QUEZON CITY -- The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) is implementing the DICT Startup Grant Fund (SGF) to help Filipino entrepreneurs and startups realize their innovative ideas and plans. Through its ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB), the DICT will give startup founders access to government funding.

“Together with DOST and DTI, your DICT is one of the lead agencies mandated to strengthen, promote, and develop the Philippine Startup Ecosystem. Following the enactment of the Innovative Startup Act, your DICT has launched its own Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program (DSDAP) which aims to foster an environment of innovative and competitive mindsets among innovators, enablers, and startup enthusiasts,” DICT Acting Secretary Emmanuel Rey “Manny” R. Caintic said.
“The DICT Startup Grant Fund is made possible pursuant to the Innovative Startup Act. Your DICT believes that by strengthening the startup ecosystem, it would further encourage technopreneurship nationwide. For instance, through the DSDAP, your DICT can help different cities by raising awareness, promoting, and offering programs to guide and mentor enthusiasts to improve their respective startup communities,” he added.

DICT Startup Grant Fund is just one of the components of the Digital Startup Development and Acceleration Program (DSDAP). DSDAP aims to establish a strong Philippine Startup Ecosystem by providing support that will enrich and strengthen the competitive advantage of Filipino startups.

The DICT SGF targets to bridge the gap of early-stage funding, as well as train startups to be ready for the challenges imposed by the emerging digital economy. Our goal is to focus on providing access to opportunities for new and early-stage startups relating to startup development, capacity-building, and network-building.

On March 10, 2022, DICT conducted a public consultation to orient stakeholders on the guidelines of the SGF. This was attended by startup founders, enablers, and other concerned individuals and groups and facilitated by IIDB Director Emmy Lou Delfin.

She opened the session by stating, “We’re happy and we are all excited to share with you today about the DICT grant fund. We want to give you information and ask for your inputs as well because we want the guidelines to be inclusive. At the end of the day, kayo po ang makikinabang dito.”

“We at the DICT aim to continuously build a stronger Filipino startup community. We will make sure that the DICT Startup Grant Fund can be the starting point of the next successful and relevant startups in the country,” DICT Chief Caintic asserted. (DICT)