Philippine Startup Week (PHSW20) is back for its second edition on November 23-27 with the aim to highlight the Filipino entrepreneurial spirit.
Taking on the theme of “Filipino Startups Powering Up the New Normal,” the event will showcase the nation’s thriving startups and focus on stakeholders contributing to the growth of the local startup ecosystem.
One of Philippines largest startup conferences, the event is jointly organised by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), QBO Innovation Hub, and various private organizations and community partners.
The five-day virtual conference will be held via an online platform that aims to allow attendees to learn, interact, network, and collaborate remotely.
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DTI Secretary Ramon Lopez underscored the agency’s support for Philippine startups during and beyond the current health crisis, especially as it would also help the country’s micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) while also creating more jobs for Filipinos.
“Globalising the Philippine startup ecosystem remains our goal, and our desire to do so has intensified amidst the pandemic. In these trying times, DTI is committed to empowering innovative Filipino startups that foster the digitalization of our MSMEs, enhance their productivity, and promote their resilience,” according to Lopez.
“Philippine Startup Week continues to be an amazing opportunity for innovative startup founders to connect, collaborate, and gain exposure to investors, sponsors, and fellow founders,” said DOST Secretary Fortunato T. De La Peña.
“As the government remains true to its commitment of elevating the country’s startup ecosystem, PHSW20 aims not only to celebrate entrepreneurship, particularly technopreneurship, but also to increase access to it by continuously fostering an engaged community and by providing opportunities to push the boundaries of technology and innovation,” he added.
“As a community-focused conference, Philippine Startup Week showcases the bustling startup scene and brings together the Philippines’ dreamers, thinkers, change-makers, innovators, and entrepreneurs,” said DICT Secretary Gregorio B. Honasan II.
PHSW20 features five tracks — Discover, Develop, Collaborate, Invest, and Showcase. It will include three main events by the co-organisers and community events hosted by partner organisations and supported by AWS, Microsoft and Google.
The event is also set to feature startups from different programs, including the Emerge X Regional Pitching Competition led by Microsoft, the Top 100 Startups by QBO, and Seedstars Manila Competition.
Startup topics such as bouncing back from the pandemic, incubators emerging during the pandemic and opportunities for collaboration amidst the adversity, will also be discussed by a panel of seasoned entrepreneurs and industry experts.
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QBO Innovation Hub, the country’s first public-private initiative for startups and one of the main organizers of PHSW, will oversee overall operations throughout the conference.
“The PHSW20 this year is dedicated to celebrating significant strides in building a more dynamic startup scene while showcasing achievements of the Philippine entrepreneurial community in powering up the new normal,” said QBO Innovation Hub President Rene Meily.
“This will further position the Philippines as an innovation powerhouse that will ultimately define the future of tech and innovation across Southeast Asia. Just holding this conference in the middle of the COVID-19 crisis is a victory,” added Meily.
For more information, visit the Philippine Startup Week website here or register here to join the event.
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Image Credit: PHSW20
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