Western Visayas offers plenty of market opportunities for startups, including businesses needing technology software or applications to boost their enterprises and improve the agri-fishery sector.

“We are very glad because we have the PCCI (Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry) that is in sync with us. They will be guiding our researchers on what to research,” Science and Technology regional director Rowen Gelonga said in a press conference on the first day of the four-day Western Visayas Innovative Startup Festival held in a hotel in this city on Tuesday.

He said part of the activities is reverse pitching, where researchers will listen to business and industry and hopefully, some would be able to come up with technology solutions to their concerns.

PCCI Iloilo chapter president Fulbert Woo said there are a lot of businesses needing help with applications because there are a lot of ideas that should be projected outside of Western Visayas and transportation access.

“Applications, software engineering, I think that’s very important,” Woo said.

The PCCI has its own Insync program that supports the startup ecosystem in collaboration with various partners, including the academe.

Gelonga said they are looking forward to having startups across all science and technology sectors.

“I think Western Visayas has the highest number of technology business incubators in the entire country. Practically, all major universities have incubators right now. All of these will be able to support the hatching of new business enterprises,” he said.

However, as Western Visayas is rich in agricultural and fishery resources, most of the startups are along that line, he said.

He noted that one of the earliest spinoff companies is engaged in the production of micro-algae as feed for hatcheries to support the requirement of the aquaculture sector.

“What we always aspire for is that these companies will cease becoming startups because, by that time, they should already mature into viable business enterprises. Let us not forget that among the most innovative, among the most profitable companies not only in the Philippines, but the global market started as startups,” Gelonga said.

The festival runs in different venues in Iloilo City until Sept. 27. (PNA)