Eleven Startups Join DICT Startup Grant Fund Cohort 1 Demo Day

Manila, Philippines – June 21, 2024 – The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) celebrated a significant milestone with the successful hosting of the Startup Grant Fund (SGF) 2024 Cohort 1 Demo Day at the Google Philippines Headquarters in Bonifacio Global City. This event showcased the innovative solutions and groundbreaking ideas of the first cohort of startups supported by the DICT’s Startup Grant Fund initiative. The project is implemented under the ICT Industry Development Bureau led by Director Emmy Lou Delfin.

In a significant boost to the Filipino startup ecosystem, the DICT awarded over PHP 10 million in grants to 11 digital startups. The SGF Demo Day highlighted the contributions of these pioneering startups: Arkitek Inc., Aruga, Farm to Mayani Inc., Gora Booking App, Hive Energy PH, I-Board Living, Symph, WiredField PH Inc., Farm Box, UP Root, and LIFT-Airgon Innovation. Each startup received equity-free financial support ranging from PHP 500,000 to PHP 1 million.

The funds for this cohort is released through the support of Senator Sonny Angara, under his Tatak Pinoy Mission to drive the Filipino brand to the global stage, including homegrown startups.

The event kicked off with a warm welcome from Undersecretary for Special Concerns, Atty. Paul Joseph Mercado. He emphasized the importance of fostering a vibrant startup ecosystem in the Philippines, highlighting the government’s commitment to supporting digital innovation and entrepreneurship.

Bobby Khan, Lead for Google Cloud Public Sector, delivered an inspiring talk on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to boost startup growth. His presentation underscored the critical role of AI in driving innovation and competitiveness in the tech industry.

The highlight of the afternoon was the SGF Cohort 1 Startup Pitch, where eleven promising startups presented their projects across various sectors, including agri-tech, education, tourism, IoT, real estate, and energy. The startups included:

1. Arkitek Inc. – Maritime travel solutions from Region 6 – Western Visayas
2. Farm to Mayani Inc. – Agritech innovations from NCR
3. Gora Booking App – Travel and tourism platform from Region 4B – MIMAROPA
4. Hive Energy PH – Energy solutions from Region 4B – MIMAROPA
5. I-Board Living – Real estate solutions from Region 8 – Eastern Visayas
6. Symph – Education-focused startup from Region 7 – Central Visayas
7. WiredField PH Inc. – IoT solutions from NCR
8. UP Root – Agritech startup from Region 4A – CALABARZON

Atty. Jocelle Batapa-Sigue, Undersecretary for ICT Industry Development and Chairperson of the SGF Final Deliberation Panel, delivered a special message commending the startups for their innovative ideas and dedication. She reiterated DICT’s commitment to nurturing the startup ecosystem and ensuring that Filipino startups are globally competitive. She also called for government offices to support and procure digital solutions from Filipino startups.

The event also recognized the members of the Technical Evaluation Committee and the Grants Committee for their crucial roles in evaluating and supporting the startups. Notable members included Joey Gurango of SERVIO, Steve Sy of Great Deal E-Commerce Corp., and Carlo Calimon of StartUp Village, among others.

In his closing remarks, DICT Secretary Ivan John Uy, through Assistant Secretary Atty. Renato Paraiso, highlighted the government’s vision for a digitally empowered Philippines and the importance of continuous support for startups. He officially launched the call for applications for SGF Cohort 2, inviting more innovative startups to participate in the next phase of the program.

The event concluded with a networking opportunity, allowing participants to engage with industry leaders, potential investors, and fellow entrepreneurs, fostering a collaborative environment essential for the growth of the Philippine startup ecosystem.

The DICT Startup Grant Fund is one of the five component projects of the Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program (DSDAP), DICT’s main startup initiative under the ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB). The program aims to develop startups through educational events and funding and to establish networks and partnerships among various stakeholders.

For more information about the DICT Startup Grant Fund and how to apply for Cohort 2, visit the ICT Industry Development Bureau’s Facebook Page and Instagram accounts.

#DICT #SGF #SharingAGreatFuturetoall #DSDAP #IIDB #SGFLaunchDemoDay #SGFCohort1 #StartupEcosystemDevelopment

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The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) hosted the Startup Grant Fund Demo Day on June 21, 2024, at Google Headquarters in Taguig City, where eleven (11) startups received financial grants as part of the pioneer SGF Cohort 1.

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The CALL FOR PROPOSALS for the DICT Startup Grant Fund is now open!

Do you have what it takes to be one of the startup grantees of the DICT Startup Grant Fund Cohort 2?

If you are a startup looking to enhance your product or service, this may be your chance to get a grant of up to PHP 1 million. Submit your proposals via link.

Check out the templates here: link.

Learn more about SGF (Insert FAQs). For inquiries, email us at startupgrant@dict.gov.ph.

#DICTStartupGrantFund #SGF