With its young, tech-savvy, and educated young population, along with government and private support initiatives, the Philippine startup ecosystem is rapidly growing and gaining momentum.
The country ranked #5 in Global Innovation Index 2022 among ASEAN member states and accounted for 3.9% of the total $15.8 billion in startup equity funding raised in Southeast Asia in 2022. In the same year, the investment landscape expanded to 9% from its 2% record in 2020 despite the overall worldwide investment downturn.

The Philippine government is taking several measures to streamline support services for the startup ecosystem, including developing an eGov app as a single operating system for all government transactions. The platform will act as a one-stop-shop for business permits and strategic investments. Local startups receive support from the Startup Venture Fund, the Grant Fund, and various incubation and acceleration programs from public and private organizations. The Philippine Development Plan for 2023–2028 also seeks to accelerate startup growth through integration into global value chains.

Ranking among the 2022 top startup ecosystems in the Asia Pacific, Manila is the most active startup ecosystem in the Philippines, potentially becoming the leading hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in Southeast Asia. Other highly urbanized cities, including Naga, Iloilo, Cebu, and Davao also show potential as startup destinations, with the expansion of government and private support through Regional Inclusive Innovation Centers. These virtual platforms engage innovation stakeholders from government, industry, and academia to develop and improve startups’ market solutions.