The clean energy transition isn’t just happening in labs or boardrooms—it’s also being built on university campuses across the Philippines. At the heart of this movement are Technology Business Incubators (TBIs), which help entrepreneurs turn bold ideas into real-world solutions.

That’s why New Energy Nexus Philippines, together with UMWAD Consortium, DOST Region 6, Iloilo Science and Technology University (ISAT U), and Innovate Iloilo, recently hosted an Energy Incubation Program Training for university TBIs in Region 6. This hands-on training brought together 11 universities and institutions* from across the Visayas to build the skills, partnerships, and strategies needed to launch the next generation of climate-tech and clean energy startups.

Here’s what we learned—and why it matters.

1. 🚀 Energy innovation needs a boost from campus to market
From solar-powered aquaculture to digital energy audits, university teams in the Visayas are brimming with ideas. But many clean energy startups still struggle with business models and go-to-market strategies. TBIs are stepping up to fill this gap—but they need more support to guide founders from research to revenue.

2. 🔍 Manual energy audits are holding back progress
Several universities highlighted how energy auditing is still done manually—a time-consuming and inefficient process. Digitizing these audits presents a major opportunity for startups and researchers to develop tech-based solutions that can scale across the region.

3. 📚 Clean energy is sparking curiosity in classrooms
Interest in energy innovation is growing among students and faculty alike. At schools like the Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology, clean energy topics—from IoT to smart grids—are becoming central to research and student projects. That’s a strong sign of a rising talent pipeline.

4. 🏛️ Stronger university integration = stronger incubation
To thrive, TBIs need to be embedded into the fabric of the university—not siloed from students, researchers, or decision-makers. Active outreach and curriculum alignment can help make energy entrepreneurship a core part of the academic journey.

5. 🤝 Co-incubation is the way forward
NEX Philippines is inviting TBIs to co-incubate energy startups with us—combining resources, networks, and expertise. It’s a powerful model for supporting startups that are tackling the region’s biggest energy challenges. (This reflects NEX’s global strategy of ecosystem collaboration.)

6. 💸 Funding and experts are make-or-break for TBIs
TBIs need more than just enthusiasm. Sustained operations require access to technical experts, funding sources, and proven business models. Without this, even the most promising ideas risk stalling out before they leave the lab.

7. 🎓 Energy entrepreneurship needs to be taught
TBIs are exploring how to integrate clean energy into research, extension programs, and classroom instruction. Building climate-tech capacity isn’t just about startup competitions—it’s about transforming the entire education system to prepare innovators for the real world.

Mervin Perez of Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas HIVE TBI, presenting their startup incubation plan.

What’s Next for Region 6?

This training is just the beginning. NEX Philippines is already planning:

• Follow-up workshops on energy trends, startup mentorship, and sustainable business modeling
• Demo days and showcases to spotlight regional clean energy innovations
• Curriculum development aligned with energy entrepreneurship
• Ecosystem-building efforts that connect universities with funders, government, and private sector partners

Behind every climate-tech startup is an ecosystem that helped make it happen. And as this training showed, Region 6 is full of institutions ready to lead.

NEX Philippines is proud to support this momentum—and we’re just getting started. Find out more about our work in the Philippines!

The workshop brought together 11 TBIs and institutions across the region:

West Visayas State University BINHI TBI | University of the Philippines – Visayas Seeds TBI | Iloilo Science and Technology University KWADRA TBI | Technological University of the Philippines – Visayas HIVE | Northern Iloilo State University QUINTO | Capiz State University CAPSULE Agri-Aqua TBI | Central Philippines University CPUGAD TBI | Guimaras State University ISLA TBI | University of Antique | Coastline 5023: DOST – UP Visayas Fisheries TBI | Iloilo State University of Fisheries Science and Technology DIKE

Eva Lisa Adoremos, Senior Vice President of GAIA Corp—a participant of NEXAccelerate Philippines 2025.

While the Philippines’ startup ecosystem is expanding rapidly, clean energy startups remain underrepresented in mainstream acceleration programs.

According to the 2024 ecosystem report by New Energy Nexus (NEX) Philippines, there has been a sixfold increase in clean energy startups, collectively raising nearly $1.3 million. However, 87% of these funds came from grants and competitions, underscoring the sector’s reliance on non-investment-based funding sources.

Recognizing the need for targeted support, NEX Philippines launched NEXAccelerate Philippines 2025, an 8-month program dedicated to helping early-revenue and growth-stage clean energy and climate-tech startups scale their ventures. This year, six startups have joined the cohort, bringing innovative solutions across various sectors, from sustainable mobility to waste management and energy analytics.

Meet the startups with brilliant solutions in a country brimming with clean energy potential:

• Lycan Motorcycles – Lycan Motorcycles is a 100% Filipino-owner electric vehicle (EV) company that designs, engineers and manufactures bespoke electric motorcycles and energy systems. They are the first to develop an AI- and IoT-enabled motorbike in the country.
• Hive Energy PH – Hive Energy PH offers renewable energy-powered portable power stations as back-up power for island communities and businesses.
• GAIA Corp – Focused on climate adaptation, GAIA’s CoolRoof Program is a geoengineering approach that mitigates heat gain by applying reflective coatings on buildings to reduce indoor temperatures and lower energy consumption.
• Next2Fly – They provide a waste management solution through the use of black soldier flies. Next2Fly transforms organic waste into valuable resources such as larvae for animal feed and organic fertilizers.
• Light of Hope  –  Light of Hope brings its renewable energy (RE)-powered cloud grid units to off-grid communities as a source for backup power and alternative energy.
• Bayoa Analytics – Specializing in energy data modeling, Bayoa provides businesses with insights on energy trends and forecasts. Their expertise extends to hardware design (schematics, board designs, and prototyping) and software development, helping clients optimize energy consumption and efficiency.

Photo from Lycan Motorcycles, a participant of NEXAccelerate Philippines 2025

The impact of acceleration programs on clean energy innovation in the Philippines

Startup accelerators like NEXAccelerate Philippines are key to driving clean energy innovation. By providing mentorship, funding access, and business development support, they help startups tackle capital constraints, regulatory challenges, and market barriers.

This year’s cohort—Lycan Motorcycles advancing EV adoption, GAIA enhancing climate resilience with reflective tech, and Next2Fly innovating waste management through circular economy principles—are solving urgent environmental challenges. The program isn’t just about scaling startups; it’s about accelerating the Philippines’ energy transition through homegrown solutions.

With sustained support from investors, policymakers, and industry leaders, initiatives like NEXAccelerate are bridging the funding gap, strengthening ecosystems, and unlocking opportunities for climate-focused entrepreneurs—powering a cleaner, more resilient future.

NEXAccelerate Philippines 2025

The Philippines’ clean energy startup ecosystem is gaining momentum, with more entrepreneurs developing solutions to tackle climate change and advance the energy transition.

NEXAccelerate Philippines empowers startups with the skills, networks, and resources to secure investment and scale. The program includes tailored learning on fundraising and market expansion, expert mentorship, strategic networking, and pitching opportunities to investors and partners.

Ralph Ebora, NEXPH Program Manager for Startup Development, discusses the topic of transitioning to a clean energy economy.

The challenge of transitioning to clean energy

The transition to a 100% clean energy system is a complex undertaking. Energy systems are deeply foundational, influencing every aspect of human society. Transforming infrastructures built over centuries requires collaboration among multiple stakeholders, resources, innovative approaches, and precise timing to succeed.

Key issues such as transforming transport systems, increasing renewable energy adoption, and enabling energy consumers to use energy more efficiently are regularly discussed in conferences and meetings. While some ideas inspire change in communities, many remain just discussions due to limited resources and a lack of clarity on how to proceed.

Participants of Ready, Spark, Charge 2024: Hacking the Future of Energy

What are hackathons for?

Hackathons are events that bring together individuals from diverse sectors to brainstorm and develop innovative solutions to pressing challenges. They provide an impactful platform for turning discussions into action.

The concept of a hackathon combines “hack” (exploratory coding) with “marathon,” emphasizing intensive teamwork and rapid prototyping. While originally centered on software, hackathons have evolved to encompass broader challenges, including those in energy and climate innovation.

Participants of Ready, Spark, Charge 2023

Climate and energy hackathons in the Philippines

Over the past four years, New Energy Nexus Philippines has hosted an annual hackathon to gather energy and climate innovators. These events provide participants with feedback from industry practitioners, improving the feasibility and marketability of their ideas, as well as resources to develop their solutions further.

Continuing this tradition, Ready, Spark, Charge 2024: Hacking the Future of Energy assembled over 30 participants from across the Philippines for 2.5 days of collaboration, problem-solving, and innovation. Teams left not just with ideas but with actionable solutions ready for testing and implementation.

Bradley Cua, resource speaker, engages participants during the gallery walk session, discussing the challenge statement on energy efficiency in industries and offering additional insights.

The hackathon began with participants arriving with eager minds and a shared commitment to solve some of the country’s most pressing energy challenges. The first two days saw participants discuss key energy topics in the Philippines, such as energy efficiency, sustainable transport, and renewable energy adoption.

Drawing from the discussions, they then teamed up to brainstorm viable energy solutions. Experienced business and tech mentors helped narrow down their concepts based on feasibility, marketability, and potential impact.

Joshua Bascos of Team WATTsUp presenting their startup idea during the Day 2 mentoring session.

On the final day, the teams had a few minutes to pitch their solutions to a panel of judges, who probed their ideas, which ranged from eco-friendly briquettes to AI-powered energy assistants. In the end, four standout teams were recognized: Greenewables, SmartER, SolScribe, and WATTsUp.

The hackathon succeeded by generating innovative solutions through a collective effort from its participants. More importantly, it built strong bonds among the country’s future energy changemakers.

Engr. Erickson Tacda and Dr. Marilyn Calub of Greenwables receive the RSC 2024 Grand Champion and Best Pitcher Award.

The impact of collective innovation

The hackathon demonstrated the potential of collaborative innovation in addressing decades-old energy challenges. By bringing together passionate individuals and providing them with resources and guidance, New Energy Nexus Philippines fostered a space where transformative ideas could take root.

The real challenge lies ahead—ensuring that these promising innovations continue to develop and deliver the impact they envision. As these solutions progress, they serve as a beacon of hope for a cleaner, more sustainable energy future in the Philippines and beyond.

Participants of Ready, Spark, Charge 2024: Hacking the Future of Energy

Brenda Valerio is the country director of New Energy Nexus Philippines.