On May 14, QBO Innovation Hub and the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines concluded “InQbation: The Take Off,” an incubation program that supports startup founders with disruptive ideas enabled by technology. The startups focused on technological responses to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Between December 2020 and May 2021, 13 startups based in the Philippines participated in a series of workshops conducted by Filipino and American experts that developed the skills needed to accelerate their ventures. In addition to mentorship, teams also received tech tools and resources to boost digital transformation.
“We’d like to thank the U.S. Embassy for supporting this program. We’re encouraged by the startups’ growth through the past six months, and we hope to collaborate on more initiatives that would build a deep bench of successful startups in the Philippines,” said QBO Innovation Hub Executive Director Katrina Chan.
The program concluded with a pitching competition. The winning team was Team Fitscovery, a marketplace providing instructors and gym studios a software as a service (SaaS) tools to digitize while helping workout enthusiasts find the right trainers and exercise programs.
“We were grateful to have had so much support throughout the program, learning from industry experts and finding partnership opportunities. The program helped young startups find their footing and develop solid fundamentals. We feel more confident than ever that we have a promising business ahead of us,” said Fitscovery CEO Michael Jiang.
The U.S. Embassy in the Philippines is dedicated to supporting a robust startup ecosystem in the Philippines. InQbation: The Take Off is the third program that QBO Innovation Hub has implemented in partnership with the Embassy to provide technical training, networking, mentorship, and support funds to help Filipino startups bring their innovations to the next level.
“The innovation space in the Philippines is full of fresh ideas that address pressing global problems, and the U.S. Embassy is here to support Filipino entrepreneurs. We hope that all participating teams continue to innovate after the program,” said U.S. Embassy Assistant Cultural Affairs Officer Pauline Anderson.
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