Co-Founder Connect: Ateneo Blue Nest and Benilde HiFi Host Cross-Campus Co-Founder Networking Event for Aspiring Startup Founders
- Leo Mari E. Reyes
- Apr 28
- 2 min read
On March 4, 2026, Ateneo Blue Nest, the startup incubator of the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), partnered with the Benilde Hub of Innovation for Inclusion (HiFi) to host Co-Founder Connect, a curated speed networking event designed to help aspiring startup founders meet potential co-founders and collaborators.
Most startups do not fail simply because the idea was wrong. They fail because the team was not ready to build it. For early-stage founders, finding a co-founder with complementary skills, shared commitment, and aligned vision remains one of the hardest challenges. Yet, many students try to solve this within the limits of their own school networks. Co-Founder Connect was built to widen that circle.
Held at the Makers Space HiFi, College of St. Benilde, the event gathered 32 participants from Ateneo de Manila University and De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde who share an interest in entrepreneurship, startups, and innovation.
The program began with brief introductions from both institutions, followed by a short talk on the Minimum Viable Team framework, which highlights the importance of complementary roles in startup teams — Hacker, Hustler, Hipster, and Handler. Participants took part in a structured speed-matching session, where they engaged in timed conversations to explore potential collaborations.
The event concluded with a Merienda Mixer, allowing participants to continue discussions and strengthen the connections formed during the networking session.
Co-Founder Connect is part of Ateneo Blue Nest’s larger bet: that the Philippine startup ecosystem grows stronger when aspiring startup founders get a real shot at finding the right team. Some of the matches made here will become tomorrow’s founding teams.
Are you building a startup and looking for the right co-founder? Or does your organization want to collaborate on events like this? Ateneo Blue Nest, the startup incubator of the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), supports innovators and researchers at every stage — from idea to team to market.
The Co-Founder Connect event highlights a crucial aspect of startup success—finding the right team. The emphasis on complementary skills and roles is a game-changer for aspiring founders. Engaging in structured interactions can really help in identifying potential collaborators. For those navigating similar challenges in team-building or exploring new connections, resources like Tomodachi Life Guide can provide additional insights into collaboration strategies and team dynamics.
The focus on the Minimum Viable Team framework at the Co-Founder Connect event is a smart approach to startup collaboration. By emphasizing roles like Hacker, Hustler, Hipster, and Handler, aspiring founders can better understand how to build balanced teams. Networking events like this are essential for students eager to dive into the startup scene, as finding the right co-founder can be a game changer. It's exciting to think about the potential connections made here leading to future innovations. For those interested in creating unique projects, tools like AI Miniature Generator could also be useful in visualizing concepts and ideas.
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