Building a sustainable future for the Philippines

The Future of The Philippines Lies within Innovative Startups

The Philippines is revving up the startup ecosystem through the Philippine Innovation Hub (iHub), home of its Startup Venture Fund (SVF) and the Philippine AI Resource (PAIR) Initiative. The SW, with its six accredited VC co-investment partners (CIPs), has started using its initial fund to pioneer AI, deep-tech, energy, and circular-economy startups. Outside of Manila, iHubs is opening in ten cities to attract homegrown startups.
To attract international investments, iHub is setting up Singapore operations hosted by SMU and Murdoch University. It is launching the 5-story Philippine Innovation Hub building in the first quarter of 2025, another first for the country. The Philippine iHub started as a program of the little-known National Development Company (NDC) following the appointment by President Marcos of the current General Manager, Undersecretary Anton Mauricio. The NDC has announced initiatives that aim to fill investment gaps, including funding the first vaccine manufacturing plant and bio-molecular diagnostic manufacturing facility for illnesses and the purchase of satellite bandwidth, a novel waste-to-green fuel project, a biowaste to organic fertiliser plant, and the first biosecurity institute in the country.