By CPUGAD TBI
CPU student CEO Matt Rafael Genito celebrates earning the Venture Leader Scholarship and completing Quest Ventures’ Venture Capital Accelerated Program, an achievement that complements CPU’s Entrepreneurial University initiatives and advances PackUp’s leadership in innovation.
Central Philippine University (CPU) and CPUGAD Technology Business Incubator (TBI) proudly announce a significant milestone in student leadership: Matt Rafael Genito, the visionary Centralian Student CEO of our startup incubatee PackUp, is the first Centralian student CEO to successfully complete the highly-regarded Venture Capital Accelerated (VCA) program and earn the prestigious Venture Leader Scholarship from Quest Ventures. Quest Ventures is a leading venture capital firm that invests in technology startups across Asia. This achievement powerfully underscores CPU’s commitment to fostering not just academic excellence, but globally competitive entrepreneurial leadership.
The intensive Venture Capital Accelerated (VCA) program (Program Code: VCA202) is a fast-track, 1-day in-person course specifically designed for high-potential individuals, including aspiring VCs, angel investors, and entrepreneurs. The specialized curriculum focuses on demystifying the venture capital (VC) ecosystem, which is the essential fuel driving the global startup economy. The program was led by Mr. James Tan, Managing Partner at Quest Ventures and a co-founder of a NASDAQ-listed e-commerce group in China, and curated by Professor Paris de l’Etraz of the Venture Lab at IE Business School. Held on November 12, 2025, at the Henry Sy, Sr. Innovation Center (MC-HSSIC), the Philippines’ first integrated makerspace, the program provided Mr. Genito with comprehensive, advanced insights into investment dynamics.
Mr. Genito secured the highly competitive Venture Leader Scholarship—awarded based on criteria that include recognizing top applicants and youth leaders (25 and under)—by demonstrating exceptional potential. This scholarship is immensely valuable, covering the program’s full course fee of USD 2,500 per individual, providing Genito access to high-level strategic training that would otherwise be cost-prohibitive for a student-led startup. The program exposed him to a large network of partners and mentors, allowing him to sharpen investment fundamentals through a curriculum that included Developing an Investment Thesis, Startup Evaluation (e.g., deal sourcing and identifying high-growth opportunities), the Due Diligence Process, Valuations and Returns, and crucial Emerging Markets Access. Understanding the mechanics of VC funding is key to navigating the critical early growth stage of a startup, often referred to as the “Valley of Death.”
By earning the Venture Leader Scholarship and completing the VCA program, Mr. Genito validates himself, PackUp, and, crucially, reinforces CPU’s strategic vision as a potent channel of innovation. This experience equips PackUp’s leadership with an elevated strategic playbook, deepening their core understanding of their audience, ecosystem, and the requirements for securing capital within the international venture landscape. This success is a direct reflection of the University’s dedication to providing an environment where student innovators are technically proficient and strategically equipped for the demands of the global market. Furthermore, this milestone complements the strategic initiatives and efforts of the university in becoming a leading entrepreneurial university, demonstrating the undeniable results of integrating academic knowledge with high-level business strategy.
The achievement of the first Centralian Student CEO securing this scholarship is a source of immense pride, directly translating into tangible benefits for the University. This success validates the efficacy of the CPUGAD TBI N^3 ( incubation program), demonstrating that our incubation efforts produce leaders who meet global standards of investment readiness. It significantly raises the profile and credibility of CPU’s academic programs—particularly Packaging Engineering—on a national platform, serving as a powerful magnet for future talented students seeking entrepreneurial careers. Moreover, Mr. Genito’s newly established network with Quest Ventures and other industry leaders provides CPUGAD TBI with an invaluable bridge to the global Venture Capital ecosystem, potentially attracting future funding, research opportunities, and mentorship back to our campus and the Western Visayas region. For the MSME clients that PackUp serves, this means the startup is now better positioned than ever to deliver highly effective, scalable, and investment-ready packaging solutions, driving economic growth and affirming the University’s crucial role as a key socio-economic engine in the region.