QBO Innovation Hub — Philippines' Multi-Agency Startup Accelerator

Based in Manila, QBO Innovation Hub launched in September 2016 as a public-private partnership between the IdeaSpace Foundation, J.P. Morgan, the Philippine Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), aiming to close early-stage funding and mentorship gaps identified by local founders (roughly 90% cited limited capital access and unfavourable regulation as major obstacles).

By its 4th anniversary (September 2020) QBO had disbursed over ₱167 million in funding assistance to a community of 421 startups and 7,700 members, backed by 205 partner organisations, per BusinessMirror. By its 5th anniversary (September 2021) those figures had grown to over 540 member startups, 10,000+ members, 240+ partner organisations, and more than 630 programmes reaching over 80,000 participants across 27+ cities, according to adobo Magazine; QBO said the startups it supports had generated over 2,000 employment opportunities and hundreds of millions of pesos in revenue and investment.

QBO's Startup Pinay initiative, aimed at women founders, reported a 64% increase in female founder sign-ups.

Aggregate figures (employment generated, revenue/investment totals) are self-reported by QBO through press releases rather than externally audited, and no independent impact evaluation of the hub was located.

Read the full analysis: https://www.qbo.com.ph/