PHP : In collaboration with the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has launched a new program with the vision to scale up the innovative entrepreneurial spirit of the country’s emerging startups. Qualified startup founders from all regions of the Philippines will be eligible to receive direct financial aid from PHP 10,000 up to PHP 25,000 starting September 2025.
Strategic Support to Accelerate Innovation
This innovative program demonstrates the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s innovation ecosystem, which, from 2023 to 2024, nearly doubled, increasing from PHP 3.5 billion to PHP 6.4 billion. Officials point out that the program seeks to solve the aggravating problem of underfunding during the very initial stages of a new innovative business, which would stop some of the most innovative ideas from achieving a viable product.
Tiered Financial Assistance Structure
To further assist early-stage entrepreneurs, the program introduces a tiered model based on the startup’s current stage of development and the estimated potential impact on the local and global market. Entrepreneurs with only business ideas will be provided with PHP 10,000. Startups that successfully develop a prototype and validate the market will receive a maximum of PHP 25,000.
This method guarantees that resources will be spent where they will have the most profound economic impact.
Streamlined Application Process
Unlike most prior government programs that faced serious criticisms because of their bureaucratic nature, this initiative focuses on a streamlined and simplified application process tailored for the more digitally inclined and younger generation.
Digital-First Application Portal
All applicants may complete the process on the portal and get a response within 15 working days. This period is drastically shorter than most government funding programs. This faster method is in line with the initiative seeking to swiftly pump funds within the startup funding gap.
Beyond Financial Support
Cash grants may be the most obvious part of the initiative, but applicants gain access to a much bigger system of support that is far more useful than just funding.
Mentorship and Networking Opportunities
With the aid of the grants, the students will be enrolled in the 2025 Philippines Founder Institute, thus, getting access to the world’s most prominent startup leaders and mentors. This form of mentorship is even more effective as it is tailored to help the participants during their initial scaling phases and lucidly guides them through tailored feedback and workshop sessions.
Pathway to Larger Investment Opportunities
Through this program, there is a direct link to more significant funding pipelines, and the best performing startups are given privileged access to the pitch sessions with the Manila Angel Investors Network as well as other venture capital firms that are currently investing in the Philippine market.
Eligibility and Key Dates
The initiative focuses on Filipino entrepreneurs with technology-enabled innovation in every industry. Applicants should be at least, eighteen years of age, and should be able to demonstrate how their concept meets a particular market need or a social problem.
The initial application period starts on the 1st of September 2025 and evaluation rounds are set to continue on a monthly basis throughout 2026. Interested founding teams will be able to access the full eligibility criteria and application instructions on the DTI website as of 20th August 2025.
As the Philippine startup ecosystem is expected to grow by 17% in the next year, this strategic infusion of easily accessible early-stage capital is expected to spark a fresh entrepreneurial wave throughout the archipelago.