DAVAO CITY- Mindanao has plenty of startups and a steady supply of university spinoffs. What its founders often don’t have is easy access to investors and mentors outside the region. Davao Startup Week 2026, set for November 17-20, is organizers’ attempt to change that.
The festival, themed Founders of the Future: Backing Builders from Davao to the World, is organized by IDEAS Davao and Upgrade Innolab Incorporated, and co-hosted by the Davao City government and the Department of Science and Technology (DOST). Organizers are aiming for more than 2,000 participants across 20-plus events, and they’re courting investors and founders from Manila, the wider Visayas-Mindanao region, and overseas.
The organizers have put numbers on the week. They say it will feature at least 50 startups and innovation-driven MSMEs, host more than 50 structured B2B and investor-founder meetings, and run 10 or more masterclasses. Government agencies will also sit down to align regional innovation policy.
“Davao Startup Week 2026 is a strategic opportunity to position Davao and Mindanao as one of the leading innovation corridors in the Philippines,” said Richard R. Day, president of Upgrade Innolab and the festival’s convener.
“By convening founders, investors, government, academia, and communities over four focused days, the region can spur conversation on how to accelerate enterprise growth, generate quality jobs, and translate innovation into real value for people and local economies.”
Day said organizers want partners across government, industry, and civil society “to collaborate, co-invest, and co-own this initiative so that ‘Founders of the Future: Backing Builders from Davao to the World’ becomes a reality for Davao Region and Mindanao.”
What’s on
- Nov. 16, Pickleball Open Play (Dacudao Loop, Agdao, Davao City). A casual, sport-first meetup the day before the main program, giving early arrivals a chance to meet founders, investors, and ecosystem builders before the sessions begin.
- Nov. 17, Innovation Talent Lab Day (LPU Davao). Aimed at 150-plus students and young people, including developers, UI/UX designers, and first-time founders.
- Nov. 18, Founders Conference (LPU Davao). About 150 founders, entrepreneurs, student innovators, and corporate executives, with sessions on business design, product growth, and IP strategy.
- Nov. 19-20, Mindanao Startup Ecosystem Summit (venue TBA). More than 100 delegates, including technology business incubator (TBI) directors, university innovation officers, incubator managers, and policymakers, are working on aligning regional programs.
- Nov. 19, Davao Investor Mixer (venue TBA). A dealroom for 50-plus VCs, angels, corporate partners, and founders.
- Nov. 20, Startup Champion Awards (venue TBA). 100-plus invited guests, including nominees, ecosystem leaders, media, and sponsors. Organizers will also reveal the 2027 regional ecosystem roadmap.
Why Davao
The sales pitch is that the city pairs corporate infrastructure with university research. Davao is considered one of the stronger startup hubs in the Philippines, with startups working in agritech, the blue economy, e-commerce, logistics, healthtech, and creative industries. Deep-tech spinoffs are coming out of campus programs, including UP Mindanao’s TBI, Ateneo de Davao’s ADDventures, the University of Mindanao’s UMasenso Hub, the UIC Marian Incubator, and USeP AGilab.
Developer communities include Google Developer Group Davao, Davaoeñas in Tech, and the SPACE cybersecurity group. Coworking spaces cluster around Bajada, Poblacion, and Damosa IT Park. Organizers also play up lifestyle; diving off Samal Island and ecotourism around Mt. Apo is a short trip from the business districts.
For out-of-town founders and investors, the offer is access to active regional funds, corporate innovation teams, and a cost-competitive talent pool.
The festival is supported by DTI XI, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), the Mindanao Development Authority (MinDA), and university business incubators. Registration, schedules, and hotel details are available through @davaostartupweek on social media.
