Filipino creatives received a boost in support and mentorship as Go Negosyo launched its first-ever Creative Entrepreneurship Summit on Saturday, May 31, bringing together industry leaders, advocates, and aspiring entrepreneurs in one event aimed at turning artistic passion into profitable ventures.
Go Negosyo hosts first entrepreneurship summit for creatives
Published May 31, 2025 03:53 pm
At A Glance
- Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion emphasized that mentorship and access to practical tools are essential in building sustainable creative businesses.
BUILDING A CREATIVE ECONOMY — Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion and Department of Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque rally Filipino creatives to persevere and hone their entrepreneurship skills in the country’s first Creative Entrepreneurship Summit, on May 31, at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay in Parañaque City. With them are Sec. Dante “Klink” Ang II of the Commission on Filipinos Overseas; Hon. Christopher “Toff” V.P. De Venecia, Chairman of the Special Committee on Creative Industries, House of Representatives; Parañaque City Mayor Eric L. Olivarez; Engr. Lilian Salonga, Director IV of the DTI’s Bureau of Competitive Development; Kaye Tinga, President of the Cultural Center of The Philippines; Marla D. Rausch, President of Sikap - Creative Content Creators Association of the Philippines, Inc.; Junie Del Mundo, Chairman & CEO of Eon Inc.; Womenbiz President Rhoda Caliwara, and officers of the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry – Parañaque. The event honored 11 Filipino Creative Icons/Entrepreneurs, including Ramon Orlina, Wawi Navarroza, Kenneth Cobonpue, Liwayway Magazine (represented by Sonny Coloma), Julie Lluch (represented by Sari Dalena), BBDO Guerrero (represented by Alexandra Guerrero), Brillante Mendoza (represented by Krisma Fajardo); and (not in photo) Kenneth Cobonpue, Apo Whang-Od, Ricky Lee, and Michael Cinco.
Speaking during the event at the Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Go Negosyo founder Joey Concepcion emphasized that mentorship and access to practical tools are essential in building sustainable creative businesses.
"For Filipino creatives to thrive and continue pursuing their path, they need to be empowered through entrepreneurship,” he said.
"By providing access to mentorship and through knowledge-sharing sessions that can help them transform creative ideas into viable business ventures, we can pave the way for the Philippines to realize its aspirations of becoming a leading economy in the region,” he added.
The event gathered actors Iza Calzado and Dingdong Dantes, president and chairman of Aktor PH, respectively, along with established professionals who spoke on transforming creative work into livelihood and legacy.
Plenary sessions, forums, and one-on-one mentoring sessions allowed participants to gain feedback and insights from experienced industry figures.
In a statement, Go Negosyo said this summit was part of its effort to spotlight the creative economy—a growing sector with vast potential for job generation, innovation, and global influence.
The summit aimed to facilitate collaboration across disciplines — bringing together talents from design, film, music, publishing, advertising, and visual arts — while encouraging synergies between the creative and business sectors.
"The broader goal is to spark collaborations across the country’s creative sectors and elevate the industry to become a powerful driver of economic growth,” it said.
Trade Secretary Cristina Roque, who also spoke at the summit, echoed the government’s support, calling the creative industry “an important pillar of the country’s economic future.”
“This is aligned with the President’s directive, and the DTI is taking this mission seriously,” Roque said, noting that the creative industry generated P1.94 trillion and created 7.51 million jobs in 2024.
Roque also introduced the recently launched Malikhaing Pinoy platform, an online hub where Filipino creatives can collaborate, share ideas, and access new opportunities.
Meanwhile, a highlight of the summit was the recognition of 11 Filipino Creative Icons and Entrepreneurs, honored for their contributions to culture and innovation. The awardees included Ramon Orlina, Julie Lluch, Kenneth Cobonpue, Wawi Navarroza, Apo Whang-Od, Ricky Lee, Brillante Mendoza, BBDO Guerrero, Ryan Cayabyab, Michael Cinco, and Liwayway Magazine.
Go Negosyo said it plans to expand the summit in future editions and continue supporting creatives with programs tailored to empower one of the country’s most dynamic sectors.