The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) has revised the guidelines for its Startup Grant Fund (SGF), introducing three funding categories offering grants of up to P1.5 million and allowing individual founders and unregistered startup teams to qualify for assistance.
The revised guidelines were unveiled by the DICT’s ICT Industry Development Bureau (IIDB) during the closing ceremony of Philippine Startup Week on Nov. 12 at the Quezon City MICE Center.
Under the new framework, startups can apply for funding based on their stage of development, from proof of concept to early commercial growth.
The program offers three funding tracks:
- Track A – Proof of Concept to Prototype: Grants of up to P500,000 for aspiring founders developing working prototypes from their initial concepts.
- Track B – Prototype to Minimum Viable Product: Grants of up to P1 million for startups converting prototypes into minimum viable products (MVPs).
- Track C – MVP to Product-Market Fit to Early Growth: Grants of up to P1.5 million for startups seeking to establish a market presence and expand their operations.
One of the major changes allows individual Filipino founders and startup teams that have not yet registered their businesses to apply for funding under Track A.
Previously unregistered applicants selected for Track A must commit to formally registering their startups.
Meanwhile, applicants under Tracks B and C must already have registrations with the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) or Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), as well as Startup Philippines registration.
The DICT said grant funding will be released in tranches tied to specific development milestones rather than disbursed in a single payment.
The milestone-based arrangement is intended to ensure that recipients demonstrate measurable progress before receiving subsequent funding.
Apart from financial assistance, the revised program includes structured mentorship, technical support, industry connections, and access to investment networks.
These services are intended to help grant recipients refine their products, develop business models, attract potential investors, and expand their customer base.
The SGF operates under Republic Act No. 11337, or the Innovative Startup Act, which provides the legal framework for government support to innovative startups in the Philippines.
The revised guidelines form part of the DICT’s implementation of the Philippine Startup Development Program under the law.
The DICT said it will open applications for the revised Startup Grant Fund on Nov. 23, 2026.
Individual Filipino founders and startup teams interested in securing funding may apply under the appropriate track, subject to the program’s eligibility and registration requirements.
