B2B SaaS / AIGrowth Stage
Chek Technologies
Launched the Plateau platform at Geeks On A Beach 2025, showcasing Cebu-built organizational intelligence tooling.
SunStar CebuOur ecosystem
The people, programs, and proof behind Philippine startups in the Visayas
This is not a logo wall for show—it is a working map of who shows up for founders in Cebu and the wider region, plus the milestones that explain why the scene is accelerating.
A community built for coordination—not noise
Startup Island PH sits where founders, mentors, investors, and public institutions overlap. The point is practical: faster intros, clearer program fit, and policy signals you can actually use in a pitch or a partnership deck.
Cebu has graduated from “emerging” to organized: provincial startup councils, regional innovation hubs, and recurring demo and summit rhythms. That density is what makes the Visayas one of the best places in the country to validate hard problems—then expand nationwide when the economics work.
How Startup Island PH fits in
Startups
Teams shipping product, talking to customers, and tightening the story before investors or grant panels see the deck.
Mentors & operators
People who have built, sold, or scaled before—and give feedback you can execute on this quarter, not generic advice.
Investors & enablers
Angels, venture partners, and institutions that want diligence-ready founders and introductions that respect everyone’s time.
Government & academe
DTI, DOST, universities, and provincial programs that turn policy into pipelines: incubation, technical support, and regional coordination.
How a visit here should feel
1
Discover
Programs, partners, and news in one place—always with a path to the original source.
2
Connect
Apply to mentoring, attend a mixer, or open a conversation through a warm intro—not cold spam.
3
Build
Use workshops, demo days, and peer pressure for the right things: traction, clarity, and capital efficiency.
4
Scale
Layer national portals, regional hubs, and investor networks when your unit economics say you are ready.
Partner directory
Who is in the network right now
Agencies, investors, universities, and community builders we point founders toward—open their sites for eligibility, calendars, and application windows.
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DTI Region 7
Government
Visit siteDOST Region 7
Government
Visit siteQuest Ventures
Investment Partner
Visit siteLeave a Nest Philippines
Program Partner
Visit siteWildcat Innovation Labs
University TBI Partner
Visit siteDOHE Philippines
Community Partner
Visit siteCebuano Ventures
Founding Member · Community Enabler
Visit siteDual Story
Founding Member · Community Enabler
Visit siteZero-Ten Park
Founding Member · Community Enabler
Visit siteCIT University
Local University
Visit siteUP Cebu
Local University
Visit siteSilliman University
Local University
Visit siteFounder spotlights
Teams the ecosystem already talks about
Short profiles with public milestones—so you can see the sectors and outcomes Visayas founders are chasing, then dig into the reporting behind each story.
AgriTech / ClimateTechEarly Growth
Farmtri
Won top prize in a Cebu tech startup pitching event, highlighting demand for farm productivity and sustainability solutions.
The Freeman
GovTech / SaaSEarly Stage
SKLoud SDS
Recognized in Cebu startup pitching for youth-governance tooling focused on profiling, events, and engagement workflows.
The Freeman
Logistics / Fulfillment TechGrowth Stage
OMG! Crazy Fast
Won first prize at the ASEAN-India Startup Festival 2024 for its AI-enabled, decentralized fulfillment model.
DTI Region 7Programs to watch
Where to apply attention next
A rotating slice of initiatives we track for founders. Status updates live on the full programs page with source links for deadlines and requirements.
StartupIsland PH Cohort Mentoring
ActiveMentorship, market validation, demo day readiness
Structured mentoring for early-stage startups with founder coaching, ecosystem introductions, and pitch exposure.
SunStar CebuVisayas TECH PLANTER
Open CallDeep tech scouting and commercialization pathways
Regional deep-tech platform led by Leave a Nest, connecting innovators with partners, judges, and commercialization support.
Leave a NestDOST iSTART Program (Central Visayas)
ActiveInnovation planning and LGU capability-building
DOST iSTART supports local innovation planning and ecosystem alignment with science and technology-driven development.
DOST Region 7STEP UP / CV2RO Partner-led Mentoring
WatchlistMentoring and venture-readiness activities in Cebu
Community and private-sector led mentoring activities in Cebu continue to expand; track partner calendars for the next cycle.
Go NegosyoFresh ecosystem signals
Three of the latest updates we are following—each ties back to primary reporting, with a longer read on the blog when we publish one.
Founder MilestonesApril 30, 2026
Five Philippine companies named to the 2026 Endeavor Outliers class
Ecosystem AnalysisApril 29, 2026
Philippine startup funding signals: regulated fintech, rails, and Cebu pipeline
FundingApril 24, 2026
Netbank raises Series B to scale banking-as-a-service in the Philippines
Ecosystem timeline
A few dates that explain how fast the regional story is moving—click through for the full articles and announcements.
September 2024
Farmtri and SKLoud place in Cebu startup pitching
Read sourceMay 2025
StartupIsland Cohort 8 demo day and graduation
Read sourceNovember 2025
FIESTARTUP 2025 in Cebu; OneLot US$3.3M seed (reported largest PH seed of 2025)
Read sourceDecember 2025
Zed Series A (Accel); Tonik pre-Series C; Etaily SMBC-led strategic investment
Read sourceJanuary 2026
Zepz acquires Pomelo
Read sourceFebruary 2026
Cebu creates Provincial Technology Startup Council
Read sourceApril 2026
Salmon US$100M financing; Netbank Series B
Read sourceVisayas reach, one cohort snapshot
Where StartupIsland.ph Cohort 8 teams called home at graduation—based on public reporting (14 startups).
Cebu-based startups in Cohort 89/14
Other Central Visayas startups in Cohort 83/14
Outside Central Visayas teams in Cohort 82/14
On the calendar
All Aboard Startup Cebu Mixer
Cebu City (rotating venues) · Every 3rd Wednesday (except December)
SunStar CebuVisayas TECH PLANTER 2026
Cebu / Visayas · Expected Q3 2026 (date to be announced)
Leave a Nest
Want your startup on this map?
Apply for mentoring, list your company on the PH startups map, or claim an existing profile so partners and press can reach the right person.