AHG Lab

Last May 6 at Far Eastern University, AHG Lab and the FEU Tech Innovation Center formally signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to foster future collaboration and extend support to FTIC’s incubatees through initiatives that strengthen innovation and entrepreneurship 🔰🚀

The event was opened by Ms. Rossana Adao, Executive Director of FTIC and it was also attended by FTIC key personnel including Mr. Jarvis Muyargas (Senior Director for Student Success), Engr. Daryl David (Senior Director for Innovation and Research), Mr. Norman Nicole Jimenez (Director for Innovation Programs), and Mr. Rafael Francisco (Innovation Program Associate). Other entities such as the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI) Foundation also entered an MOU and MOA, respectively, with FTIC.

The event also marked the launch of the second cohort of the TamLabs Incubation Program, where the new incubatees were officially introduced and welcomed. AHG Lab was likewise invited to participate in the business matching session, where we had the opportunity to meet the new incubatees, share our perspectives, and provide insights on how they can further strengthen and refine their startups.

Excited to see how the new incubatees will grow, thrive, and navigate their startup journeys in the months ahead! 🌟

🔗 Learn more about FTIC programs: https://www.feutech.edu.ph/academics/innovcent

AHG Lab at the John Gokongwei School of Management Prototype Festival ⚙️💡

AHG Lab, represented by our Lead for Partnerships and Ecosystem Development, Joshua Lacson Mabanag, attended in the Prototype Festival of the John Gokongwei School of Management (JGSOM) at Ateneo de Manila University alongside Justine Ngo (Value Creation Associate, Gobi Partners) and Szachi Ducusin (Startup and Innovation Program Manager, 917Ventures) as industry panelists for the groups under Ms. Alea Ladaga, Faculty Lecturer at the JGSOM Leadership and Strategy Department.

Held last April 23, the event gathered a diverse range of student-led innovations spanning retail, consumer products, satellite navigation, and other emerging solutions. Students presented not only their prototypes but also the deeper insights, market gaps, and real-world challenges that inspired their ideas.

The Marketing 145 Prototype Festival is a University-mandated event where third-year students from BS Management, BS Management-Honors, and BS Restaurant Entrepreneurship showcase their thesis prototypes to the Ateneo community. Throughout the presentations, students demonstrated thoughtful problem-solution fit, compelling value propositions, and promising early-stage MVPs that reflected both creativity and strategic thinking.

It was inspiring to witness students take on meaningful problems with curiosity and purpose. Seeing young entrepreneurs transform ideas into tangible and practical solutions reflects the growing strength of the startup and innovation ecosystem in the Philippines 💙

🔗 Know more about John Gokongwei School of Management: https://www.ateneo.edu/jgsom

Last April 29, AHG Lab hosted a session on Investment and Fundraising as part of the Falcon Incubation Program: Fledgling Series 2026! 💰📊

The Fledgling Series is an intensive program designed to support early-stage startups and entrepreneurs as they build and refine their ventures managed by Adamson University Neo Science and Technology Incubation Center (AduNEST).

Throughout the program, Adamson University Neo Science and Technology Incubation Center incubatees went through lectures and workshops on startup clarity, market-solution fit, legal and compliance, and financial modeling, ending the series with an investment and fundraising session led by AHG Lab.

The session was led by our CEO and Co-Founder, Mr. Rene Cuartero, with support from our Lead for Partnerships and Ecosystem Development, Mr. Joshua Lacson Mabanag. It was a fun and engaging discussion, with incubatees actively sharing and asking questions. We were also able to exchange insights and perspectives to help guide them as they think through their investment and fundraising strategies in their startup journey.

Many thanks to AdUNEST and Mr. Joseph Carlo Halili, Marketing and Partnerships Officer, for the invitation and for trusting us to be part of the program. We are glad to see more young entrepreneurs stepping into the startup space! 💡

🔗 Explore more about AdUNEST: https://www.facebook.com/adunestinc/

Showcasing Filipino Innovation at the 2026 National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE) ⚙️💡

Last April 27 and 28, the Department of Science and Technology - Technology Application and Promotion Institute (DOST-TAPI) hosted the National Invention Contest and Exhibits (NICE), a biennial event that celebrates the ingenuity, creativity, and technological capabilities of Filipino inventors, researchers, and innovators.

Our Lead for Partnerships and Ecosystem Development, Joshua Lacson Mabanag, attended the event and witnessed the showcase of NICE finalists. He also explored exhibits featuring Internet of Things solutions and science-backed innovations, among others.

The event opened with remarks from Ms. Marion Ivy Decena, followed by an inspiring message from Mr. Renato Solidum Jr. Attendees experienced a program filled with product showcases, exhibit booths, pitching sessions, and an awarding ceremony.

The 2026 NICE featured national qualifiers from the 2025 Regional Invention Contests and Exhibits (ClusteRICE), competing across categories such as invention, utility model, industrial design, creative research, and student creative research.

We are a proud partner of DOST TAPI and remain committed to supporting its programs that accelerate innovation and scientific breakthroughs! 🚀

🔗 Learn more about NICE: https://www.dost.gov.ph/knowledge-resources/news/4376-dost-invention-contest-opens-opportunities-for-filipino-innovators-2.html

AHG LAB APRIL NEWSLETTER 2026-04 IS HERE! 📨

We continue to strengthen our ecosystem development efforts by working closely with the academe and supporting government initiatives.

The rise of TBIs in the Philippines reflects both progress and a growing passion among young entrepreneurs, while helping shape the next generation of talent for the country’s startup ecosystem. At the same time, government programs such as DOST TAPI’s NICE program aim to empower local innovators to bring their ideas to life and scale their impact.

Our portfolio ventures are also pursuing more strategic partnerships to deepen collaboration and unlock new opportunities. In Q2 they are expected to sustain their progress that will support continued momentum and long term growth.

🗂 Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/AHG-April2026Newsletter04
🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gK7Ur6pX

HAPPENING TODAY: The new edition of Founders Circle is officially kicking off! 🚀

Today, Founder Mode++: Onboarding your AI Co-founder is where ideas turn into action, connections spark opportunities, and founders come together to know how AI is changing the game in this era.

Don't miss the momentum, as this is where it all begins!

Made possible in partnership with JLL Philippines and Alibaba Cloud

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YOUR EDGE STARTS HERE 🚀

AHG Lab is a proud community partner of the Founders Circle 2026 series!

🔎 Are you ready to discover, connect, and learn more about how AI can step up your startup?

Founder Mode++: Onboarding your AI Co-founder opens doors for founders to gain insights into how builders are managing labor-intensive tasks in their startups with OpenClaw, Hermes Agent, ElizaOS, Claude Code, and other autonomous AI agents.

What to expect in this year's Founder Circle?
🤔 Live Autonomous Agent Showcases: Watch founders demo how they have successfully incorporated Autonomous Agents into running their startups for more than just coding!

🗣 Real-talk Interactive Panel Discussion: Get to ask your questions to our panel of Autonomous AI experts as they will dive into a discussion on 2026's evolving startup landscape and the strategic panel needed to stay ahead.

🌐 Networking Opportunities: Connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and professionals dedicated to making a positive impact through technology

✅ Tactical Alpha: Walk away with the exact technical and strategic stack needed to deploy and use autonomous agents immediately.

So, mark your calendars and join us on April 15, Wednesday, from 5:30 PM to 8:00 PM at JLL Philippines.

Don't miss out! Lock in your spot now and register here: https://bit.ly/FounderModePlus

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AHG Lab is a proud community partner for 𝐐𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝐀𝐈 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤 — co-hosted by Alibaba Cloud/Qwen, and GenAI Fund.

Two back-to-back events are happening in Ho Chi Minh City this April and we think you should be there.

🛠️ 𝐐𝐰𝐞𝐧 𝐀𝐈 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐲 — 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟏
For AI developers, engineers, and startup founders ready to build on something real.

Here's how it works:
→ Join the kickoff webinar on April 10 to get briefed on the enterprise challenge tracks and Qwen technical sharing. You can participate solo or as a team.
→ You'll then have one week to build your solution from anywhere.
→ On April 21, come to Ho Chi Minh City in person to pitch live to a panel of judges. The top 3 teams advance to the main stage at Alibaba Cloud SME AI Growth Day Vietnam 2026 the very next day — in front of enterprises actively looking to deploy.

If you're serious about building AI that enterprises actually want to deploy, this is your room.

Register for Qwen AI Build Day 👉: https://bit.ly/4m3wQPa

—------------------
🚀 𝐀𝐥𝐢𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐚 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐒𝐌𝐄 𝐀𝐈 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐭𝐡 𝐃𝐚𝐲 𝐕𝐢𝐞𝐭𝐧𝐚𝐦 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔 — 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟐𝟐
A full-day AI festival for founders, SMEs, enterprises, and anyone who wants to see what AI actually looks like when it works in production. Not in a deck, not in a demo reel. Live, on stage, in front of you.

Why you should be there:
→ 🏆See the top 3 finalist teams from Qwen AI Build Day demo live on stage in front of enterprises ready to deploy
→ 🔬Hands-on labs with Qwen and Wan — guided by Alibaba Cloud's technical team
→ 🤝Enterprise decision-makers in the room exploring real partnerships and deployment opportunities
→ 🎁Attend in person and claim up to 2 billion free AI tokens on Model Studio

Register for Alibaba Cloud SME AI Growth Day by 𝐀𝐩𝐫𝐢𝐥 𝟏𝟕 👉: https://bit.ly/4sHZcAW

Both events are free. Seats are limited and curated.

If AI is on your agenda this April, this is where you need to be.

AHG Lab went to Bangkok 🇹🇭

AHG Lab, represented by our Lead for Partnerships and Ecosystem Development, Joshua Lacson Mabanag, had the privilege of attending the networking reception of the IFC She Wins Climate Investor Summit last March 26 at Chatrium Sathon in Bangkok, Thailand.

We would like to extend our gratitude to New Energy Nexus for the invitation. It was a pleasure seeing and connecting with their team, including Ms. Brenda Valerio (Country Director, Philippines), Ms. Kanokmars Sananoy (Program Manager, Thailand), and Mr. Dayther Manubag (Program Associate, Philippines).

We also had the privilege to engage with other leaders of New Energy Nexus — Ms. Natcha Tulyasuwan (Country Director of New Energy Nexus Thailand) and Ms. Vicky Tsang (Gender, Solutions and Impact Lead for East Asia and the Pacific of World Bank). We were able to exchange insights on the evolving climate and sustainability ecosystems across Southeast Asia. While our countries share similar demographic opportunities, the real differentiator lies in the level of support and momentum driving founders in the climate space. It is inspiring to witness the steady growth of startups in this sector, fueled by the collective efforts of governments, enablers, and organizations like New Energy Nexus that champion innovation and impact.

We are grateful for the opportunity to build new connections and learn from our neighboring ecosystems. At AHG Lab, we remain committed to fostering collaborations and supporting initiatives that accelerate not only the Philippine startup ecosystem, but the global innovation landscape as well 🚀

🔗 Learn more about New Energy Nexus: https://www.newenergynexus.com/

AHG LAB MARCH NEWSLETTER 2026-03 IS HERE! 📨

March celebrates leadership in all its forms, as AHG Lab takes time to highlight the women in our ecosystem who are boldly driving change, challenging norms, and paving the way for the next generation of leaders.

This month’s newsletter highlights our engagements supporting government efforts to shape the startup landscape, as well as our portfolio ventures that are driving innovation, leading their industries, and supporting global partners during a time of crisis.

🗂 Read the full article here: https://tinyurl.com/AHGMarch2026Newsletter03
🔗 Subscribe to our newsletter: https://lnkd.in/gK7Ur6pX

Celebrating Women of AHG Lab — Ms. Belle Toledo 🌸

Women in the transportation sector? That’s more than just a cool flex. While it has not always been common to see women in this industry, more are stepping in, exploring opportunities, and truly thriving. Their presence proves that no industry is defined by gender, only by passion, dedication, and the drive to succeed.

Ms. Isabelle Toledo , Head of Brand and Marketing Operations at DOON Philippines, exemplifies this shift. She leverages her strengths as a female leader to guide an all women marketing team, fostering a culture of growth, collaboration, and belonging. She ensures that every voice is heard and every individual is seen, which is a powerful kind of leadership.

To any woman who feels hesitant or intimidated about entering an industry perceived as male dominated, know that your potential is not limited by stereotypes. What matters most is your courage to pursue your goals and the heart you bring to your work!

🚘 Got an idle car sitting around or looking for one to use? Check out DOON: https://www.doon.ph/