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CPUGAD TBI and Wadhwani Foundation – Philippines sealed a Co-Incubation Agreement

by | Jan 16, 2026 | Centralian Link

By CPUGAD TBI


CPUGAD TBI and Wadhwani Foundation – Philippines formalize their partnership by signing a Co-Incubation Agreement on December 5, 2025, at CPU during the ‘Ideas Progressing to Ventures’ Workshop.

In a major move to support local entrepreneurs, CPUGAD TBI and the Upskill Development Network Foundation Inc., Wadhwani Foundation – Philippines officially joined forces by signing a Co-Incubation Agreement on December 5, 2025.

The signing ceremony took place at the Central Philippine University (CPU) during the “Ideas Progressing to Ventures” (IPV) Workshop. This partnership is designed to help new businesses grow by providing them with expert mentoring, technical training, and the resources they need to succeed in the competitive world of technology and innovation.

Representing Central Philippine University were:

  • Ernest Howard Dagohoy (President)
  • Aries Roda D. Romallosa (Acting VP for Research, Development, and Extension)
  • Gelvie C. Lagos (CPUGAD TBI Project Leader)

Representing the Wadhwani Foundation was Mr. Lucrecio D. Delgado, Jr. (Country Lead), supported by Senior Consultant Matt Rodnie T. Matias.

Through this agreement, both organizations will work together to build a stronger “startup pipeline” in the region. This means they will offer better curriculum support and capacity-building for founders, ensuring that local ideas have the best chance of becoming successful companies.

The partnership follows a successful milestone where CPUGAD TBI was selected as one of the IPV Nominees of the Wadhwani Foundation. Out of the 12 teams chosen from Central Philippines, 10 came from CPU and two from the University of the Philippines Visayas (UPV).

To celebrate this nomination, a special workshop was held earlier that same day with the theme: “Startup Failure Nights—Learning from Failure to Scale.” This event focused on a side of business rarely talked about: what happens when things go wrong and how to use those lessons to grow.

Highlights of the Workshop:

  • Investor Storytelling: Experts like Renjo Debil (CPUGAD TBI), Jose Francisco Gerona (PCCI Iloilo), and Martin Ortiz (FyrLab Accelerator) shared “behind-the-scenes” stories of missed deals and red flags. This gave the startup founders a raw, honest look at what investors actually look for.
  • Market & Finance Skills: Lucrecio D. Delgado Jr. led hands-on sessions teaching teams how to calculate their market size and create three-year financial plans using real data.
  • AI-Powered Pitching: Matt Rodnie Matias hosted an “AI Pitch Perfect” masterclass, showing founders how to use Artificial Intelligence to sharpen their business presentations.

Engr. Gelvie C. Lagos expressed deep gratitude to the Wadhwani Foundation for their trust. By working together, CPUGAD TBI and the Wadhwani Foundation are making sure that entrepreneurs in the region don’t just start businesses—they build ventures that are ready for the global stage.