In support of women technopreneurs, Miriam College (MC) continues to partner with various organizations to help them develop their start-up ideas and convert these into viable products or services.
As early as September 2019, Miriam College has established the MC-Technology Business Incubator (MC-TBI) to provide an ecosystem of support in technology and innovation management, especially for women entrepreneurs and women-led startups in the areas of education, job search, food, and well-being technology.
In particular, the program called “The Nursery" will help facilitate the development of startup ventures in their early-stages.
Incubatees will get full support for six months through capacity-building activities, mentoring, networking events, and, legalization and funding as they transition their business ideas into a minimum viable product.
The program is in partnership with the DOST-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology, Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD).
Continued support Last June 28, MC also collaborated with the DOST-National Capital Region (NCR) and launched the Partners in Innovating Resilient Start-ups or “PaIRS” program.
Coinciding with the launch was a virtual Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) signing ceremony attended by Miriam College President Laura Quiambao-Del Rosario and DOST-NCR Regional Director Jose Patalinjug II.
The PaIRS program is in support of the 2019 Innovative Startup Act that aims to strengthen, promote, and develop an innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem and culture in the Philippines.
“We are happy to be working with DOST on this program and we are ready to provide other resources, if needed, because we know that innovation and entrepreneurship are the way to economic development,” Quiambao-Del Rosari said.
The MC-TBI is housed under the Miriam College-Henry Sy, Sr. Innovation Center which will provide the programs and services for the incubatees as they develop their start-ups.
Meanwhile, Patalinjug noted that more than commending the technopreneurs’ courage, vision, and hope to help the country, “we need to address the risks and uncertainties that come with starting a business.”
Given this, Patalinjug recognized the “ingenuity of Miriam College as it established a technology business incubator in Metro Manila to host and support our tech start-ups, and serve as springboard to jumpstart their businesses.”
To date, among the successful women-led start-ups supported by MC-TBI include the “Raketeer” which is an an online platform that connects out-of-school youth and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) with freelancers to enhance job offers/orders and transactions.
The “Puldiya,” on the other hand, is an initiative that gives Indigenous Youths sustainable job opportunities in Baguio City and nearby municipalities while the “MATHayog” is an AI-driven learning platform that determines the learning gaps in students’ math skills and provides lessons and sound practices to help them improve their skills in the subject.
For its part, DOST-NCR will serve as an advisor in the Innovation Advisory Council for Entrepreneurs, work with MC-TBI in co-developing programs and projects, and provide access to existing services for start-up and entrepreneurs.
With an ecosystem in place plus full government support through DOST, Miriam College hoped that promising start-ups will “overcome common roadblocks” in research and development, intellectual property rights registration, and benefits and incentives access, giving them opportunities for travel grants, start-up venture funds, exchange programs, and training and workshop.
The MC-TBI is now opening the call for applications for "The Nursery" Incubation Program Cohort 3.
The deadline of submission is August 1, 2021.
More details are available on its FB page @miriamcollegetbi or by sending an to email [email protected]