SUBIC BAY FREEPORT — The Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA), through its Business and Investment Group, hosted on Feb. 26 to 28 the Start-Up Grant Fund Bootcamp, a capacity-building project for aspiring entrepreneurs from all over Luzon.

The three-day training event held at the Subic Bay Exhibition and Convention Center was organized by the Sulong Central Luzon Start-up Consortium, Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Council for Industry, Energy, and Emerging Technology Research and Development (DoST-PCIEERD), and Bulacan State University.

During the boot camp, partner agencies like the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) equipped the participants with essential skills in line with the Start-up Grant Fund (SGF) Program, such as Innovation and Business Model Thinking, Business Case Development and Market Insights, Pitching and Presentation Mastery, and Proposal Writeshop to perfect grant application.

Engr. Dennis Dela Cruz, SULONG Central Luzon Project Leader, opened the event by acknowledging startups and startup enablers present, while Dr. Julius Caesar Sicat, DOST III Regional Director, shared insights on the current state of agriculture, innovation, and science and technology in Region 3.

Also, Engr. Edward Paul Apigo, PCIEERD SGF program manager, introduced the DOST PCIEERD’s programs for startups and startup enablers, highlighting the SGF program benefits. Meanwhile, SBMA Senior Deputy Administrator for Business and Investment Renato W. Lee III and Business and Investment Department for Information and Communications Technology (BID-ICT) manager Engr. Panfilo S. Jurilla expressed their support and urged participants to innovate, collaborate, and grow together. 