The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) recently launched Moonshot TNK ASPIRE Startup Bootcamp to provide hands-on mentorship, skills training, and network-building to 71 entrepreneurs from 37 early-stage manufacturing, information and communication, agriculture, and service startups in Western Visayas.
The bootcamp is the first component of DTI Region 6’s Moonshot TNK 2.0 aimed at equipping emerging businesses with the tools and networks they need to become major players in the Western Visayas economy. Through mentoring, the program prepares startups for investment and market success, ultimately creating jobs and driving local economic development.
DTI Secretary Cristina A. Roque said the initiative is a direct response to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to empower local economies and drive inclusive growth.
“Under the leadership of President Marcos Jr., we are committed to a ‘Bagong Pilipinas’ that uplifts every Filipino, no matter where they are in the country. By investing in our regional startups, we are diversifying our economic base and creating new engines of growth in every province to ensure our progress is resilient and sustainable for years to come,” Secretary Roque affirmed.
The ASPIRE program is tailored to support Filipino entrepreneurs aged 18 and above who are in the initial stages of their business—from prototype to minimum viable product (MVP).
The curriculum is comprehensive, covering essential business skills such as: business identity and team building, design thinking and business model canvas, digital marketing and operations, startup finance, and pitching and presentation. This aligns with the Innovative Startup Act, which aims to foster an environment where scalable, innovative enterprises can thrive.
Graduates of the ASPIRE bootcamp will have the opportunity to participate in the Moonshot TNK MentorMatch Pitching Competition, a platform designed to connect promising startups with potential investors.
By fostering a strong pipeline of investment-ready startups, DTI Region 6 is working to enhance the regional innovation ecosystem and contribute to a more dynamic and resilient economy in Western Visayas.
