SINAG CAGAYAN VALLEY, QBO INNOVATION CONDUCT STARTUP ECOSYSTEM MAPPING

Tuguegarao City, Cagayan – The Synergistic, Innovative, and Agile (SINAG) Cagayan Valley consortium, in partnership with QBO Innovation, conducted the Startup Ecosystem Mapping initiative at the Cagayan State University Claude Andrews Convention Center on April 2, 2025.

The activity aimed to assess the current state of the city and its neighboring municipalities, evaluating their ecosystem's capacity to support startups and technology innovators.

It featured interactive sessions, including the Startup Community Maturity Model (SCMM) and discussions on challenges and opportunities for local startups and technology innovators. The results will serve as a reference for startups, investors, and policymakers, providing a roadmap for business growth and expansion.

Dr. Junel B. Guzman, Vice President for Research, Development, and Extension and Director of SINAG Cagayan Valley, highlighted the region’s potential for startup growth. "Cagayan is rich in raw materials, and mapping these resources can inspire future entrepreneurs," she said.

Discussants and facilitators included QBO Innovation’s Community & Ecosystem Program Manager Szachi Ducusin, Head Ms. Carla Legazpi, and Startup Development Program Associate Ms. Lileth Mortañez.

The initiative, attended by representatives from DICT, DTI, DOST, NEDA, NVSU-SABATAN, SUCs, HEIs, startup founders, incubatees, MSMEs, LGUs, CSU-TBI, SINAG Founders, and student entrepreneurs, is part of the DOST-PCIEERD Regional Startup Enabler for Ecosystem Development (ReSEED) Program, which aims to strengthen regional startup communities across the Philippines.

QBO Innovation, a division of Ideaspace, collaborates with government, academia, international agencies, and businesses to drive digital transformation, build innovation ecosystems, and support startup growth.