By Jomarc Angelo M. Corpuz, Special Features and Content Writer
Quezon City’s aspiration to become the country’s “start-up capital” has taken another step forward as the local government’s StartUp QC program awarded grants to six startups from the program’s third cohort.
During the Demo Day held last Oct. 25 at the Blue Leaf Cosmopolitan, the Quezon City Government awarded a total of P6 million in equity-free grants to the winning startups to support and empower homegrown innovators as they create impactful solutions for various sectors.
The list of this year’s winners includes Callback, Inc., an app for the entertainment industry that provides a way to connect industry professionals and aims to professionalize the casting process for cultural workers.
Another startup that received the equity-free grant is Kwentoon OPC, which seeks to enhance youth literacy and promote Filipino contemporary arts through storytelling digital platforms.
Lithos Manufacturing, a rooftop rainwater harvesting system manufacturer that tackles climate resilience with a compact, portable water filtration system that provides safe drinking water to remote or disaster-affected areas, was also awarded during the event.
Also recognized was NYHA Robotics by Sentience, an emerging startup looking to encourage Filipino students to try robotics and make robotics education more accessible to children.
Similarly awarded an equity-free grant, PasaJob, Inc., the country’s first patented long-chain job referral platform, accelerates job placements through a system that rewards users with referral fees.
Among the other grant recipients, RevUpFinance is an intuitive platform that revolutionizes SME financial operations by cutting invoicing and payment processing times by 80% and streamlines payment verification and bank reports.
“We are proud to see how these startups evolve and create meaningful sectoral transformation,” said Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte in a statement. “Quezon City remains proactive and open to cultivating a more vibrant environment for local talents, business, and economic development.”
“With the help of the StartUp QC Program, our objectives remain steadfast. We want to create a culture shift and build a startup community, promote innovation, and create job opportunities,” Quezon City Head of Local Economic Investment and Promotions Office Juan Manuel Gatmaitan said during the Demo Day.
StartUp QC is the first and largest LGU-led startup program in the Philippines supporting these budding businesses by providing mentorship, equity-free grants, and an avenue to network with industry leaders.
From an initial pool of 58 applicants, the final awardees were selected after a rigorous selection process. They started their journey on the program on Aug. 9 and underwent training, coaching, and mentorship to help accelerate the growth of their businesses.
