Philippine Startup Week 2019 is set to happen this November

Set to happen on November 18-22, the Philippine Startup Week 2019 will bring together startup communities from different cities and provinces, making it the first-of-its kind startup gathering in the country.

Manila, Philippines — The world is set to witness the first large-scale collaboration
of the Philippines’ startup community from November 18 to 22 with the Philippine
Startup Week 2019 (PHSW19). Themed “Showcasing the Filipino Startup
Community to the World”, the PHSW19 is a collaboration by the Department of
Science and Technology (DOST), the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), the
Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), QBO
Innovation Hub, and various private agencies.

“As the first-of-its kind collaboration for Filipino startups, the Philippine Startup Week
is more than just a gathering, it’s a celebration and a recognition of how far Filipino
startups have come and how further they can go. It’s a testament to the
government’s commitment to invest in ideas that have the potential to become the
country’s next big-time successful companies,” says DOST Secretary Fortunato T.
dela Peña.

The weeklong celebration features a series of events simultaneously happening
across the country, including a three-day main summit, five-day conference, and
over 50 nationwide breakout community events that will showcase the Philippines as
a rising startup nation.

Just recently, President Rodrigo Duterte signed the Republic Act No. 11337, or the
Innovative Startup Act, cementing the government’s commitment to building the
Philippines as a startup hub.

DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez highlights how Filipino startups are crucial to the
country’s economy by bringing in investments, providing job opportunities, and
contributing to a community’s development. “With the Innovative Startup Act and
Philippine Innovation Act, which are both supporting the startup community, we are
optimistic that these will help in making the Philippines as one of the leading

countries in developing disrupting startup concepts. We have a strong potential in
this area especially that Filipinos are creative, innovative, and know how to keep up
with changing technology and use it in finding solutions to societal problems,” shares
DTI Secretary Ramon M. Lopez. “We want to build an entrepreneurship ecosystem
that will push for innovation through more internet platforms and more new business
models."

“The signing of the Innovative Startup Act is just the first step. We’re seeing more
collaborations happening in the future. This is just one of them. We are excited to
bring all the innovative startups in the country to meet fellow startup founders, share
and learn from their success stories, and showcase the power of technology and
innovation,” says DICT Secretary Gregorio Honasan II.

Building a community of inspired innovators

QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s first public-private initiative for startups created
through a partnership between IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, DOST, and DTI, will
spearhead the events and activities happening during PHSW19 by bringing together
the best of the best in their respective fields.
Startup founders and aspiring entrepreneurs who will participate at PHSW19 will get
access to a myriad of networking opportunities, learning sessions, and interactive
activities.

“The PHSW19 is a nationwide celebration and so we’re inviting the entire Filipino
startup community to come together, grow together, and move our country’s startup
scene towards its golden era,” says QBO Innovation Hub President Rene Meily.
“Here you can showcase not just your startup but also your pride as a Filipino
entrepreneur.”

The PHSW19 will start on November 18 with multiple community events in Metro
Manila hosted by various partner companies. The three-day main summit is set from
November 20-22 at the Crowne Plaza Manila Galleria, Ortigas City which will host
three main events: DOST’s “TBI Summit”, DICT's “Tech Advantage”, and DTI’s
“Slingshot” which will also be held in Dumaguete on November 19 and in Bohol on
November 21.

Happening simultaneously are other regional events in Pampanga for a discussion
on the basics of Intellectual Property Law on November 18; Butuan for an ideation
and pitching competition on November 19 and an open house with Navigatu on
November 20; Baguio with “BAG-haven: Building Baguio's Startup Ecosystem” on
November 20; Laguna’s “Innovation Next: Creative Arts and Technologies towards
Social Innovation” on November 21; Cagayan’s “BIZcovery: Ideation and Technology
Pitch Competition” from November 20 to 21; and “Innovating Iloilo: Iloilo Startup
Founders Circle Huddle” in Iloilo on November 22.

For the full schedule of events and to participate in the upcoming PHSW19, visit
https://www.phstartupweek.com/ or email hello@phstartupweek.com.