Business, Finance & Technology
Startup Boom: Regional Innovation Hubs Thrive Across the Philippines
The startup revolution isn’t just in Metro Manila—find out how cities like Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, and Negros Occidental are building the next wave of innovators.
PRESS RELEASE
Regional growth booming for startups in 2024 – QBO Innovation study
The 2024 Startup Ecosystem Mapping Reports are in collaboration with DOST-PCIEERD, SCALE NCR, local TBIs
Manila, Philippines — The Philippine startup ecosystem is experiencing significant growth, with regional hubs expanding across the country.
This is the finding of the 2024 Startup Ecosystem Mapping Reports by QBO Innovation, the Philippines’ first public-private initiative geared towards providing a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop, and grow.
The initiative is in collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology through the Philippine Council for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DOST-PCIEERD) and the Strategic and Collaborative Alliance for Leveraging Ecosystem of Startups – National Capital Region (SCALE NCR).
Through discussion with key community drivers, gathering local insights, and validating data, the reports provide a comprehensive overview of each ecosystem’s current state, identifying movers and champions, available resources, success stories, and growth potential. Most importantly, they offer actionable insights on how ecosystem enablers can drive further development and foster long-term sustainability.
The reports focused on providing critical insights into five key locales: Region I (Ilocos Region), Lanao del Norte, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, and General Luna, Surigao del Norte.
According to the report, Iloilo stands out for its strong government support, with local policies and initiatives designed to foster startup growth, a model that other emerging startups could learn from. Negros Occidental benefits from strong collaboration between the academe and industry, creating a steady pipeline of talent and fostering innovation in Metro Bacolod’s growing startup scene. The report has found Lanao del Norte has a thriving base of young tech talent, supported by academic institutions and active local enablers driving interest in entrepreneurship. Meanwhile, General Luna is home to a vibrant community of digital nomads and tech workers, presenting opportunities to integrate this talent into startup activities, while Region I is witnessing increasing startup activity, particularly in key urban centers like Laoag and Dagupan, where innovation is beginning to take root.
While there is budding growth in the areas surveyed, the report reveals that startups across all locations still face challenges in scaling, with limited access to funding, industry connections, and broader markets. While local ecosystems are growing, many startups struggle to expand beyond their immediate communities. Strengthening investment opportunities and industry linkages will be key to helping regional startups scale nationally and globally.
“Regional development is essential to strengthening the country’s overall innovation landscape. These reports serve as a roadmap for empowering local startup ecosystems, bridging gaps, and unlocking new opportunities for innovation-driven growth. For startup founders and aspiring tech entrepreneurs, this means greater access to support networks, funding opportunities, and industry collaborations that can help turn ideas into scalable ventures. By working together, ecosystem builders, policymakers, and investors can fuel the next wave of Philippine startups, ensuring that innovation thrives in every corner of the country,” said Alwyn Rosel, Executive Director of QBO Innovation.
The 2024 Startup Ecosystem Mapping Reports were also made possible in partnership with local enablers, including UMWAD Western Visayas, the Mariano Marcos State University (MMSU) Bannuar Technology Business Incubator (TBI), the Surigao del Norte State University (SNSU) WAVES TBI, the Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology (MSU-IIT) iDEYA, the Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT-U) Kwadra TBI, and the Technological University of the Philippines Visayas (TUPV) HIVE TBI.
Building on the success of the 2024 reports, QBO Innovation is already underway with the 2025 initiative, with visits to Cagayan and Isabela. They encourage other locales to partner and contribute to this ongoing effort, facilitating a broader understanding and strengthening of the Philippine startup ecosystem.
To know more about the 2024 Startup Ecosystem Mapping Reports, you may download the full reports at https://bit.ly/2024StartupMappingReport or visit www.qboinnovation.com and @QBOInnovation on social media. Additionally, for more information about SCALE NCR and its initiatives, you may visit their Facebook and LinkedIn pages.
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ABOUT QBO INNOVATION
QBO (‘ku-bo’) is the Philippines’ first public-private initiative focused on providing a platform for the startup community to collaborate, develop talents, and grow. It operates incubation and acceleration programs for startups across multiple stages and industries, and conducts an array of startup ecosystem and community activities to improve access to markets, knowledge, network, capital, and talent.
Created in 2016 through a partnership with IdeaSpace, J.P. Morgan, the Department of Science and Technology (DOST), and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), QBO has been an active player in creating a globally competitive ecosystem in the Philippines, fueled by its vision of Filipino startups changing the world.
For more information on QBO, visit their website at qboinnovation.com or follow their social media accounts at @QBOInnovation.
Insights
- Regional startup hubs in the Philippines are expanding, showcasing strong potential in Iloilo, Lanao del Norte, Negros Occidental, General Luna, and Region I.
- Government support plays a key role in Iloilo’s startup-friendly policies, while Negros Occidental benefits from strong academic-industry collaboration.
- Startups outside major cities still struggle with funding, limited market reach, and lack of investor connections.
- Digital nomads and tech workers in General Luna present an untapped opportunity for integrating tech entrepreneurship into the local economy.
- Strengthening investment networks and industry partnerships is crucial for helping regional startups scale beyond local markets.
Conclusion
The growth of regional startup hubs signals a promising future for Philippine innovation. However, while opportunities are expanding, challenges remain—startups need better access to funding, stronger industry connections, and broader market reach. By bridging these gaps through collaborative efforts between enablers, investors, and policymakers, the Philippine startup ecosystem can achieve sustainable growth, ensuring innovation flourishes across the country.
Key Phrases
- Philippine startup ecosystem
- Regional startup growth
- Iloilo startup success
- Scaling regional startups
- Startup investment challenges
- Government support for startups
- Tech innovation in the Philippines
- Academic-industry collaboration
- QBO Innovation report
- Future of Philippine startups
Best Hashtags
#StartupPH
#InnovationNation
#QBOInnovation
#PHStartups
#TechForGood
#RegionalGrowth
#EntrepreneurshipPH
#SupportStartups
#BuildTheFuture
#StartupEcosystem
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Disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute endorsement of any specific technologies or methodologies and financial advice or endorsement of any specific products or services.
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