Two powerhouse student startup teams from Naga College Foundation, Inc. (NCF) have advanced to the Top 20 Regional Qualifiers of the Philippine Startup Challenge (PSC) XI 2026, showcasing the institution’s rising prowess in digital innovation and technological entrepreneurship—the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) Region V confirms today, October 15, 2026.
Following a rigorous and competitive screening phase out of 90 entries from across the Bicol Region, NCF’s student-led innovative technological solutions successfully secured their places among the elite Top 20 teams set to compete in the Regional Competition on October 22, 2026, in Legazpi City, Albay.
Representing the institution with cutting-edge, ICT-enabled solutions are CoopGuard [Manok.js] from the College of Computer Studies (CCS) and CIVVIA ‘Ask the City’ [PRO-Digi] from the College of Business and Management (CBM).
CoopGuard [Manok.js] is spearheaded by student startup founders Joshua Rovic Sanota, Phoebe Marie Viñas, and Justin Go Malate, under the mentorship of Engr. John Roy V. Galvez, CCS Technology Business Incubation (TBI) Coordinator.
Meanwhile, CIVVIA ‘Ask the City’ [PRO-Digi] is helmed by student innovators Janelle Millapre, Abegail Oledilis, and Balder Aberos, guided by Mr. Seven Gadian, CBM TBI Coordinator.
In a Facebook post, the NCF Startup Founders Association recognized the teams’ “creativity, dedication, and commitment to developing innovative solutions that address real-world challenges” and encouraged them to “keep innovating, keep pushing boundaries, and continue making NCF proud.”
The Philippine Startup Challenge XI, organized by the DICT through its ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB), serves as the country’s premier startup competition for student teams building ICT-enabled solutions powered by artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), software, Web3, blockchain, mixed reality, and other emerging technologies.
Following the regional leg in Legazpi City, the competition will culminate at the National Finals on November 11, 2026, during the annual Philippine Startup Week, where top student innovators will pitch their solutions directly to industry leaders and ecosystem enablers.
As part of the regional stage, the startup team that garners the highest number of combined heart reacts and shares on official DICT platform will be recognized during the Awarding Ceremony.
The NCF community is encouraged to show its unwavering support and Tiger pride by casting votes for the institution’s official qualifiers through their respective voting links:
CoopGuard [Manok.js] Click here to vote: https://www.facebook.com/share/1Bx8H1rryk/ CIVVIA ‘Ask the City’ [PRO-Digi]
Click here to vote: https://www.facebook.com/share/19fTDPAFSC/