The Philippine start-up ecosystem, initiated in 2013, aims to foster innovation and entrepreneurship through mapping challenges and strategic recommendations for 2020. Ideaspace Foundation, co-founded by Earl Martin Valencia, addresses early-stage funding gaps and promotes a new economy driven by technology through community events, incubators, and investment in start-ups. The document highlights legislative support and infrastructure needs to enhance the startup landscape and emphasizes the importance of collaboration among various stakeholders in driving growth and development.

1. THE PHILIPPINE START-UP ROADMAP
AND THE CURRENT PHILIPPINE
ECOSYSTEM
Earl Martin Valencia, MEng, MBA
President and Co-Founder, IdeaSpace Foundation
Vice-President, Corporate Development and Innovation, SMART
earl@ideaspacefoundation.org

2. THE START-UP ECOSYSTEM HAS A PLAN!
Origin: Start-up Round Table
Gathered by DOST ICTO.
Started in 2013.
 Issues and Challenges
 Mapping out of Ecosystem
 Recommendations of What to
do in 5 years
 Looking at the Goals for the
Start-up World by 2020

3. ROUND TABLE CONTRIBUTORS
 Government Lead: Mon Ibrahim and DOST ICTO
 Senior Consultant: Beryl Li
 Round Table Members:
 Ideaspace – Earl Valencia
Phil Dev – Paco Sandejas and Dado Banatao Kickstart
– Minette Navarette
Manila Angels- Christian Besler
Plug and Play – Jojo Flores
OLX – RJ David
Coins.ph – Ron Hose
Launch Garage- Jay Fajardo
PSIA – Arup Maity
Tech Talks – Tina Amper
STAC Silicon Valley- Christina Laskowski

4. 4
This was the innovation ecosystem in the PH in 2011
Expansion
Scale and
Generate
revenues
Market and
Acquire
initial
customers
R&D
Idea to
Product
• DOST R&D
• PhilDev
• ICCP
• Narra Venture
Capital
Valuation
Investment
Size
Players
< $100K < $2-5M > $5M< $500K
$10 -
50K
~ $500k~ $100K
Idea Flow
Innovation Funding Gap
• Only the privileged/connected
people get funding
• Tons of ideas never get
commercialized
• Best brains rather leave the PH
than stay

5. STARTED IDEASPACE TO ADDRESS THE
EARLY-STAGE GAP IN 2012
Vision
 A new Philippine economy that is driven by technology, innovation and
entrepreneurship as a path to nation-building.
 Believe that anyone, anywhere with a great idea in the country could be
the “Next Steve Jobs of the Emerging Markets”
 Do it through 3 Major Initiatives
 Inspire: Start-up Ecosystem and Community Building (over 90 events per year)
 Incubate: Idea and Prototype Stage Start-up through an Incubator and Accelerator
 Invest: Investing in the highest potential early-stage start-ups through a national
competition (funded 38 companies from $25k-100k, filed 11 invention patents)
 The foundation is supported by the First Pacific Group, a Asia-focused
investment holding company focused on telco, agri, and infrastructure
(constitutes 3-4% of PH GDP) with an initial commitment of $11M USD.

6. SWOT IN 2015 – A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES

7. 2015 Start-up Competition
Highlights
• 1,028 team submissions
(+60% y-o-y)
• 15 countries represented
• A submission from every
region in the Philippines
• 50% outside of Manila
• Entrepreneurial energy is
spreading all through out the
country

8. 8
Profile of Ideas – Solution to EM challenges
18%
18%
16%14%
9% 9% 7% 5%
2%
1%
Category of Idea
(Based on submissions: Top 2 box)
• Strong mobile
solutions using mobile
app and software
• Impact Innovation
presence to solve
prominent emerging
markets issues
Target on
EM Social Issues
2
1
2
1
Real-time energy
monitoring system for
SMEs and homes
Emergency light and
mobile charger
powered by salt and
water
Virtual queuing
system so people
wont wait in lines
Real-time adjusting
water pump to optimize
water pressure for
districts

9. TARGETS FOR 2015-2020

10. WHO’S INVESTING?

11. WHAT NEEDS TO BE IMPROVED?
1. Intellectual Property Rights
2. Internet Infrastructure
3. Science Parks and Innovation Hubs
4. Legislation/Policy
5. Grassroots Activities
6. Funding and Investment
7. Umbrella Organization
8. Research and Development
9. Education
10. Open-sourced Information
11. Collaboration
12. Government Role

12. SOME RECOMMENDED LEGISLATION
 Met with Sen. Bam and DTI to Look at Laws that
Favor Entrepreneurs
 􏰗 Immigration
 Tax incentives/holidays 􏰗 Incorporation
 60/40 constitution
 Closing down company 􏰗 Startup-related policy
 (Cryptocurrency, E-commerce, E-money, crowdfunding)
􏰗 Exit and employment incentives
 Many others…

13. GRASS ROOTS ACTIVITIES ARE SPURRING UP TO
SUPPORT THE ENTREPRENEUR – BUT WE NEED
MORE!

14. CO-ORGANIZED WITH THE DTI AND DOST THE
OFFICIAL START-UP EVENT OF THE APEC (OVER 1000
ATTENDEES)

15. 15
2015: There is funding support for each stage in the PH
Expansion
Scale and
Generate
revenues
Market and
Acquire
initial
customers
R&D
Idea to
Product
• DOST R&D
• PhilDev
• ITSO
• Techtalks.ph
• Google
• Startup Week
• Startup Grind
• Develop
Networks
• IdeaSpace
• Founders
Institute
• PhilDev/
• USAID
• PSIA
(Seed.ph)
• KickStart Ventures
• Hatchd
• Wireless Wings
• ON3/PlugandPlay/STAC
• 500 Start-ups (California)
• Oxygen Ventures (Aus)
• IMJ Venture (Jap/Sing)
• ManilaAngels
• Golden Gate
• ICCP
• Narra Venture
Capital
• Brummer and
Partners
• Bonifacio
Capital
• Omidyar
• LGTVP
• Monks Hill
Valuation
Investment
Size
Players
Started after
2011
< $100K < $2-5M > $5M< $500K
$10 -
50K
~ $500k~ $100K
Idea Flow

16. THE KEY ELEMENTS OF INNOVATION
ECOSYSTEMS
Technology Based
Universities
Large Corporate
Support to Mentor
and Pilot
Government
Participation &
Government
Incentives
Attractive
Location
Entrepreneurs
motivated to start
companies

17. SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED NOW:
BEEHIVE IN INTRAMUROS AND UP
Technology
Based University
Large Corporate
Support to
Mentor and Pilot
Government
Incentives and
Support
Attractive
Location and
Facilities
Entrepreneurs
motivated to
start companies

18. FLOORPLANS
FabLab:
HW
Prototyping
Offices
Café
Coworking
Spaces
(including DOST
and Student
space)
Events
Hall for
Classes
and
Capacit
y
Buildin
g

19. CAN WE CREATE A START-UP UMBRELLA
ORGANIZATION?

20. WHAT IS MY CHALLENGE TO THE ICT INDUSTRY?
Support the Local “Up and Coming Entrepreneur”
 Let your companies pilot PH born startups, be their first customer or re-
sell globally
 Create a “sabbatical program” for the innovators in your company –
encourage innovation enterprises
 Let executives and line managers mentor and provide expertise and
experiences to start-ups
 Be an Angel Investors to startups
Support the National Innovation Center Initiative and the PH
Roadmap
 Create local grass root events
 Look how to plug in and create your own community incubator with the
right support services
 Actively look for opportunities to collaborate with students, academics,
and start-ups to help your business problems