Innovate with QC: Shaping the Future through Design Thinking
- Steve Chaves
- Dec 16, 2024
- 3 min read
Ateneo de Manila University joined the national celebration of Philippine Startup Week 2024 (PHSW2024) on November 14, 2024, with its community event, "Innovate with QC: Shaping the Future through Design Thinking." Organized in collaboration with Startup QC and the Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO), the event showcased how design thinking could empower potential Startup QC grant applicants to validate and generate ideas for funding. It also served as a roadshow to promote the Startup QC grant, emphasizing the importance of fostering innovation within the local entrepreneurial community.
Philippine Startup Week 2024
Now on its sixth run, Philippine Startup Week 2024 was held from November 11 to 15, 2024. This nationwide conference brought together the local startup community, highlighting various sectors, entities, and high-potential Filipino startups contributing to the growing Philippine startup ecosystem. The event engaged startup founders, investors, corporates, academia, media, and government agencies to promote collaboration, innovation, and the support available to further grow the Philippine startup ecosystem.
Highlights of Innovate with QC
During the November 14 event held in VCP Building, Quezon City, Mr Jay Pineda, currently the Head for the grant program, introduced the Startup QC Squad 2 grant for students, presenting it as an opportunity for student innovators to receive support in bringing their startup ideas to life. Ms Isa Songco, a previous winner of the grant, shared her inspirational journey as a motivational speaker. Meanwhile, Ms Mariela Alcaparas and Mr Steve Chaves of the Ateneo facilitated hands-on design thinking sessions, guiding participants in exploring methodologies to refine their ideas for funding.
The audience, composed of students, aspiring entrepreneurs, and startup enthusiasts, actively participated, underscoring the growing enthusiasm and potential of the local startup scene. AIPO expressed its appreciation to all attendees for their commitment to fostering a culture of innovation.
Innovate with QC: Design Thinking Workshop (Round 2)
To build on the success of the November 14 event, AIPO and Startup QC organized "Innovate with QC: Design Thinking Workshop (Round 2)" on November 28, 2024 in Hexagon Events Place, Quezon City. This follow-up workshop provided student startups with an in-depth experience in applying design thinking methodologies to refine their concepts further. Pineda once again introduced the Startup QC Squad 2 grant, while Ms Noelle Placer, another grant winner, inspired participants with her success story. Facilitators Alcaparas and Chaves led the interactive sessions, helping participants develop actionable solutions.
About the Startup QC Grant
The Startup QC Student Category is still open for applications! This grant program aims to support student innovators passionate about entrepreneurship and innovation. It offers access to resources and mentorship, enabling participants to bring their startup ideas to fruition.
Eligibility Requirements:
Must be enrolled in any university or college in the Philippines at the time of application
Individuals or teams are welcome to apply
At least one member must be a resident of Quezon City
Applicants must be at least 18 years old
No relatives of applicants should be part of the program committee
Teams must present a viable business plan
Projects or programs proposed must not duplicate ongoing initiatives of the Quezon City Government
Application Deadline: December 20, 2024, 5:00 PM
How to Apply: qceservices.quezoncity.gov.ph
Ateneo’s Continued Commitment to Innovation
Through these initiatives, AIPO reaffirmed its dedication to empowering student entrepreneurs with the tools and knowledge needed to thrive in the competitive startup landscape. By promoting design thinking and facilitating access to critical resources, these events aim to bridge the gap between ideation and execution.
Ateneo de Manila University, together with its partners, remains steadfast in inspiring and supporting the next generation of changemakers. With programs like Startup QC and Philippine Startup Week, the university continues to shape a future where creativity and collaboration drive positive change.
Stay tuned for more updates and opportunities as Ateneo and AIPO lead the charge in cultivating a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Interested in how design thinking can help you and your team? Visit aipo.ateneo.edu/designthinking or send us an email at aipo@ateneo.edu.
You may also follow AIPO on social media for the latest news and updates via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
The part about having a previous grant winner come speak really stood out to me, since hearing from someone who actually went through the process makes design thinking feel less like a buzzword and more like something students can really use. I also liked how the hands-on sessions pushed participants to refine their ideas before even applying for funding, which seems like the right order for a grant program. — Tuoverse
It's great to see Ateneo and Startup QC teaming up to promote design thinking for startup funding. The event's focus on helping grant applicants validate ideas is really practical. I hope more universities adopt this approach. By the way, I recently came across Copero Juego, and it reminded me of how design thinking can lead to innovative products.
The emphasis on hands-on design thinking sessions at the event really highlights how practical engagement can fuel innovation among aspiring entrepreneurs. By refining concepts together, participants can better prepare for opportunities like the Startup QC grant. It reminds me of how important it is to have structured support in the startup journey, which aligns well with resources like those at Significant Figures Calculator for calculating significant figures and ensuring precision in project proposals.
Great initiative! It's inspiring to see universities, government, and startup communities working together to help young innovators turn their ideas into reality through design thinking. Programs like Startup QC provide valuable opportunities for aspiring entrepreneurs to learn, collaborate, and grow. Looking forward to seeing more success stories from future participants. By the way, I also discovered a useful TeraBox video downloader recently that makes accessing publicly shared files much more convenient.
Great post! Design thinking thrives on rapid iteration, and having quick ways to convert 3D models really helps. For example, if you're prototyping with GLB files, using glb to obj glb to obj lets you easily switch formats without leaving the browser—perfect for keeping the creative flow alive.