Mayor Joy announces 5 finalists for 'StartUp QC' program
Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte announced the five finalists for the “StartUp QC” program at VCP building, Kalayaan Avenue, Quezon City on Thursday, May 11.
The StartUp QC program kicked off last October with 70 applicants.
The program seeks to select businesses that have shown exemplary benefits for the QCitizens.
The winners of the program will receive a financial grant of up to P1 million.
“These finalists stood out among the other applicants because we are looking for viable, sustainable, and socially-responsive startups who can contribute to the development of the city. These five have promising business models which through the help of mentors can be fine-tuned for execution,” Belmonte said.
She said that out of 70 applicants, only five qualified.
After undergoing a rigorous selection and evaluation processes, the finalists are now entitled for coaching and mentoring classes.
The mayor introduced the finalists to the partners and mentors who will guide them throughout the learning sessions.
They are set to present their final business pitches on “Demo Day” in August.
“Through the Startup QC Program, our goal is to inspire these entrepreneurs to develop their promising innovative ideas, refine their business models and find solutions that aim to solve the pressing challenges of the city and hopefully enable these startups to compete on a global stage,” Local Economic Investment Promotions Office head Jay Gatmaitan said.
The list of finalists includes Bamboo Impact Lab which provides high-quality of bamboo-made products; EdukSine Production Corporation, a website and mobile application giving users access to educational and socially relevant films; and ITOOH E-Furniture and Design Inc., which is the Philippine’s first “tech-enabled” marketplace for quality home and office furnishings.
Also included are the Indigo Artificial Intelligence Research Inc. which provides general services in artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities such as a multilanguage engine that can understand various languages; and Wika, a mobile application that seems to aid hearing and visual disabilities.
“We remained true to our mission and vision to make Quezon City the preferred business destination and make it a business-friendly city that has an environment for sustainable development and inclusive growth,” QC Vice Mayor Gian Sotto said.