The recently concluded Geeks on a Beach (GOAB) 2025, held in #Mactan, #Cebu from October 1 to 3, 2025, highlighted the Philippines’ progress and the government’s role in building a thriving startup ecosystem, while acknowledging the challenges that remain in sustaining momentum.
Key speakers from the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), Department of Science and Technology (DOST), Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), and the National Innovation Council (NIC) showcased their agencies’ collaborative efforts under the Innovative Startup Act of 2019 (Republic Act 11337) and the Philippine Innovation Act of 2019 (Republic Act 11293) to strengthen the country’s innovation landscape.
Progress and milestones
Monchito Ibrahim, NIC Executive Member, highlighted the Philippines’ rise to 50th place in the 2025 Global Innovation Index, solidifying its status as one of Asia’s fastest-growing innovators alongside Vietnam (44th), India (38th), and China (10th). “We are slowly moving up,” Ibrahim observed, tracing the nation’s ascent from 90th place twelve years ago to its current ranking.
Speakers at GOAB attributed this steady growth in the startup ecosystem, at least in part, to government initiatives.
The Philippine Innovation Act aims to boost national competitiveness by strengthening institutions and promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). It established the NIC, chaired by the Philippine President, to outline long-term innovation strategies.
The Innovative Startup Act establishes a structured framework designed to nurture startups. It formed the Innovative Startup Act (ISA) Council, comprising various agencies with private sector involvement, to harmonize support programs and develop a roadmap for ecosystem growth.
The ISA Council roadmap envisions a sustainable startup ecosystem by 2030, targeting the establishment of 50 new Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), with the majority achieving self-sustainability. The goals include doubling the number of startups and those receiving funding, raising $10 billion in investments, and creating four Filipino unicorns by 2030.
“The Philippines has significantly expanded its incubator network, growing from just 12 to 81 across 17 regional clusters, many of which are located in universities,” said Russell Pili, the DOST Chief Technology Transfer Officer. This expansion reinforces the role of higher education institutions as vital platforms for early-stage innovation and development.
Jojo Flores, Co-Founder of Plug and Play Tech Center, underlined the importance of this trend, noting that approximately half of the unicorn companies in which he has invested globally originated from universities. “Having more university-based incubators gives the Philippines a real chance to replicate global success stories and grow its own unicorns,” said Flores.
Challenges and opportunities ahead
Despite the progress achieved, speakers at the GOAB emphasized persistent challenges. “One of our biggest challenges is fragmentation. With three host agencies involved, we constantly navigate different mandates, making coordination both essential and challenging,” said Pili. Given this backdrop, Jeehad Januar Tanggol, Division Chief at DICT-IIDB, stated: “Our greatest achievement has been collaborating as agencies, aligning our plans, acknowledging our limits, and developing solutions as one unified ecosystem.”
Another significant issue also exists: the Innovative Startup Act does not include dedicated funding mechanisms, which forces agencies like the DOST and the DICT to allocate startup support from their research budgets. Edward Paul Apigo, Senior Science Research Specialist at DOST-PCIEERD, stated, “Funding is the single biggest hurdle. There’s no dedicated budget or full-time staff for startups; everything is taken from existing work.”
Pili emphasized that more evidence is necessary to support budget allocations in Congress. “In Congressional hearings, our budget is always linked to research. This means that support for startups must be justified by metrics such as the number of jobs created, companies registered, or revenues generated. However, without better data, it’s challenging to make a strong case. We need more compelling evidence to secure long-term funding,” she explained.
Nonetheless, the speakers emphasized that significant opportunities remain. The Philippines is supported by a robust university network, an expanding incubator presence, and increasing collaboration between the government and the private sector. These elements provide a promising foundation for continued innovation and startup growth in the country.
About Geeks on a Beach
Geeks on a Beach is the Philippines’ pioneering beachside international tech and startup conference, launched in 2013. Known for its unique blend of serious conversations in a fun, laid-back environment, GOAB has connected thousands of entrepreneurs, investors, developers, creatives, and policymakers. Over the years, GOAB has helped catalyze deals, investments, and partnerships that continue to shape the Philippine and Southeast Asian startup landscape.
This year’s GOAB was held on October 1-3, 2025, at JPark Island Resort Hotel in Mactan, Cebu. It is organized by the non-profit group geeksPH with the support of its foundational government partner, the Department of Information and Communication Technology (DICT).