Start-Up QC recognizes its biggest number of finalists for the student competition category

Start-Up QC recognized its largest squad of finalists in Start-Up QC Student Competition with 92 teams of aspiring business entrepreneurs across sectors such as sustainability, agriculture, arts and culture, finance, education, health, and information technology.

Among initial applications of over 150 applications, 92 business plans proceeded to the second phase of the competition.

Start-Up QC is an initiative by the Quezon City Government designed to foster innovation and entrepreneurship by supporting early startups and recognizing sustainable student business plan through the program.

“Aside from uplifting their entrepreneurial spirit, we also want them to have an idea that after they graduate, they will not only apply to big companies, but they will have their own company and eventually, they will generate jobs among their citizens,” Start-Up QC Operations manager Sweetzelle Fabula said in an interview on the sidelines on the event.

According to Ms. Fabula, the competition consists of three phases: application and evaluation, cadetship, and pitch day and awarding.

First phase involves the screening and evaluations. The second phase includes cadetship where the students will undergo mentorship to help the students improve their business plans.

According to Ms. Fabula, the second phase also involves resubmission of the business plans where it will be reevaluated for phase 3. The final phase of the competition is the pitch day and awarding.

Start-Up QC will be awarding major prizes during the final phase of the competition where the businesses will be awarded with P100,000, P75,000, and P50,000. While minor awards will receive P35,000, P25,000, and P15,000.

According to Ms. Fabula, there are criteria for judging for the major and minor awards, and the number of winners depends on their budget.

“We don’t have a [fixed] number [of winners to award]. As long as the budget can afford it. So, we don’t have a target number since the aim of the program is to uplift their entrepreneurial spirit,” Ms. Fabula said.

Ms. Fabula said that Start-Up QC was formed in 2022 under Quezon City Ordinance SP-3109, series of 2022.

“The Start-Up QC program has its own ordinance. Which means, whoever is the mayor or city leadership of Quezon City, it will run every year regardless of city leadership unless they appeal the ordinance,” she said.

Ms. Fabula said that in order to join the competition, the team does not have to consist of an entire team of Quezon City residents.

“We have applications from Pangasinan State University [and] Central State University. So, all over the Philippines,  Start-Up QC needs at least one QC resident,” she said.

To be eligible in the competition, at least one (1) person in the team should be a bonafide citizen of Quezon City, must be enrolled in a college or university in the Philippines, must be 18 years of age, no applicants should have relatives with any of the program committee, must have a viable business plan, and project proposed must not duplicate any ongoing initiatives of Quezon City.

Start-Up QC program lead Jong Sumpaico told the students to maximize the opportunity that was given to them.

“You pursue meaningful and impactful solutions that respond to real community needs, and thank you for having the courage to try, to fail, to learn, and to try again,” Mr. Sumpaico told the students.

The finalists will enter phase two of the competition which will run from July 7 to July 23, 2026. — Kaizzer Angela Marie V. Manuba