Iloilo city: Representatives of 37 businesses from Region 6 (Western Visayas) have received skills and network-building training through the Department of Trade and Industry's (DTI) Moonshot TNK ASPIRE Startup Bootcamp, aimed to help them become major players in their field.

According to Philippines News Agency, DTI, in a press release on Friday, said the training on Aug. 28 was participated in by businesses involved in early-stage manufacturing, information and communication, agriculture, and service sectors. The program is tailored to support Filipino entrepreneurs aged 18 and above who are in the initial stages of their business-from prototype to minimum viable product (MVP).

DTI said participants are given lessons on essential business skills such as business identity and team building, design thinking and business model canvas, digital marketing and operations, startup finance, and pitching and presentation. Participants who finish the program will have the opportunity to participate in the Moonshot TNK MentorMatch Pitching Competition, a platform designed to connect promising startups with potential investors.

"This aligns with the Innovative Startup Act, which aims to foster an environment where scalable, innovative enterprises can thrive," DTI stated. Trade and Industry Secretary Cristina Roque remarked that the program is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.'s bid to empower local economies and drive inclusive growth.

"Under the leadership of President Marcos Jr., we are committed to a 'Bagong Pilipinas' that uplifts every Filipino, no matter where they are in the country. By investing in our regional startups, we are diversifying our economic base and creating new engines of growth in every province to ensure our progress is resilient and sustainable for years to come," she said.