UMak Center for Technology Incubation and Enterprise Development

The stage is set for makati youth innovators! After weeks of intensive learning, practice and feedback, our Top teams are getting ready for their biggest presentation yet as they pitch their solutions at the University of Makati’s Project RISE 2026 Demo Day. 🚀

Swipe through to get a sneak peak of the projects that are redefining how our young techie Makatizens are contributing solutions to make a better Makati and a better Philippines. 💡

Check your inbox for invites. Join us as we recognize our outstanding teams and celebrate the culmination of this incredible journey! 🏆

🚀 THE COUNTDOWN TO INNOVATION BEGINS!

The stage is set for the PROJECT RISE 2025: Top 10 Final Pitch and Demo where the brightest young innovators and changemakers of Makati showcase bold ideas and sustainable solutions that can create real community impact. 🌍✨

Join us as the Top 10 teams present their groundbreaking innovations, entrepreneurial vision, and passion for building a better future through technology, resiliency, and sustainability. From creative solutions to community-driven enterprises, witness how innovation meets purpose in this exciting culmination of Project RISE 2025: A Tomas B. Lopez Jr. Call for Innovation.

📅 May 27, 2026 (Wednesday)
🕐 1:00 PM – 6:00 PM
📍 Makati Diamond Residences

Organized by the University of Makati – CTIED in partnership with QBO Innovation, this event continues to empower young Herons by nurturing innovation, entrepreneurship, and impactful collaboration.

✨ Be inspired.
✨ Celebrate innovation.
✨ Support the next generation of technopreneurs.

🚀🌟 PROJECT RISE 2025: TECHNOPRENEURSHIP 2 🌟🚀

The University of Makati – Center for Technology Incubation and Enterprise Development (CTIED), in partnership with QBO Innovation, proudly launches Project RISE 2025: Technopreneurship 2.0 a dynamic initiative dedicated to empowering Makati youth and barangay representatives through innovation, technology, and entrepreneurship.

Anchored on the values of Resiliency, Innovation, Sustainability, and Entrepreneurship, this program aims to equip participants with the knowledge, mindset, and skills to transform creative ideas into impactful community-driven solutions. 💡🌱

✨ Innovate. Build. Scale. Impact.
Together, let us harness technology and collaboration to create sustainable opportunities, inspire local innovation, and build a brighter future for our communities and the City of Makati.

📅 May 22, 2026 (Friday)
⏰ 8:00 AM – 1:00 PM
📍 Makati Coliseum

Join us as we continue to empower future technopreneurs and community leaders to rise, shine, and innovate anywhere! 🚀

🏆🚀 Project RISE 2025 Highlights Innovation and Excellence During Practice Pitching Session

Project RISE 2025 successfully conducted its Practice Pitching Session last May 6, 2026, providing participating teams with an opportunity to further enhance their presentations, strengthen their business concepts, and refine their pitching skills as they prepare for the next phase of the program.

The session served as a valuable avenue for collaboration, mentorship, and constructive feedback, allowing teams to showcase their innovative ideas, creativity, and entrepreneurial mindset. Through this activity, participants gained insights on how to effectively communicate their solutions and transform their concepts into impactful and sustainable ventures.

Adding excitement to the event was the recognition and awarding of the Top 3 Groups in the Revenue Model for Project RISE Phase 3, celebrating teams that demonstrated outstanding strategic planning, sustainability, and business potential in their proposed ventures. The recognition highlights the program’s commitment to fostering innovation-driven and market-ready solutions among aspiring student innovators and entrepreneurs.

Project RISE 2025 continues to inspire and empower future innovators to rise beyond challenges and turn ideas into meaningful impact. ✨

Exploring innovation beyond the classroom and into real-world impact! 🚀

Last May 5, the Center for Technology Incubation and Enterprise Development together with industry partner Neighborhood Solution OPC visited the Capstone Festival 2026 with the inspiring theme, “SINE-INNOVATE 2.0: Beyond the Frame of Innovation.”

The visit aimed to explore and identify promising capstone projects and innovative student teams with strong potential for startup development, mentorship, and industry collaboration. Through this initiative, CTIED and Neighborhood Solution OPC continue to strengthen the bridge between academe and industry by supporting young innovators in transforming their ideas into feasible and impactful ventures.

We commend all participating students for showcasing creativity, technical excellence, and entrepreneurial potential that truly go beyond the frame of innovation.

From local innovation to the global stage! 🌏✨

Assoc. Prof. Mateo Macalaguing Jr., Director of CTIED, together with Project Development Head Asst. Prof. Lesil Artista, proudly represented the institution at SUSHI TECH 2026 in Tokyo one of the world’s premier gatherings of forward-thinkers, innovators, and technology leaders shaping the future. 🇵🇭🚀

Their participation marks a significant step in strengthening CTIED’s global presence, as they engaged with international startups, industry experts, and innovation ecosystems to exchange ideas, explore emerging technologies, and build meaningful collaborations. From insightful discussions to groundbreaking showcases, the experience opened new doors for opportunities that will further elevate research, incubation, and enterprise development initiatives back home.

More than just attendance, this milestone reflects CTIED’s unwavering commitment to fostering a culture of innovation, empowering Filipino talent, and bridging local initiatives with global advancements. The insights and connections gained from this global platform will fuel more impactful programs and initiatives that drive sustainable and inclusive growth. 🇵🇭✨

Bringing home not just inspiration but a stronger vision for the future of innovation.

𝗖𝗧𝗜𝗘𝗗 𝗨𝗽𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲 | 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗕𝗢𝗢𝗧𝗖𝗔𝗠𝗣

Last April 29 (Wednesday), the Center for Technology Incubation and Enterprise Development (CTIED) with QBO Innovation successfully conducted another engaging session for Project RISE (Resiliency, Innovation, Sustainability & Entrepreneurship): A Tomas B. Lopez Call for Innovation, bringing together our Top 10 teams for a meaningful learning experience.

The BOOTCAMP session on “Fundamentals of Pitching” was led by Shoraliah Macalbe, Head of Startup Development at IdeaSpace and QBO Innovation. The session provided valuable insights on how to effectively communicate ideas, strengthen value propositions, and deliver compelling startup pitches.

In the same event, CTIED and QBO Innovation proudly recognized the outstanding progress of our teams by awarding the Top 3 Startup Teams from the program’s second phase. Each winning team received a ₱50,000 grant incentive in support of their innovative solutions.

Congratulations to all our teams for your dedication and commitment to innovation. Your journey reflects the true spirit of resilience, creativity, and impact.

CTIED continues to champion innovation and entrepreneurship, empowering future leaders to build solutions that matter.

The University of Makati officially joins the first-ever ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026, standing proud as the first Local University and College to participate in this prestigious regional competition, joining more than 240 teams from over 100 institutions across 9 ASEAN countries.

UMak is represented by Rose Ebasto, Michelle Manlapaz, and Asher Jay Pamogas, guided by mentors Assoc. Prof. Judith Batin, Asst. Prof. Lyomari Suelo, and Asst. Prof. Noel Ybañez.

Led by the ASEAN AI Council, supported by Passage to ASEAN (P2A) and Duy Tan University, this event aims to foster AI talent and collaborative solutions to common challenges in Southeast Asia. The top eight teams selected for the finals will present in Da Nang, Vietnam, as part of the ASEAN AI Summit 2026 in July.

RISE. Shine. Anywhere!

The University of Makati is one of the Top 10 and the only LUC in the Food and Agribusiness Category of the Huddle, Analyze, Build, Innovate (HABI) 4.0 Workshop Qualifier for the 2026 National Innovation Day. Organized by the National Innovation Council, HABI is a Pinoy-style design-thinking workshop focused on developing real-world solutions.

UMak, represented by Team Soil-Link, is composed of Asst. Prof. Ramero Caballeda, Assoc. Prof. Dante Feliciano and 4th-year students Michaella Catubig, John Hendrix Hermoso, and Romjiel Adolf Harley Isidro.

They will be competing alongside University of Santo Tomas, Mapúa University, Ateneo de Manila, UP Los Baños, Far Eastern University, University of Nueva Caceres, University of the Cordilleras, Apayao State College, Central Philippine University, SEARCA, and FEATI University.

Best of luck, Herons!

RISE. Shine. Anywhere!

University of Makati at ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026 🇵🇭

Congratulations to the University of Makati for proudly standing as one of the Universities and Colleges representing the Philippines at the ASEAN AI Hackathon 2026! 🎉

The University continues to make its mark in the regional innovation landscape as its student delegation joins over 1,000 participants, 240+ AI-driven projects, and 100 institutions from across nine ASEAN nations in this prestigious gathering of future-ready innovators.

Leading the delegation are Asher Jay C. Pamogas, Michelle S. Manlapaz, and Rose V. Ebasto from the College of Governance and Public Policy, under the guidance of Assoc. Prof. Judith Batin, Asst. Prof. Noel Ybanez, and Asst. Prof. Lyomari Suelo CTIED TBI Coordinators. Their participation reflects the University’s unwavering commitment to excellence in research, innovation, and global competitiveness.

As they take part in this dynamic platform for collaboration and AI-driven solutions, we celebrate their dedication to advancing digital transformation and shaping impactful innovations for the region.

✨ Mabuhay ang UMak! Padayon sa paglikha ng makabagong solusyon para sa bayan at sa ASEAN!

🎉 Congratulations, Team Soil-Link! 🌱🚀

The University of Makati proudly celebrates Team Soil-Link for securing a Top 10 spot in the Food and Agribusiness Category during the HABI Workshop Qualifier of the 2026 National Innovation Day!

Aligned with the theme “AI for Growth, Opportunity, and Sustainability in ASEAN,” this remarkable achievement reflects the team’s dedication to innovation, sustainability, and real-world impact. Their forward-thinking approach to advancing agricultural practices showcases the power of student-led solutions in addressing critical challenges in food security and agribusiness.

As part of the broader initiatives of ASEAN Philippines 2026, this milestone highlights not only the excellence of Team Soil-Link but also the University of Makati’s unwavering commitment to research, entrepreneurship, and nation-building.

🌾 Your journey inspires innovation. Your success uplifts communities.
Padayon, Team Soil-Linkcontinue making a difference for a more sustainable Makati, Philippines and ASEAN! 💡