DOST-NCR, Muntinlupa LGU, SCALE-NCR Launch Business Pitching Tilt in the South
A dynamic hub for startups in the Philippines due to the accessibility of advance technologies and innovation hubs, a young and tech-savvy workforce, and strong government support, Metro Manila is finding more of its cities building their own startup ecosystems. The City of Muntinlupa is the latest to boost its startup initiatives through the 2025 STARTUP Muntinlupa Business Pitching Competition – Student Edition.
The competition was formally launched with the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) last July 11, 2025 between the Department of Science and Technology–National Capital Region (DOST-NCR), the DOST TBI Consortia Strategic and Collaborative Alliance for Leveraging Ecosystem of Startups-NCR (SCALE NCR), and the City Government of Muntinlupa through its Local Economic and Investment Promotion Office (LEIPO). Signing the MOA were DOST-NCR Regional Director Engr. Romelen T. Tresvalles, Muntinlupa City Mayor Rufino “Ruffy” B. Biazon, and SCALE NCR President Ms. Maria Christina L. Ibañez.
The program will harness the creativity, ingenuity, and technopreneurial spirit of young Muntinlupeños to boost the local innovation ecosystem in the city. This will be done by nurturing science, technology, and innovation (STI)-driven solutions, from the development of innovative ideas and business pitching and until commercialization towards building market-ready, technology-based business ventures.
RD Tresvalles thanked the universities and colleges in Muntinlupa for encouraging young people to explore technopreneurship and create solutions for their communities, noting that, “there is a wealth of potential sa ating mga kabataan. To really develop a knowledge-driven and innovation-driven economy, we would have to really start as young as possible. This initiative of including the senior high school in the contest is a laudable one. This is the reason why, along with SCALE NCR, we are committed to providing the support that would strengthen this partnership.”
For his part, Mayor Biazon emphasized that “this program that we are doing together with the DOST and SCALE NCR is an opportunity for young minds to come up with their brilliant ideas and make that pitch. Sana ay makita rin ito ng ibang mga kabataan and serve as an inspiration for them to venture out, as long as they have that idea for a good product or service where they could establish their own business because the entrepreneurial spirit of the Filippino is clearly present.”
Meanwhile, Ms. Ibañez highlighted that the strong collaboration between DOST-NCR, SCALE NCR, and the City Government of Muntinlupa serves as a real catalyst for change to invest in innovation “This milestone is more than ceremonial—it is symbolic of leadership that listens, responds, and acts. Just like in any startup journey, the first step always matters. But when the first step is grounded in purpose and partnership, it becomes the foundation of something transformative.”
Following the MOA signing, the program’s key academic partner institutions, namely, the Colegio de Muntinlupa (CDM), Pamantasan ng Lungsod ng Muntinlupa (PLMun), Lyceum of Alabang (LoA), Far Eastern University (FEU Alabang), and the Schools Division Office-Muntinlupa City, signed a Manifesto of Support pledging their commitment to nurturing the city’s next generation of technopreneurs.
DOST-NCR has long been partnering with higher education institutions (HEIs) and innovation partners to establish and strengthen Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), which provide enabling environments for startups through mentorship, co-working spaces, prototyping services, and investor linkages.
Anchored on DOST’s strategic pillars of fostering wealth creation, promoting human well-being, and institutionalizing sustainability, DOST-NCR’s support for startups is geared toward the commercialization of homegrown technologies and innovative ideas, paving the way for new technology-based businesses, job creation, and economic growth for smart and sustainable solutions.
This initiative marks the beginning of something greater, an initiative that adopts a whole-of-community approach to transform ideas into impact and fosters a lasting culture of innovation grounded in STI. It also encourages local government units (LGUs) to support and help startups grow in their own communities, recognizing their vital role in nurturing local innovation ecosystems.
The 2025 STARTUP Muntinlupa Business Pitching Competition is set to start on 12 August 2025 up to 29 October 2025. More details about this can be accessed through the official Facebook pages of DOST-National Capital Region and LEIPO Muntinlupa.
By Anthony Dula of MUNTAPARLAS Casto
