Technology Entrepreneurs Wanted

Finally, a government-organized business incubation facility within reach

THE DEPARTMENT OF Science and Technology (DOST) and the Philippine Economic Zone Authority (PEZA)

recently inaugurated the DOST-PEZA Open Technology Business Incubator (TBI)project, with the aim of giving Filipino technology entrepreneurs and local businessmen the means to make it big in the global market.

Located at the ASTI Compound inside the UP Science and Technology Park at the University of the Philippines campus in Diliman, Quezon City, the Open TBI project was designed to attract technology entrepreneurs specializing in open source software, content and hardware development.

This is the first technology business incubator launched by DOST and PEZA; a second incubator site is being planned at the UP Los Baños campus in Laguna.

The Advanced Science and Technology Institute (ASTI), a line agency of the DOST, is tasked with extending technical assistance to locators within the incubator, while the Technology Resource Center (TRC) is responsible for the overall management and operation of the facility.

The impressive facility, made from refurbished container vans, boasts of over 20 ready-to-occupy units, or offices. Each unit can house a team of 10 people comfortably, with the facility having physical security and upkeep services. Its shared facilities include meeting rooms and training and video-conferencing equipment. The incubator shall also extend legal, financial and administrative services to its tenants. TBI participants will also undergo a technology matching and forecasting program to help them establish their own network of partners.

Interested applicants are encouraged to drop by the incubator’s administrative offices at the UP Diliman campus or check its website http://www.opentbi.org for details. Successful applications are processed and reviewed by a steering committee. — JC Medina

WHAT EARLY LOCATORS SAY

XYNIX DESIGN CONSULTANCY AND SERVICES INC. belongs to the first batch of startup companies availing of TBI’s services. Xynix offers both digital and analog integrated circuit (IC) design. Owners John Imperial, Robert Minguez II, Anthony Cabrera and Lawrence Dumalag take pride in their mixed-signal circuit design, which stemmed out of their previous work experiences at Numonyx Design Center in Cavite. Cabrera says: “Our team is experienced in both the digital and analog aspects of circuit design. Some companies offer only one of the two.”

With P2-million startup capital, Xynix believes in stating small, watching out for expenses that might hike their operating costs. TBI offers a low rental rate plus a full line of development services like server hosting services and PC rental agreements. Minguez says: “These services provide us a lot of flexibility in managing our expenses, especially as we expect to burn money in our first year of operations. Another important assistance they offer is the one-stop shop of legal, HR, accounting and business management services.”

PHILIPPINE OPEN SOURCE DISTRIBUTION INC. provides open-source installation and migration solutions. Their initial product offering is a program that integrates software, harware, and training to transition schools’ computer laboratories and students to use open source software and technologies.

Owners Roy Canseco and Ronnie Canseco learned about the Open TBI project in May this year. Roy says that TBI provides more than office space. “They provide a wonderful environment for tech-based startups to grow,” he says. “The place is a walk aways from experts in ASTI as well as those in the University of the Philippines Diliman. The neighboring offices are also in the ICT industry and when you put people like these together, who knows what amazing ideas can come up while talking over coffee.” — Michelle Cortes-Luciano

Source: ENTREPRENEUR PHILIPPINES MAGAZINE November 2009 Issue