Two global foundations, built by visionary Asian technopreneurs, Diosdado Banatao and Romesh Wadhwani, who made their mark in Silicon Valley, are joining forces to give back—championing the next generation of Filipino innovators.
The Philippine S&T Development Foundation (PhilDev) and the Wadhwani Foundation have formed a landmark partnership to elevate technopreneurship education across the Philippines, with the shared mission of turning classrooms into catalysts for real-world innovation.
At the heart of this collaboration is a powerful synergy—merging PhilDev’s deep commitment to elevate Filipino innovation through education with Wadhwani Foundation’s global legacy of fostering entrepreneurship and scalable impact.
“This partnership is more than strategy—it’s synergy,” said Frederick Blancas, Executive Director of PhilDev. “We’re combining global expertise with deep local understanding and empathy to create something sustainable, scalable, and truly Filipino. With over a decade of empowering and inspiring Filipinos in Science & Technology through education, technopreneurship and innovation, PhilDev is glad to forge ahead in collaboration with Wadhwani Foundation.”
“Technopreneurship turns innovation into impact—transforming bold ideas into real-world solutions. By empowering Filipinos with the right skills and resources, this partnership paves the way for a dynamic and sustainable future,” said William Eka, Wadhwani Foundation’s Vice President for Southeast Asia.
“We believe in unlocking potential through opportunity,” added Lucrecio Delgado, Southeast Asia Regional Director of Wadhwani Foundation. “Together, we’re empowering the next generation of innovators—giving them the mindset and tools to not just dream, but build.”
Students will receive hands-on training on an AI powered digital platform, mentorship from startup leaders, and support rarely available in traditional education. Educators, often constrained by limited resources, will gain industry-aligned modules and practical tools, transforming how they teach and inspire.
The goal isn’t just to build businesses. It’s to build ecosystems—local, sustainable, and grounded in the realities of the Filipino context. With plans to scale to Local Universities and Colleges (LUCs) and eventually across the nation, the program will help establish a network of Technology Business Incubators (TBIs) designed not just to launch startups, but to keep them thriving.
Together, PhilDev and Wadhwani Foundation are sparking a movement to ignite Filipino innovation and transform the nation. This partnership proves that when we invest in our people, the future of the Philippines is built here—by Filipinos, for Filipinos.
