ITOOH Homestyle, the Philippines’ first tech-enabled marketplace for quality-vetted home, hospitality, and office furnishings, is proud to announce its participation in the Startup QC Program initiated by the Quezon City Government. The program aims to bolster the city's startup business ecosystem by offering financial grants of up to P1 million to qualified startup entrepreneurs.
Aligned with Mayor Joy Belmonte's 14-point agenda, which prioritizes the development of growth hubs, job creation, and making Quezon City a preferred business destination, the Startup QC Program strives to inspire and empower QCitizens to develop innovative business models that address social issues and concerns.
Mayor Belmonte expressed her enthusiasm for the program, stating, "Through this program, we encourage entrepreneurs with groundbreaking ideas to contribute to the greater mission of improving our society."
Selected for the Next Phase
After a rigorous screening process, ITOOH Homestyle emerges as one of the five finalists who will continue on to vie for the financial grant at the end of the StartUp QC program. Out of almost 70 applicants, only five have passed the selection and evaluation process and will now move forward to the coaching and mentoring phase of the program. Come August, the five finalists will present their final pitches on Demo Day. Winning startups may receive financial grants of up to P1 million.
“Through the Startup QC Program, our goal is to inspire these entrepreneurs to develop their promising innovative ideas, refine their business models and find solutions that aim to solve the pressing challenges of the city and hopefully enable these startups to compete on a global stage,” Local Economic Investment Promotions Office head Jay Gatmaitan said.
The Startup QC Program aims to fund and support early-stage startup ventures with promising viable products for execution. Qualified startups will receive immersive training, mentorship, and networking activities facilitated by the QC Government and its technology business incubator and industry program partners.
Empowering Quezon City Craftsmen
ITOOH Homestyle’s co-founders Jules Veloso, Andrew Bercasio, and Enah Igual, all recognize the importance of fostering innovation and entrepreneurship within Quezon City and the Philippines.
As of writing, shopITOOH currently supports merchant craftsmen from Quezon City, including, but not limited to, Art2D2, an art collective in Diliman that specializes in contemporary artworks that embrace a range of expressions and intentions, from serious to the unapologetically whimsical; Balay Obra, a local brand of artisanal home fragrances and thoughtfully made home decor; and Plastics by Manila Automat, a collaborative design and production studio aimed to renew the value of recycled plastic waste by making everyday consumers into modern-day recyclers through accessible recycling platforms, tangible production methods, and vividly unique objects.
By participating in the Startup QC Program, shopITOOH looks forward to contributing to the growth of a thriving startup ecosystem in Quezon City, positioning it as the innovation capital of the Philippines. "We are excited to join forces with the Quezon City Government to catalyze innovation in the city and enable young startup ventures to thrive," said ITOOH Homestyle COO Andrew Bercasio. "Through our participation in the Startup QC Program, we aim to nurture and empower artisans, craftsmen, artists, and entrepreneurs, ultimately driving positive change in our society."
