The Innovation and Development Accelerators Consortium for Start-ups in Davao Region (IDEAS-Davao) recently held its annual strategic planning for 2022 at the Waterfront Insular Hotel in Lanang from January 17-21, 2022. Hosted and organized by UPGRADE TBI, the event aims to prepare IDEAS-Davao’s project management team in their implementation of their regional program.
Together with valued stakeholders from different TBIs and startups, the IDEAS-Davao team brainstormed ideas and planned how they will be navigating through current challenges in the startup ecosystem of Region 11. The event was attended by leading management personnel in TBIs from different HEIs in Davao, namely, Vanesa Balayo of UMasenso Hub, Filmann Simpao of USeP AgiLab, and Jason Occidental of AdDU TechnoHub. To represent non-HEI stakeholders, CEO and founder of international award-winning Coffee for Peace, Joji Pantoja was also in attendance.
The planning also pinpointed specific threats present in the startup ecosystem such as threats towards indigenous people’s resources, challenges in bureaucratic processes for startups, lack of access and information regarding programs, services, registration and incentives for smaller businesses, and the slow technology adoption of businesses in the region.
Aside from threats, current opportunities in startup trends were also discussed, such as the rise of more inclusive startups lead by younger generations, the enabling of laws related to startups innovation, and the availability of government and private grants for investment and support.
The establishment of the Innovation and Development Accelerators Consortium for Start-ups (IDEAS) in the Davao Region aims to synergize the programs of incubators, accelerators, government agencies, private sector, investors, and other start-up enablers to achieve a stronger, inclusive, and conducive start-up ecosystem in Region XI.
The 5-day face-to-face strategic planning was done in cooperation with two other national programs, Higher Education Institutions Preparatory Training for Starting Technology Business Incubators (HEIRIT) and Women-Helping-Women Innovating Social Enterprise (WHWise: i B L E n D N I C E 4WomEn).
Candice is an educator, community builder, and Fulbright scholar based in Davao City, Philippines. She lives a double life as a university instructor during the day and a startup ecosystem lead at night. Focusing on building a thriving ecosystem in the Davao Region, Philippines, her interests lie in the intersections of language teaching, policy-making, tech, and business.