06/09/2026
TWO DAYS OF INNOVATION, COLLABORATION, AND IMPACT AT THE BISCAST IDEA2STARTUP BOOTCAMP 2026!
What an extraordinary two days of creativity, grit, and entrepreneurial drive! The BISCAST Idea2StartUp Bootcamp 2026 brought together bright minds from across our academic communityโwith student innovators representing COE, CEng, CBE, CTT, COSCI, and CA+Dโto turn big ideas into actionable startup concepts.
Here is a look back at how the event unfolded across both days:
DAY 1: LAYING THE FOUNDATION & GENERATING IDEAS
The event kicked off with inspiring opening messages from our academic leadership:
Prof. Ana Sheryl Lynn S. Catura (REPED Director) outlined the Statement of Purpose. and Opening Remarks
From there, participants dove headfirst into the startup mindset with a lineup of expert-led sessions:
Mr. Paul John C. Legaspi (Investment Operations Officer, LGU Naga) mapped out the local startup ecosystem, technopreneurship landscape, and LGU Naga's vision.
Dr. Leciel R. Ramos (Dean, CBE) set expectations and guided teams through entrepreneurial team building during Bootcamp 101. Ms. Jo Anne B. Lopez (YES Co-Adviser / CBE Faculty) broke down the core principles of StartUp Basic. Dr. Orbel S. Cepeda (Professor V) led an engaging session on Problem/Idea Generation to help teams identify real-world challenges, Dr. Anna Liza M. Mateo (Associate Professor IV / BISCAST PED Coordinator) wrapped up the day by guiding students through structuring their concepts using the Business Model Canvas.
Day 1 set a strong momentum, giving teams the tools and frameworks needed to refine their initial concepts overnight!
DAY 2: PITCH PREPARATION & THE MAIN EVENT
Shifted the focus from ideas to ex*****on, sharpening each team's value proposition and presentation skills:
Dr. Jonathan S. Dela Cruz (BRID Manager / Associate Professor IV) opened the morning with an impactful session on how to deliver a winning Sales Pitch, after which teams spent the morning in intensive mentoring and pitch preparation. Ms. Rachelle A. Esguerra (Institutional Production and Enterprise Development Coordinator) guided students through Funding & Support Options to sustain their projects beyond the bootcamp.
Participants also received crucial insights into the Fundamentals of Intellectual Property to protect their innovations.
The highlight of the entire bootcamp was the afternoon Pitching Competition, hosted by Master of Ceremonies Mr. John Paul San Joaquin. Teams stepped onto the stage to present their solutions before our panel of judges.
๐ THE PITCHING COMPETITION WINNERS
After an intense round of pitches, three outstanding concepts stood out for their innovation, technical feasibility, and local relevance:
๐ฅ CHAMPION: Aqua Guard with Baha Watch โ a timely, high-impact flood monitoring proposal addressing real community risks.
๐ฅ 1ST RUNNER-UP: We Find Ways with their Campus Simulation and Tracker โ an intuitive solution aimed at enhancing campus navigation and operations.
๐ฅ 2ND RUNNER-UP: Team Five Star with Econet โ a promising eco-driven project targeting environmental sustainability.
A huge congratulations to all our winners, participating student teams, faculty mentors, speaker panel, and event organizers for making the BISCAST Idea2StartUp Bootcamp 2026 a resounding success! ๐๐
