In its bid to strengthen, promote, and develop the city’s startup business ecosystem, the Quezon City Government launched a program to provide financial grants of up to P1M to qualified startup entrepreneurs.

The Startup QC Program is aligned with Mayor Joy Belmonte’s 14-point agenda which aims to make Quezon City the preferred destination for businesses, create more new jobs and opportunities, and develop growth hubs.

“The goal is to create business hubs that will inspire and empower QCitizens to create innovative business models that can help provide solutions to social issues or concerns. Through this program, we are encouraging entrepreneurs with innovative ideas to be part of the greater mission of improving our society,” Mayor Belmonte said.

The much-anticipated program has garnered excitement and support from members of the startup community as they celebrated the program’s grand launch last October 28 at the Quezon City Hall.

“The Quezon City Government StartUp QC Program would indeed play a critical role in strengthening the city’s startup business ecosystem. To this end, we fully support the Filipino startup community as we continuously aim to promote innovation and encourage entrepreneurship through empowering programs and initiatives.” Department of Information and Communications Technology Secretary Ivan John Uy said.

“Together, we shall continue to endeavor to sustain the efficient implementation of initiatives, programs, and projects that promote a culture of innovation; embed innovation and entrepreneurial mindset to our stakeholders; and foster the growth of a robust innovation and startup ecosystem,” Department of Trade and Industry Competitiveness Bureau Director Lilian Salonga said.

Mayor Belmonte also said that the city government is aiming to fund and support innovative startup ventures that are still at their early stages but have promising viable products for execution. Qualified startups will be immersed in training, mentorship, and networking activities facilitated by the QC Government and its technology business incubator and industry program partners.

“Through this multi-million peso initiative to catalyze QC innovation, we will enable young startup ventures to thrive in the city, nurture a QC business startup ecosystem, and make Quezon City the innovation capital of the Philippines,” Belmonte added as she encourages young innovators and startup entrepreneurs to sign up for the StartUp QC Program.

For more information about the program, visit https://quezoncity.gov.ph/departments/investment-affairs-office/ or follow the official StartUp QC Facebook page at www.facebook.com/startupquezoncity.

Interested participants may register at https://qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph/.