AS WESTERN Visayas continues its ascent as a premier innovation hub, FyrLab Accelerator by the NGO Youth First Initiative Philippines is set to convene the region’s founders, investors, and policymakers for FyrFest Iloilo 2025.
The one-day startup conference and networking event will take place today, December 10, 2025, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Panay Ballroom, The Venue Function Rooms, Smallville Complex, Mandurriao, Iloilo City.
Centered on the theme “Connect and Collab: Fueling Shared Innovation Milestones in Western Visayas,” the event serves as a victory lap for a landmark year in the local ecosystem.
A Year of Historic Wins for Western Visayas
FyrFest 2025 comes on the heels of major global and national recognition for Iloilo. Iloilo City has been ranked No. 5 in the Philippines and No. 744 globally in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index by StartupBlink.
Furthermore, the UMWAD Western Visayas Consortium, the association of startup enablers, was recently recognized by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) and the Wadhwani Foundation as the “Most Vibrant Startup Ecosystem” in the country.
“Everything we have achieved as individual stakeholders and collectively as an ecosystem is an acknowledgment that we cannot do it alone,” the organizers said. “Strong relationships are key to bringing us all together toward the success that we want for ourselves.”
Policy and Innovation in Action
The event will highlight pivotal developments that shaped 2025, including:
* The approval of the Iloilo Startup Development Ordinance by the Iloilo Provincial Government, which aims to support the discovery and scaling of local startups. This ordinance notably paved the way for the first Iloilo Province Startup Hackathon.
* The drafting of the Regional Action Plan for Startup Development, a policy road map designed to guide the ecosystem for the next five years.
* Local startups gaining national acclaim, including Rezbin (Presidential Filipinnovation Awards) and DiaSight (DICT Philippine Startup Challenge).
Spotlight on FyrLab Cohort 3
A key highlight of FyrFest will be the showcase of FyrLab’s Cohort 3 (FL3). As the only accelerator of its kind in Western Visayas and the Negros Island Region, FyrLab is currently supporting five teams championing technology-driven innovation.
Supported by funds from DOST Region 6 and the UMWAD Western Visayas Consortium, this cohort has received a total of P500,000 in cash and value, covering operational, product, and funding-readiness mentorship—a first for the program. DOST Region 6 this year has invested P4.3 million in value—talent, expertise, services—via Youth First Initiative Philippines to run FyrLab.
Event Highlights
FyrFest Iloilo 2025 will feature insightful talks from key ecosystem players, business-matching opportunities, and a toast to the partnerships that made these milestones possible.
About FyrLab Accelerator
FyrLab Accelerator, run by Youth First Initiative Philippines and funded by DOST Region 6, is the premier startup accelerator in Western Visayas. It is dedicated to forging resilient startups through mentorship, resource access, and community collaboration./PN
