In a resounding celebration of the burgeoning Filipino startup landscape, the annual Philippine Startup Week (PHSW23) is set to gather homegrown startup heroes and enablers from November 20 to 24, 2023. Organized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), and the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), PHSW23 is poised to showcase the Philippines' potential as a global startup hub and foster collaboration within the local startup community.
Under the theme "Investing in Filipino Homegrown Heroes as Global Game Changers," PHSW23 will feature a week-long series of programs held in multiple venues across the country. These programs will bring together startup founders, investors, corporates, academia, and government agencies to discuss critical issues and explore opportunities within the startup ecosystem.
Among the key discussions will be the investment landscape for Filipino startups, the role of women-led businesses in the current funding climate, the utilization of AI and other emerging technologies, and regional and international expansion strategies for Filipino entrepreneurs.
PHSW23 will also unveil the most promising Filipino startups of the year during the "Top 100 Startups SHOWQASE by QBO" and the inaugural "KMC Startup Awards." Additionally, the Sinigang Valley Association (SVA), a premier private-sector-led startup organization, will host the first-ever "Sinigang Valley Conference" on November 21 in Metro Manila.
Government-led summits will also be a highlight of PHSW23. These summits include the "Slingshot Conference x Venture Pilipinas" by DTI in Metro Manila on November 20, the "Technology Business Incubator (TBI) Summit" by the DOST in Iloilo on November 21, and "Geeks On A Beach" by the DICT and Geeks PH in Bohol from November 22-24.
Over 50 community events spearheaded by various partners from across the Philippines – Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao – will further enrich the PHSW23 experience. These events, organized by the likes of Gobi Partners, Amazon Web Services, 917Ventures, Manila Angel Investors Network, Google Cloud, Maya Philippines, Investree Philippines, FEU Tech Innovation Center, MindanowJuana, Greyhound Innovations, Bukidnon ICT & Innovation Council, Cebu City Cybersecurity Center, FHMoms, The Final Pitch, and Brainsparks, will showcase the collaborative spirit and diversity of the Filipino startup ecosystem.
Attendees will have the opportunity to learn, interact, network, and collaborate through five tracks: Discover, Develop, Collaborate, Invest, and Showcase. Night Fests, after-hours networking sessions, will also return this year, providing a vibrant backdrop for further connections within the startup community.
PHSW23 is expected to draw over 3,000 in-person attendees across the country, 150+ speakers, and 100+ startups. The event will feature an esteemed lineup of leaders from the startup community, both from the Philippines and internationally.
Among the notable attendees are Ron Baetiong of Podcast Network Asia, Dean Bernales of Uniquecorn Strategies, Kim Yao of CloudEats, Dennis Ng of Mober, Kimberly Chen of Bossjob, Nichel Gaba of PDAX, Mel Nava of 1Export, King Alandy Dy of Expedock, and Josef Werker of Humble Sustainability.
Prominent investors and ecosystem enablers will also grace the event, including Franco Varona of Foxmont Capital, Melvin Chan of PLDT Enterprise, Uriah Velunta of Multisys, Puiyan Leung of Vertex Ventures, Dylan Keota of A2D Ventures, Paulo Campos of Kaya Founders, Lisa Gokongwei-Cheng of Summit Media, Niña Terol of Imaginable Impact, Tina Nepomuceno-Di Cicco of Manila Angel Investors Network, Jojo Malolos of PayMongo, Rene Cuartero of AHG Lab, Mike Maté of Kickstart Ventures, Natasha Bautista of 917Ventures, Carlo Delantar of Gobi-Core Philippines, and Rene “Butch” Meily and Katrina Rausa Chan of QBO Innovation Hub and IdeaSpace Investments.
"This year's Philippine Startup Week aims to highlight and strategically position the Philippines as an emerging investment hub for startups in Southeast Asia while facilitating actionable insights and nurturing collaborative efforts and learning among the local startup community," said Katrina Rausa Chan, Executive Director of QBO Innovation Hub.
