. Hustleshare, PodCast Network
Asia 7. Energy Entrepreneurship 101,
1. ADB-AIM Hackathon
New Energy Nexus Philippines
9. Newsbytes.PH
2. Alpha Startups Pre-Accelerator
8. Engage, Startup Village
Program, 1337 Ventures
10. She Talks Asia
9. Fast Talk, DOST PCIEERD
3. Angel Hack Manila
11. Spark Central, Spark Project
10. Garage Cinema, Launchgarage
Animo Labs Fab Lab, De La Salle
12. Spark Conversations, The Spark
4. University Laguna Campus
Project 11. Grit & Grind, IdeaSpace Learning
Sessions
5. BOOTQAMP, QBO Innovation
13. SparkUp, BusinessWorld
Hub
12. School of Agility Grit &
14. SpringPH, PSIA Entrepreneurship, SAGE
6. Devcon Community of
Technology Experts (DCTx)
15. Startup Digest 13. Spark Fest, The Spark Project
7. DEVCON Innovation Challenge:
16. Startup PH, FB Group 14. Sparkability Webinars, The Spark
Hack a Tax
Project
17. Tech in Asia
8. DICT-Youthhack Startup
15. Startup PH: Training, FB Group
Challenge
18. TechBlade PH
16. Mover’s Program, Youth Collab
9. HackSociety, Rappler
19. TechShake
17. Village Talks, Startup Village
10. Holochain Hackathon PH,
Launchgarage, ProudCloud and
18. WORQSHOP, QBO Innovation
Alpha Omega Capital
Hub
Inspirational Events 11. Impact Hackathon, Impact Hub
Open, inclusive beginner
events 12. Philippine Startup Challenge,
Training and Feedback Department of Information and
Communications Technology
1. ASPACE Talks Skill & idea development
programs 13. PLDT Innolab
2. Connected Women #Meetups
1. Animo Learning Series, Animo 14. Ready, Spark, Charge - Clean
3. Connex Energy Meetup, New Energy Hackathon, New Energy
Energy Nexus Philippines Labs
Nexus Philippines
4. DEVCON Summit 2. Co-incubation Programs,
Department of Science and 15. Sense Fiction, MakeSense
5. FuckUp Nights Manila Technology
16. Tech Planter Demo Day, Leave a
3. Code Camp and Campus Nest
6. Go Negosyo Summit
Devcon, DEVCON
17. Urban Innovation
7. Ignite PH Pre-Accelerator, Utopia Manila
4. e27 Academy
8. NYTE Talks, Draper Startup 18. Women Who Code
House Manila 5. Energy Startup Bootcamp, New
Energy Nexus Philippines
19. Youth Co:Lab's Youth Social
9. PB Launchpad, Penbrothers Innovation Lab
6. FEEDBAQ, QBO Innovation Hub

(Continued on next page) (Continued on next page)

Female-centric initiatives 3
 METRO MANILA

IDEA STAGE
This is where new entrepreneurs get inspired, learn best
practices, develop skills, validate ideas, and begin to build
their team and product.

Inspire Educate
(Continued from previous page) (Continued from previous page)

Inspirational Events Training and Feedback

Open, inclusive beginner Skill & idea development
events programs

10. Philippine Startup Week 7. Founders Institute Manila

11. QLITAN, QBO Innovation Hub 8. FTW Foundation

12. Raid the Fridge, Kickstart 9. Garage Academy, Launchgarage

13. Sensenight, MakeSense 10. Ignition-DOST Workshop Series

14. Talk Impact, Villgro Philippines 11. The Knowledge and Technology
Transfer Office (KTTO)-IMPACT
15. TechShake Talks Training Program - DOST RITTD,
USAID STRIDE
16. Basics of Blockchain, Acceler8 by
UnionSPACE 12. Leaders in Innovation Fellowship
(LIF) Program - AIM, DOST, Royal
17. Women Who Code Conference Academy of Engineering,
Newton Agham
18. Youth Co:Lab's Youth Social
Innovation Lab 13. Master of Technology
Management, UP Diliman

14. MSIB Program, AIM

15. Preparing Researchers as

Entrepreneurs Program (PREP),
RITTD

16. QONSULTATION, QBO

Innovation Hub

17. Sparkability Level-Up Program,

The Spark Project

18. Technopreneurship Workshop,

UP Enterprise

19. The Gift, Startup Village

20. Workshops & Mentoring, Manila

Angel Investors Network
(women-led startups)

21. Youth Co:Lab Springboard

Programme, UXPH

Female-centric initiatives 4
 METRO MANILA

LAUNCH STAGE
In this stage, entrepreneurs establish and formalize the
company, develop the product, get feedback from
customers, and prepare for the next step.

Start Develop Launch

Establish Formalize Seed Accelerators
Law firms & banks for Accounting, Dev & HR Seed funding mentor
startups programs
1. Cynder
1. Disini Buted Disini (Disini Law 1. Globe Future Makers, Globe
Office) 2. DevCon Telecom

2. Gorriceta Africa Cauton & 3. Kalibrr 2. IdeaSpace Foundation

Saavedra
4. Salarium 3. ISIP, Phildev Foundation
3. Ignition Venture Studios
5. Taxumo 4. Shell Livewire Philippines
4. MOSVELDTT LAW
6. Workbean 5. Utopia Manila Venture Studio
5. Pinoy IP Works
7. Worky.ph
6. SyCip Salazar Hernandez &
Gatmaitan
Pitch & Demo
Show startups for seed
Prepare for Seed
investment
Workspace Incubators & advanced
Co-working and flexible mentorship 1. Annual Investment Meeting
workspaces
1. AdUNEST, Adamson University 2. Ignite PH: Wildfire
1. A-Space 3. K-Startup Grand Challenge
2. AIM-Dado Banatao Incubator
2. Acceler8 4. LINC Program, DOST PCIEERD
3. AnimoLabs, De La Salle
3. Asian Institute of the Philippines University
5. Pitch Perfect, Draper Startup
(AIM) House
4. Brainsparks
4. BitSpace 6. SEEDSTARS World Cup
5. Draper Startup House
5. Common Ground Work 7. She Loves Tech
6. Founders Institute Manila
6. Draper Startup House 8. Startup Challenge,ARISE
7. Impact Hub Manila
7. Ignition Venture Studios 9. Startup Village Pitching
8. INQBATION, QBO Innovation
8. Impact Hub Manila Hub
10. Startup World Cup PH
9. Marker Space 9. Launchgarage
11. The Spark Project
10. PenBrothers 10. Miriam TBI

11. Co-Working Space, QBO 11. New Energy Nexus Philippines

Innovation Hub
12. Startup Village
12. Unionbank Ark
13. TomasInno Lab, UST
13. WeWork Manila
14. UPSCALE Innovation Hub

15. Utopia Manila

16. Villgro Philippines

Female-centric initiatives 5
 METRO MANILA

GROWTH
Here, a startup proves their utility, receives recognition,
and scales up. This usually requires funding, angels, VCs,
and ways to connect them to startups.

Recognition Funding Growth

Investor Networking Angels / Micro-VCs Infrastructure
Connecting founders to Seed-stage investors Office space, HR, insurance
professional investors etc.
1. 917 Ventures
1. Department of Trade and 1. KMC Solutions
Industry - Competitive and 2. Ficus Venture Capital
Innovation Group 2. Ignition Venture Studios
3. Manila Angel Investors Network
2. IGNITE PH: Match (MAIN)
3. Slingshot, DTI-EMB

4. The Final Pitch, CNN Philippines Expansion

Venture Capitalists Growth Accelerators /
Series A and beyond investors Consultants

1. Connected Women
1. Aboitiz Equity
Major Media
2. DTI SMART Link
Mainstream local business 2. ADB Ventures
press 3. DTI Startup AID
3. Asian Cable Communications
Inc. (ACCION PH)
1. ANC
4. Cocoon Capital
2. Business Mirror
5. Draper University Ventures
3. DZMM Teleradyo
6. First Asia Venture Capital
4. Inquirer
7. Foxmont Capital
5. Manila Bulletin
8. Gentree Fund
6. Manila Standard
9. GOBI-CORE Capital
7. Manila Times
10. Integra Fund
8. Philippine Star
11. JG Digital Equity Ventures
9. Rappler
12. Kickstart Ventures
10. SparkUp, Business World
13. Next Billion Ventures

14. Patamar Capital

15. Plug and Play

16. Wavemaker VC

Female-centric initiatives 6
 Evangelists Government Talent
1. Aldrich Tan 1. Commission on Higher 1. Ateneo de Manila University
2. Artie Lopez Education (CHED) (ADMU)
3. Brenda Valerio 2. Department of Agriculture 2. Asian Institute of Management
4. Brittany Aguilar (AIM)
5. Butch Meily Department of Information and
3. Communications (DICT) 3. AVION School
6. Carlo Yaptinchay
7. Carlo Calimon 4. Department of Science and 4. De La Salle University (DLSU)
8. Carlo Valencia Technology (DOST)
5. DevCon
9. Christopher Star 5. Department of Trade and
10. Cristian Munoz Industry (DTI) 6. Enderun University
11. Dara Ever Juan
7. Far Eastern University (FEU)
12. Dave Del Rosario
13. Diane Eustaquio 8. MAPUA University
14. Edward Paul Apigo
9. Polytechnic University of the
15. Eunice Beatrice Braga
Philippines(PUP)
16. Francis Plaza
17. Francis Simisim 10. Technological Institute of the
18. Gina Romero Philippines (TIP)
19. Goldy Yancha 11. University of the Philippines (UP)
20. Jackie Isip
21. James Lette 12. University of Santo Tomas (UST)
22. Jay Fajardo 13. UXPH
23. Jhaze Asuncion
24. Johanna Erroba 14. UX+ University
25. Jojo Flores
26. Jojy Azurin
27. Joseph De Leon
28. Karla Legaspi
29. Katrina Chan
30. Manny Ayala
31. Margaux Javier
32. Minette Navarrete
33. Natasha Bautista
34. Patrick Dulay
35. Patrick Lynch
36. Paul Pajo
37. Pia Bernal
38. Prim Paypon
39. Priya Thachadi
40. Ron Baetiong
41. Rosstyn Fallorina
42. Russell Pili
43. Sebastian Gerona
44. Thea Trillanes
45. Toby Floro
46. Winston Damarillo
47. Zack Ching

METRO MANILA

SUCCESS STORIES
Successful homegrown companies that have raised
significant institutional funding, employ a large workforce,
or have achieved liquidity.

1. Ayannah 6. Edusuite 11. Kumu 16. QWIKWIRE

2. ChatbotPH 7. Expedock 12. Lenddo 17. Salarium
3. Coins.ph 8. FAME Inc. 13. PayMongo 18. Senti AI
4. DragonPay 9. First Circle 14. Payruler 19. Sulit.com.ph
5. Edukasyon.ph 10. Kalibrr 15. Podcast Network Asia 20. Xurpas

7
 ACTION ITEMS FOR 2021-2022

After reviewing the Startup Ecosystem Canvas, the participants of the session came
up with different initiatives to improve the support that startups in Manila have. The
proposed projects can be seen below:

PERSON-IN-
INITIATIVE ACTION ITEMS
CHARGE

Scale QBO’s BASIQS - Review and compare curriculum of Draper Startup House
QBO’s BASIQs and Draper Startup QBO Innovation Hub
House’s Fundamentals of TBIs
Entrepreneurship course to see Universities
possible revamping of modules UNDP
DTI-BSMED
- Co-partner with UNDP’s Youth Collab
to expand reach to include more youth
participants and marginalized groups in
the country

“Genius Bar” for Startup Bill - Create newsletters or infographics on QBO Innovation HUb
startup laws and policies DTI
DICT
DOST

Metro Manila Mentor Pool - Open call for applications for mentors QBO Innovation HUb
residing in Manila

- Create updated masterlists

- Create clear qualifiers for eligible

applicants

Connecting Student - Form partnership with universities to School officials

Developers to Startup mandate on-the-job trainings with TBI Managers
startups companies UPSCALE
Founders ANIMO Labs
- Create a MOU between startups and Ateneo IPO
TBI’s to credit internships SLU
BUP
- Check ICT Council to partner for a pool UC
of developers Talino Labs/DevCon
QBO Innovation Hub
Cynder
Startup Village

8
ACTION ITEMS FOR 2021-2022

PERSON-IN-
INITIATIVE ACTION ITEMS
CHARGE

Centralized Program / - Create campaigns similar to the QBO Innovation Hub

Campaign that promotes Department of Tourism's “It’s more fun Government initiated
in the Philippines” about the startup tech/innovation agency
entrepreneurial mindset / ecosystem in order to increase Draper Startup House
promotion of startups awareness and promote pride in Brainsparks
Filipino talent UP

- Create media similar to the Startup

Kdrama series to educate and celebrate
technopreneurship in the Philippines

- Help push for the full implementation

of the Philippine Startup Act to provide
support (monetary and non-monetary)
to startups

- Government should highlight more

success stories of startup founders

- Involve the startup community in

strategy-making decisions

9
CONCLUSIONS

Given the information collected from the Mapping session, it is possible to assert that the Metro
Manila Startup Ecosystem can be classified as a Accelerating Ecosystem according to the
Startup Community Maturity Model. The Startup Community Maturity Model is an international
framework that combines The 5 Vector of Startup Communities1 with the 7 Stages of Startup
Communities2 and classifies the different startup ecosystems in 7 levels of development (Nascent,
Foundational, Accelerating, Established, High Functioning, Progressive and Aspirational) based
on five variables those being Density, Culture, Capital, Talent and Regulatory Environment.

In order to move to the next stage, some of the developments that need to happen are:

• Create a density center or cluster: these are housing, services, spaces that can
contribute to increasing the collaboration among the startups as well as their
productivity. It is also highly encouraged to collaborate with corporate organizations
and encourage them to provide spaces for startups as well.

• Continuously strengthen collaboration with corporations by engaging them to

regularly sponsor and get involved in startup programs. Recruiting from the startup
community also implies that there is an understanding from corporations on the value
that startups have and lowers the risk for potential founders to start up.

• Pursue verticalization or specialization of support programs. There are several

incubators/accelerators that support startups based in Manila, in the mapping session,
over a dozen were identified. However, most of them are industry-agnostic and don’t
target any specific industry. In order to move the Ecosystem forward, the ecosystem
should set up support programs that specialize in different industries (FinTech,
HealthTech, PropTech etc.).

• Strengthen engagement with universities to produce high skilled talents.

Ecosystem players should continuously engage with the academe to help produce high
skilled talents and enable the creation of more startups.

• Encourage local officials to take part in the conversation about the startup
ecosystem. Aside from the national laws that address the concerns of the startup
community, it is recommended for the community to encourage local officials to take
part in the conversation on how to strengthen the ecosystem and support more
startups in the local scene.

• Engage entrepreneurs in shaping the regulatory environment for the startup

ecosystem Examples in which this can happen is through the creation of an Advisory
Board for some government agencies or hiring an entrepreneur as an innovation
consultant to aid in decision making that will contribute to the development of the
innovation and startup ecosystem.

• Encourage local policy makers to draft and support policies supporting startups,
particularly the Innovative Startup Act, investor-friendly policies, tax breaks and
incentives, and social support programs related to education, healthcare, and social
security, to build a stable and sustainable talent and capital pipeline for the Philippine
startup ecosystem.

https://www.techstars.com/content/community/white-paper-announcing-5-ingredients-fostering-thriving-startup-ecosystem/
1

https://startupangels.com/7-stages-startup-ecosystems/
2

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