Philippines agencies open startup week to expand ASEAN market access

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Philippines Startup Week 2026

Highlights

Philippine Startup Week 2026, held Nov. 9–12 at Quezon City M.I.C.E. Center, convenes founders, investors, and policy leaders under the theme 'Beyond Borders: Filipino Startups Navigating Our Future.'
The event's ASEAN side event accreditation tied to the Philippines’ 2026 ASEAN Chairship elevates local startups' access to regional and global investors and technology networks.
Collaboration with Quezon City local government via StartupQC expands the ecosystem by integrating sector events and satellite programs nationwide, enabling broader access for founders and entrepreneurs.

Conference agenda and regional positioning

As reported by BusinessWorld Online, the Department of Information and Communications Technology, the Department of Science and Technology, the Department of Trade and Industry, and the Quezon City local government through StartupQC officially open Philippine Startup Week 2026 at the Quezon City M.I.C.E. Center.

Running from Nov. 9 to 12, the conference brings together founders, investors, corporate executives, and policymakers under the theme “Beyond Borders: Filipino Startups Navigating Our Future.” The program is designed to showcase Filipino startup capabilities, support knowledge exchange, and create more opportunities for investment, partnerships, and access to regional and global markets.

PHSW 2026 is also accredited as an ASEAN side event linked to the Philippines’ ASEAN Chairship in 2026. That status places local startups within a broader Southeast Asian innovation network and raises their visibility among regional and international investors, entrepreneurs, and technology leaders.

Impact on Quezon City and the wider ecosystem

The partnership with the Quezon City local government, led through StartupQC, underscores the role of local government units in building a broader and more inclusive startup ecosystem. The collaboration aims to strengthen Quezon City’s position as an innovation and entrepreneurship hub while helping founders tap wider industry and investment networks.

At the main venue, the event features community-led and sector-focused activities organized by ecosystem partners, including discussions, workshops, networking sessions, and other programs. Organizers also extend the initiative through independently run satellite events across the country, giving founders and aspiring entrepreneurs outside Metro Manila a way to join the national startup push.

The participation of government agencies, investors, academic institutions, industry partners, and startup enablers reflects a coordinated effort to help Filipino innovators turn ideas into viable businesses. Through the event, the agencies involved seek to improve access to support networks and market pathways for startups developing solutions to emerging challenges.

We recently wrote about the ASEAN digital pact and its potential to widen cross-border market access for SMEs.

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