The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with its partners launched a mentorship program for Cebu-based tech startups on Thursday.
DTI Cebu Provincial Director Maria Elena Arbon said the Launchpad program is aimed at elevating tech startups into viable small to medium enterprises (SMEs).
“Funding is not really a problem, mentoring is. Even traditional SMEs have this challenge as well. Startups need handholding. Funding will come once they gain traction,” she said during the program launch at Quest Hotel in Cebu City.
The program was brought to Cebu by DTI in partnership with the Philippine Software Industry Association (PSIA), Cebu Educational Development Foundation for Information Technology (CEDF-IT), TechTalks.ph, and the office of Sen. Paolo Benigno “Bam” Aquino IV.
PSIA Director Arup Maity said 10 to 15 startups in Cebu will undergo the six-month program. Launchpad is PSIA’s version of its Spring.ph program in Cebu.
Startups will be chosen in September and will undergo weekly coaching sessions with Spring.ph coaches starting October.