What Brainsparks Philippines does

Brainsparks Philippines is a non-profit startup enabler and the first founder-focused Incubator+ in the Philippines, founded in 2015 and headquartered in Makati City. The organization positions itself as the country's leading Innovation Ecosystem Booster and supports startup founders through three pillars: Innovation Programs, Mentoring & Management Coaching, and Ecosystem Events. Its primary constituents are early-stage Philippine founders and aspiring entrepreneurs, with secondary stakeholder relationships to corporations seeking innovation engagement, government agencies (DTI, DOST, DICT), and ASEAN cross-border startups.

The organization's service portfolio spans the full startup lifecycle. The flagship Brainsparks 20 (Incubator+) provides in-depth incubation; Founders Circle delivers recurring community meetups; Shell LiveWire (since 2020) offers an enterprise-grade acceleration track; Ecothon Philippines (with Korea MSS and DOST) focuses on eco-entrepreneurship; and Echelon Philippines, co-organized with e27 since 2024, is a flagship tech and startup convention that grew from 2,500+ to 3,000+ attendees year-over-year. The mix is rounded out by hackathons (DIWA, Sparkathon, KMC, Starlink), the MYStartup Market Access and Scaling Beyond Borders cross-border programs, and Office Hours / Innovation Masterclass services. Brainsparks does not operate a proprietary technology platform; the "product" is program design, event production, and curated network access.

The business model is service-based with revenue derived from program facilitation, corporate and government partnership funding, event sponsorships, and partner co-funding. Pricing is not publicly disclosed and prospective participants apply by sending a pitch deck to [email protected]. The team is small (1-10 employees, ~10-15 staff) and no external funding rounds or institutional investors are disclosed; Brainsparks functions as an independent ecosystem enabler with anchor partners including Shell Philippines, e27, and multiple Philippine government agencies.

Name

Brainsparks Philippines

Legal name

Brainsparks

Website

https://brainsparks.ph

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Brainsparks Philippines is a non-profit founder-focused Incubator+ and Innovation Ecosystem Booster, founded in 2015 in Makati City. It runs incubation, acceleration, hackathons, and the Echelon Philippines convention to support early-stage Philippine startup founders.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Startup Incubation and Innovation Ecosystem Services

NAICS

Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (711310)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Youth Business Incubators & Accelerators (EDAMAHAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Entrepreneurship Foundations & Startup Basics (EDAMAHAA), Business Planning, Pitching & Competitions (Pitch Decks, Demo Days) (EDAMAHAB), Accelerators & Incubators (Investor-Operated) (FSANAAAM), Entrepreneurship, Innovation & Venture Creation Centers (EDAHAHAH)

Keywords

• Startup incubation services
• Innovation ecosystem building
• Founder mentorship programs
• Startup acceleration programs
• Ecosystem event management

Headquarters

HQ city

Makati

HQ country

Philippines

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Incubator and Accelerator Program Services: Brainsparks facilitates innovation programs and supports startups through its Incubator+ program (Brainsparks20). The organization helps startups raise funds and connects them with investors. Revenue is derived from program delivery, mentorship fees, and facilitation services, though specific pricing is not publicly disclosed.
2. Ecosystem Event Management: Brainsparks organizes and produces large-scale tech and startup events including Echelon Philippines, Founders Circle, hackathons, and market access programs. These events generate revenue through sponsorships, partnerships, and event participation fees.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Brainsparks Philippines operates as a startup incubator and innovation ecosystem booster, delivering structured incubation (Brainsparks20 Incubator+), acceleration (Shell LiveWIRE Philippines), eco-entrepreneurship bootcamps (Ecothon Philippines), large-scale startup conventions (Echelon Philippines, Founders Circle), hackathons, and cross-border market access programs for early-stage founders, corporations, and government agencies in the Philippines and broader ASEAN region. The organization provides one-on-one mentorship, management coaching (Office Hours, Innovation Masterclass), and ecosystem events through three service pillars: Innovation Programs, Mentoring & Management Coaching, and Ecosystem Events.

Product overview

Brainsparks Philippines operates as an Innovation Ecosystem Booster and the first and only founder-focused Incubator+ in the Philippines. The organization offers a portfolio of programs and services organized under three pillars: Innovation Programs, Mentorship & Management Coaching, and Ecosystem Events. Core programs include the Brainsparks 20 Incubator+ Program (flagship incubation), Founders Circle (networking events), Shell LiveWIRE acceleration, Ecothon Philippines (eco-entrepreneurship bootcamp), Echelon Philippines (tech conference), and various hackathons (DIWA, Sparkathon, KMC Hackathon, Starlink Hackathon). Market access programs like MYStartup MAP and Scaling Beyond Borders facilitate cross-border startup collaboration. The organization also provides Office Hours and Innovation Masterclass services for mentorship.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Brainsparks 20 (Incubator+ Program) Flagship incubation program providing in-depth, custom-fit guidance, mentorship, and ecosystem support to selected startup founders in the Philippines across the full startup lifecycle. Designed for early-stage Philippine startup founders seeking structured support.
• Founders Circle Series of informal meetups, talks, forums, and panel discussions for startup founders featuring industry expert speakers, mentor engagement, and networking with fellow entrepreneurs and investors across multiple installments per year.
• Shell LiveWIRE Philippines Flagship enterprise development program of Shell implemented by Brainsparks since 2020, with the vision to strengthen local economies by promoting entrepreneurship, innovation, and meaningful employment. Brainsparks is part of Team IGNITE facilitating learning sessions and mentorship.
• Ecothon Philippines Intensive boot camp with a business model competition that fosters eco-entrepreneurship and contributes to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. Provides intensive training, mentoring, and coaching for selected ASEAN startups in partnership with the Ministry of SMEs and Startups of the Republic of Korea and DOST.
• Echelon Philippines Premier tech and startup conference in the Philippines, co-organized with e27, bringing together founders, investors, corporates, and policymakers for networking and business development. The 2025 edition drew 3,000+ attendees, 1,000+ companies, 80+ speakers, and 52+ exhibiting startups from 15+ countries.
• MYStartup Market Access Program Three-day cross-border program connecting Malaysian and Philippine founders, investors, and ecosystem players, featuring learning sessions, investor pitching, and engagement with government and industry leaders. The November 26-28, 2024 edition brought 7 Malaysian startups with support from Artem Ventures and Cradle Fund.
• Scaling Beyond Borders: Thailand Startups in the Philippines Five-day Market Access Program connecting Thai startups with Philippine investors, corporates, and government agencies through site visits, curated networking, and stakeholder meetings, culminating in a showcase at Echelon Philippines. The 2025 edition brought 14 Thai startups to Manila.
• DIWA Hackathon One-month sprint where cross-department teams collaborate on innovative projects tackling a company's most pressing business challenges. Designed for corporate participants seeking internal innovation outcomes.
• Sparkathon Annual hackathon jointly organized by Brainsparks and DOST-PCIEERD along with other Team First Asia companies and government agencies, focused on science, technology, and innovation challenges.
• KMC Hackathon Hackathon focused on building innovative talent matchmaking solutions to tackle real-world hiring challenges, co-organized with KMC Solutions at KMC Jollibee Tower. The 2024 edition brought together 50+ developers.
• Starlink Hackathon First Starlink hackathon in the Philippines focused on bridging the digital divide in underserved communities by leveraging Starlink technology, development expertise of USAID BEACON, and the Philippine Space Agency.
• Office Hours Open-door approach providing startups and organizations with flexible one-on-one consultations to address their unique challenges and opportunities through direct mentoring engagement.
• Innovation Masterclass Targeted learning engagements delivering workshops and speaking sessions that help teams upskill, boost innovation, and stay aligned with the rapidly evolving business landscape.

Quantifiable outcome

• Echelon Philippines 2025 drew 3,000+ attendees, 1,000+ companies, 80+ speakers, 52 exhibiting startups from 15+ countries
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• FAITH CollegescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Founding partner alongside First Asia Venture Capital Inc. in 2015. Together they established an innovation hub to assist and support entrepreneurs from both the academe and different industries, with initiatives geared towards innovation, startup venture investments, and R&D.
• e27coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Echelon Philippines, e27 is Asia's leading tech and startup media platform. Brainsparks organizes e27's premier Philippine edition of the Echelon conference. The partnership brings e27's regional platform and media reach together with Brainsparks' local ecosystem expertise. Echelon Philippines 2024 (inaugural) drew 2,500+ attendees; 2025 drew 3,000+ attendees.
• Shell Philippines / Pilipinas Shell Foundation Inc.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBrainsparks is a key implementing partner for Shell LiveWire in the Philippines (since 2020) and co-organizer of Founders Circle events (2024, 2025). Shell LiveWire is Shell's flagship enterprise development program. Brainsparks has served as part of Team IGNITE (TechShake, Dentsu X, Brainsparks) and facilitates learning sessions, mentorship, and workshops. Shell LiveWire has been running in the Philippines for over 5 years.
• Ministry of SMEs and Startups (Republic of Korea)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerImplementing partner for Ecothon Philippines in 2023 and 2024, alongside DOST. Ecothon is an intensive boot camp with a business model competition that seeks to foster eco-entrepreneurship and contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The program provides intensive training, mentoring, and coaching for selected ASEAN startups.
• Common Ground PhilippinesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for multiple Founders Circle 2025 sessions held at Common Ground, Rockwell. Common Ground provides co-working space for the events and serves as a co-host for the 2025 Founders Circle series.
• JLL PhilippinesmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for Founders Circle 2025 sessions (April and June 2025) at JLL Philippines office in Makati. JLL serves as a co-host for these events as part of the 2025 Founders Circle series.
• KMC SolutionsmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerVenue partner for multiple Founders Circle 2024 events across locations in Makati and BGC (Armstrong, Cyber Sigma, Piccadilly Star). Also co-organized the KMC Hackathon (October 2024) focused on talent matchmaking solutions, bringing together 50+ developers at KMC Jollibee Tower.
• Thai Trade Center Manila / Department of International Trade Promotion (DITP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Scaling Beyond Borders: Thailand Startups in the Philippines Market Access Program (2025). 14 Thai startups were brought to Manila for a five-day immersion including participation in Echelon Philippines 2025, stakeholder meetings, and business matching sessions.
• Artem VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of the MYStartup Market Access Program (MAP) to the Philippines (November 26-28, 2024). The three-day cross-border program connected Malaysian and Philippine founders, investors, and ecosystem players. 7 Malaysian startups participated with support from Artem Ventures and Cradle Fund.
• Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) PhilippinescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partner dating back to 2017 Slingshot ASEAN partnership. DTI collaborated on SLINGSHOT X Venture Pilipinas Pitch Competition business mission to Singapore (May 2024) supporting winners SolX Technologies Inc., Betterteem, and Xeleqt AI. Also a partner in MYStartup MAP government engagement.
• Quest VenturesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with DTI and Brainsparks to support the SLINGSHOT X Venture Pilipinas Pitch Competition winners on a business mission to Singapore (May 13-17, 2024), helping startups expand into international markets.
• Department of Science and Technology (DOST) / DOST-PCIEERDcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-organizer of Sparkathon hackathon alongside Brainsparks and other Team First Asia companies. DOST-PCIEERD is a key government partner for innovation and R&D initiatives. Also partnered on Ecothon Philippines.
• Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner engaged in ecosystem events and initiatives. DICT participated in the MYStartup MAP Day 3 government discussions alongside DTI and BOI, exploring opportunities for startup support and digital innovation policy.
• QBO Innovation HubmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine startup ecosystem partner. QBO Innovation Hub participated in the MYStartup MAP innovation tour visits (alongside Maya, KMC Solutions, PayMongo, 917Ventures) giving Thai delegates an in-depth look at the Philippine startup ecosystem.
• Villgro PhilippinesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhilippine social enterprise incubator and ecosystem partner. Villgro Philippines speakers (Maroushka Lu, Chief of Staff and Head of Special Projects) participated in Founders Circle 2025. Villgro is a key player in the Philippine startup and social innovation ecosystem.
• ASEIC (ASEM SMEs Eco-Innovation Center)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEcosystem partner providing cross-border innovation connections. iBoard Living was selected for the ASEIC Ecothon Global Alumni Accelerator in Malaysia following their participation in Ecothon Philippines 2025, organized by Brainsparks.
• TechShakemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Team IGNITE with Dentsu X and Brainsparks for organizing IGNITE (2018) and Shell LiveWire programs. TechShake is an innovation event and platform company in the Philippines.
• Dentsu XmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of Team IGNITE with TechShake and Brainsparks. Dentsu X (formerly Dentsu) is a media and communications agency providing marketing and communications expertise for ecosystem events.
• Kaya FoundersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaulo Campos of Kaya Founders led a knowledge-sharing session on the Philippine startup landscape for the Scaling Beyond Borders: Thailand Startups program, providing market insights to 14 Thai startups.
• Hanns Seidel FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an ecosystem partner and collaborator. The Hanns Seidel Foundation supports governance and policy initiatives and is part of Brainsparks' network of organizations supporting innovation and entrepreneurship.
• Friedrich Naumann FoundationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnered with Brainsparks and WOWS Global to host 'The ABCs of Entrepreneurship' event in July 2023, bringing together early-stage founders and aspiring entrepreneurs for networking, knowledge sharing, and inspiration.
• EndeavorminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an ecosystem partner. Endeavor is a global organization supporting high-impact entrepreneurs and is part of Brainsparks' broader ecosystem network.
• Founder InstituteminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an ecosystem partner. Founder Institute is a global accelerator network that identifies and supports high-growth startups and is part of the broader ecosystem collaboration network.
• Ateneo Intellectual Property Office (AIPO)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an ecosystem partner. AIPO supports intellectual property management for startups emerging from the Ateneo de Manila University ecosystem.
• Startup VillageminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as an ecosystem partner. Startup Village is a Philippine startup hub and ecosystem enabler, part of the network of organizations collaborating with Brainsparks.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• TechShake Philippines: TechShake is a Philippine innovation event and platform company, and a Brainsparks partner (Team IGNITE). It runs tech/startup events and shares the same ecosystem events and innovation-program model.
• Startup Village Philippines: Startup Village is a Philippine startup hub and co-working space supporting early-stage founders. Comparable as a community-led ecosystem player targeting the same Manila-based founder segment as Brainsparks.
• QBO Innovation Hub: QBO Innovation Hub is the Philippines' flagship startup hub operated by Ideaspace Foundation and supported by J.P. Morgan. It runs incubation programs and ecosystem events for Filipino founders — directly comparable to Brainsparks' incubator-plus-events model.
• Villgro Philippines: Villgro Philippines is a social enterprise and impact-focused incubator supporting Filipino entrepreneurs. Comparable to Brainsparks in its incubation-plus-coaching model, though oriented toward social/eco entrepreneurship.
• Impact Hub Manila: Impact Hub Manila is part of the global Impact Hub network supporting entrepreneurs and innovators in the Philippines. Comparable as an incubator/community player targeting early-stage founders with programs and events.
• IdeaSpace Foundation: IdeaSpace is one of the Philippines' longest-running startup accelerators and seed investors, supporting early-stage Filipino founders with mentorship, capital, and events. Same core mission and customer segment as Brainsparks20.

Regional players

• Slingshot ASEAN (Startup SG / ACE): Slingshot ASEAN is a Singapore-anchored regional startup competition and ecosystem platform. Brainsparks has partnered with DTI on Slingsshot missions; it is a comparable regional startup-competition / market-access player operating across ASEAN.

Broad incumbents

• e27: e27 is Asia's leading tech and startup media platform that runs the Echelon regional conference series. While Brainsparks organizes the Philippine edition as a partner, e27 itself operates the broader Echelon franchise and adjacent founder media products.
• Founder Institute: Founder Institute is a global pre-seed accelerator with a Manila chapter that supports aspiring and early-stage founders. It is a listed Brainsparks ecosystem partner but also a competitor for inbound incubator applicants in the Philippines.

Others

• 917Ventures: 917Ventures is Globe Telecom's corporate venture builder in the Philippines, hosting ecosystem tours and engaging the founder community. Not a direct competitor but an adjacent ecosystem player and Brainsparks network partner.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brainsparksph
• Facebookfacebook.com/BrainsparksPH
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brainsparks-ph
• Instagraminstagram.com/brainsparks.ph

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brainsparks Philippines