By CPUGAD TBI
Dappli and ArticuLit, incubated by CPUGAD TBI, participate in DTI VI’s benchmarking and market linkage activities in Metro Manila from December 18–20, 2025, gaining insights to scale their startups nationally.
The gap between regional innovation and national success is narrowing. At CPUGAD TBI, we believe that while our startups begin in the “regional nest” of Western Visayas, their growth should not be limited by geography. Recently, two of our flagship incubatees—Dappli and ArticuLit—demonstrated this by expanding their reach into the major tech hubs of Metro Manila.
The journey began in November at the Moonshot TNK 2.0 MentorMatch in Iloilo. This event served as a critical starting point, where Jesse Jot Auma (CEO of Dappli) and Basil Jermanos Amso (CEO of ArticuLit) were paired with their mentor Jay Fajardo, the CEO of LaunchGarage. This connection provided the professional guidance needed to transition from a local mindset to a national strategy.
From December 18 to 20, 2025, the founders traveled to Metro Manila for a benchmarking and market linkage mission supported by DTI Region VI. stepped into the boardrooms of industry powerhouses like Plug and Play, LaunchGarage, Brainsparks, and the Meridian Innovation Center.
By visiting these facilities, our CEOs saw firsthand the business standards and operational excellence required to compete on a larger scale.
For Basil, the trip was about gaining a “big picture” perspective. He realized that long-term success requires looking far beyond current operations:
“It highlighted the importance of thinking beyond where we are now and focusing on expansion and long-term impact. Truly grateful for the opportunity and the people who made this experience meaningful.”
Jesse focused on how different parts of the tech ecosystem work together to support a growing business. The experience helped him refine his business model:
“Visiting these hubs allowed me to understand better how innovation ecosystems support startup growth and collaboration. I am especially thankful for the opportunity to learn from my startup mentor, Sir Jay Fajardo, CEO of LaunchGarage, whose guidance and insights helped me reflect on our direction, sharpen our strategy, and approach the market with greater clarity and confidence.”
As the only private university-based TBI in Region VI, CPUGAD underscores the university’s leadership in innovation and technopreneurship and its vision to be a leading entrepreneurial university in Western Visayas. The office supports and empowers entrepreneurs to look beyond local borders, proving that Western Visayan startups have the vision and grit to succeed nationally.
Jesse and Basil return home with more than just new contacts; they bring back improved systems and a global mindset. Their opportunity shows that with the right mentorship and the willingness to step out of their comfort zone, regional startups are fully capable of reaching national heights.