NI JOEL AMONGO

MAHIGIT limang buwan makaraang ilunsad ng Quezon City government ang StartUp QC Program na naglalayong isulong ang lungsod bilang sentro ng negosyo, kinilala ang limang finalists na uusad sa susunod na yugto ng paligsahan para sa garantisadong P1 milyong handog ng pamahalaang lungsod.

Ayon sa Public Affairs and Information Services Department (PAISD), lima sa 70 kalahok ang nakapasa sa mahigpit at metikulosong pagsusuri ng ‘innovative business models’ na isinumite ng mga bago pa lang sa larangan ng pagnenegosyo.

Para kay Quezon City Mayor Joy Belmonte, malaking tulong sa isinusulong na 14-point agenda ng lungsod ang mga makabagong ideya ng bagong henerasyon, sa layuning gawin sentro ng negosyo at kanlungan ng trabaho ang QC.

“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,” wika ng alkalde.

Sa panig ni Jay Gatmaitan na tumatayong hepe ng Local Economic Investment Promotions Office, inspirasyon sa maliliit na mga negosyante ang programang StartUp QC ni Belmonte.

“Through the Startup QC Program, our goal is to inspire these entrepreneurs to develop their promising innovative ideas, refine their business models and find solutions that aim to solve the pressing challenges of the city and hopefully enable these startups to compete on a global stage,” ani Gatmaitan.

Batay sa panuntunan ng StartUp QC, ang limang uusad sa huling yugto ng paligsahan ay sasailalim sa coaching and mentoring phase ng programa.

“These finalists stood out among the other applicants because we are looking for viable, sustainable, and socially-responsive startups who can contribute to the development of the city. These five (5) have promising business models which through the help of mentors can be fine-tuned for execution,” sambit ni Mayor Belmonte.

Kabilang sa mga QC StartUp finalists ang Bamboo Impact Lab para sa kanilang entry hinggil sa high-quality, bamboo-derived products; EdukSine Production Corporation para sa kanilang educational website at mobile application kung saan matutunghayan ang mga makabuluhang pelikula; at  ITOOH E-Furniture and Design Inc. sa kanilang tampok at kauna-unahang tech-enabled marketplace para sa ‘quality-vetted home and office furnishings.’

Pasok din ang Indigo Artificial Intelligence Research Inc. para sa kanilang AI capabilities kabilang ang web-based multi-language translation at Wika para sa makabagong internet-based access sa mga may kapansanan sa paningin.

“We remained true to our mission and vision to make Quezon City the preferred business destination and make it a business-friendly city that has an environment for sustainable development and inclusive growth,” pahayag naman ni Vice Mayor Gian Sotto.

Una nang binigyang pagkilala ng Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) ang StartUp QC na ayon kay DICT Sec. Ivan John Uy, ay makakaagapay ng lokal na pamahalaan sa pagpapalakas ng negosyo sa nasasakupan.

“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,” ani Uy.

Maging ang Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), ay suportado ang programa ni Belmonte.

“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,” pagtitiyak naman ni DTI Competitiveness Bureau Director Lilian Salonga.